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MG MGB Technical - Source for Ignition Points

Anyone got a source for good ignition contact points, preferably in the US? The last set I got from Moss Motors lasted less than 2500 miles. The rivet holding the moving contact came loose and the mounting for that contact was bent. I really don't see how anyone can justify selling such junk. I'm not interested in electronic ignition. The car in question has a Lucas 25D4 distributor. Thanks. -G.
Glenn G


Jeff at:


http://www.advanceddistributors.com/
Bob Fisher

Glen-
I second the motion on getting your contact breaker points from Jeff Schlemmer. So will everybody else who've use a set from him. Good man, no-compromise workmanship and products.
Stephen Strange

Why not go electronic ignition ?
K Harris

"I'm not interested in electronic ignition."

A man after my own heart. The last time I got points I think they were from Halfords and are fine (still in dwell spec after 2 or 3 years). There are two ignition specialists in the UK - http://www.distributordoctor.com/ and http://www.simonbbc.com/. Only when I can no longer get reliable points from people like them would I consider going electronic. Originally my preference would have been for an under-cap trigger, but there have been problems with these from some sources, which make me more determined to stay. When points or condenser fail (which I have never had in 40 years) I can adjust or change them at the roadside, always carrying spares. When an electronic anything fails you are stuffed, substitution is the only diagnosis.
PaulH Solihull

Thanks for "pointing" out Jeff's site. He has several things for sale that look to be improvements over my existing equipment. By the time I received this information, I had already located and ordered some interesting alternatives, but I've put a bookmark on Jeff's site. An hour or so searching the web turned up these point sets:

Beck-Arnley 171-6190
Borg-Warner A527
AC/Delco E192
Bosch 01097

Close examination of the photos revealed that the Beck-Arnley and Borg-Warner sets look suspiciously like the Lucas imposter I got from Moss. I'm beginning to think that these companies distribute the same parts under their own brand name. AC/Delco does not seem to have a current offering.

The point set in my car presently was retrieved from the used parts box in my garage. The last time it needed attention, it had already served me for 10,000 miles and the previous owner before that. The main visible difference between this set and the Moss set was the Lucas name and "Made in England" stamped into the metal. The new sets have no markings.

So when I found a Beck-Arnley set on Ebay with "Made in England" stamped into the metal, I figured it was new old stock and purchased it. I also ordered a Bosch set from Amazon.com. There was no photo, but I've never bought a Bosch part that disappointed.

As for electronic ignition, I simply don't see the need for it. Apart from the reasons Paul listed, a good point set should cost about $10 and last for 10,000 miles. Electronic ignition is a modification that may or may not be engineered as well as a good point set and costs ten to thirty times as much. -G.
Glenn G

Glenn-
Electronic (breakerless) ignition is a good idea if you're going over to a higher-output ignition coil in order to cope with substantially higher levels of compression, or if you live in a very cold climate and want easier starting. Since you live in Texas where it can hit 115F in the shade in August, that's not a problem for you!
Stephen Strange

Glen, i also have points ignition on my car, and would not have electronic at any price, the best quality points i have found are Land Rover genuine parts (in a land rover bag) here in the UK they cost less than £2-00 a set, i change them every 6,000 miles and have never had a problem with them, you can get them for 25D and 45D.A.T
andy tilney

Andy, where do you get them from?
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave you can get these at any Land Rover main dealers the one here in the Lakes had some in stock last time i bought some, the part number is RTC 3270, and they have made in England stamped on them, A.T
andy tilney

"they have made in England stamped on them"

The last set I bought had 'TURKEY' on the box and I wasn't sure whether that was the country of manufacture or a comment on their quality. So far, they are OK ...
PaulH Solihull

Glen,
Any us blue-streak ( standard) seller will be able to have LU1617 or Lu1617P (vented) points. Or Echlin-Napa CS207A.
It is an easy find and often reliable!


Cheers,

Jean G.
Jean Guy Catford

What's 'vented'? Are they the ones with the hole in the middle so a spike and pit can't develop? Haven't seen those since these cars were current, probably because the spike and pit developed somewhere else! The self-wiping points are better, but that depends on whether you have the right distributor. Having said that my 15k points didn't have a spike or pit and had never been cleaned. I was surprised to find a blob of oil or grease filling the gap when they were open, I wonder if that quenched the spark.
PaulH Solihull

This thread was discussed between 18/06/2011 and 20/06/2011

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