Many members are trashing their old points in favor of a nice innovation made by Petronix that allows the use of a totally solid state system right under the cap of a stock distributor. AND the nice thing is that you can carry your points in your tool box in case this system ever fails. Recently I installed one on our 351 Windsor located under the hood of our 1972 Ranch Wagon. The Jolly Green Giant. Anyhow here are the simple instructions... 1. Remove the distributor cap and rotor. Do not disconnect the spark plug wires from the cap. Examine the cap and rotor for wear or damage and replace as needed. (I opt for the distributor caps that have BRASS contacts rather than the ALUMINUM ones) 2. Disconnect the points wire from the negative (-) side of the coil. 3. Remove the points, condenser and grommet. 4. The Ignitor does not require any modification to the distributor, therefor the points, condenser and hardware can be used as backup. 5. Clean any oil or dirt from the breaker plate and cam. 6. Insert the Ignitor black and red wires through the distributor housing verifying the grommet is seated properly. 7. Install the Ignitor module using the provided hardware in the same manner as a set of points. NOTE: 1281 kits use the points adjustment screw hole as the pilot for the Ignitor locating pin. Confirm the mounting plate is flat and fits without any drilling, cutting, or extra hardware. When the correct kit is installed modifications are not needed. 8. If the distributor ground wire was removed during the installation process be sure it is re-attached securely. 9. Place the magnet sleeve down onto the distributor shaft. Rotate the sleeve until you feel the cam line up correctly. Push down firmly until seated. 10. Set the air gap between the module and the magnet sleeve using the provided plastic feeler gauge (0.0130” thick). This is done in the same manner as points. Note: In some kits the modules are stationary and do not require air gapping. 11. Replace rotor and distributor cap. All spark plug wires should be seated securely. 12. Connect the red wire from the Ignitor module to the positive (+) side of the coil, or a 12 volt switching power source. Connect the black wire to the negative (-) side of the coil. Caution: Do not reverse the wires. This will destroy the Ignitor module. 13. The engine can now be started. Let the engine run a few minutes then set timing in the conventional manner. Trouble shooting: Q. The engine will not start. A. Check to make sure you attached the wires to the proper terminals. Q. The engine still will not start or runs rough. Are there tests I can do? A. Yes, removed the red Ignitor wire from the coil. Connect a jumper wire from the positive side of the battery to the red Ingitor wire just removed from the coil. If the engine starts you have a low voltage problem. (This is a very common problem) Remember this is just a test. Not intended for permanent installation. Q. How can I fix a low voltage problem? A. First, if you have an external ballast resistor, connect the red Ignitor wire to the ignition wire prior to the ballast resistor. Second, if you do not have a ballast resistor you must connect the red Ignitor wire to a 12-volt source that is controlled from the ignition switch. Q. What type of coil do I need? A. The Ignitor is compatible only with a points style coil. Six & eight cylinder engines require a minimum of 1.5 ohms of resistance. Q. How do I check my coil for resistance? A. First you need an ohmmeter. Remove all the wires from the coil. Attach the meter to both the positive and negative terminals. The reading must be 1.5 ohms or greater for six and eight cylinder engines. Q. What do I do if my coil does not have enough resistance? A. You may purchase and install a 1.5 ohm ballast resistor from your local auto parts store. You may also choose to purchase a “Flame-Thrower” 40,000 volt coil which provides 1.5 ohms of resistance internally and is compatible with the Ignitor. Note: Many vehicles came equipped with a resister wire or a ballast resistor. The applications may not need an additional resistor. Q. What happens if I leave the ignition on when the engine is not running? A. This can cause your coil to overheat, which sometimes will cause permanent damage to your coil as well as the Ignitor. Q. May I modify the length of the Ignitor wires? A. Yes, you may cut the wires to any length your application may require. You may also add lengths of wire if needed (20 gauge wire). Please make sure all wire splices are clean and connections are secure.