CD ignition boxes (MSD, Crane, Mallory, and more) can be used with either HEI or breaker points. An excellent but often overlooked conversion is to use breaker points to trigger a CD amplifier. With this setup, the car retains its original distributor, and the breaker points last almost indefinitely since they carry very little current. The points become an on/off switch. A special CD ignition coil must be employed, but it can be painted black and retain the factory Pontiac bracket for improved performance with an original look.
Myth 9:Ignition Amplifiers Always Increase PowerReality:Ignition Amplifiers Don't Always Increase Power But Do Offer Other BenefitsThere are many companies that manufacture ignition boxes or amplifiers, more commonly known as CD ignitions. Most if not all CD systems offer a higher coil output since the ignition is converted from inductance to capacitance. In addition, they usually offer multiple ionizations (firings) of the spark plug below 3,000 rpm. Since electricity is passive, an ignition system will only use what is required to get the job done. At idle, the task is very easy, but as engine speed and cylinder pressure increase, the ignition system becomes strained. Simply put, if the cylinder pressure your engine creates is within the capability of the stock ignition, there won't be more power with a CD box. If not, then the longer burn time and higher current (amperage) flow will really wake up your Pontiac. A side benefit of the multi-strike function is that it masks fuel distribution problems at low speeds for a better idle and helps keep the spark plugs clean with a cam ground with a high rate of overlap.
Myth 10:The Factory Advance Rate Is Optimal For PowerReality:The Factory Advance Rate Is Rarely Optimal For PowerMany hobbyists leave a good deal of performance on the table by not paying attention to the engine's rate of ignition advance. Just as important as the total, the rate the advance comes in at is crucial on an engine operating under transient conditions, such as a street/strip car. The best way to start this task is to have a shop with a distributor machine set up a basic curve, and then do your fine tuning at the track or on a chassis dyno. Most major ignition companies offer spring, weight, and adjustable vacuum-advance canisters for many Pontiac engines with conventional distributors.
Don't forget to check the distributor bushing for wear, along with the distributor gear. The bushing is best checked on a scope or distributor machine, but it can be diagnosed by grabbing the rotor and trying to move the distributor shaft side to side. Any movement will alter the point-open (or ignition-model-on) time and create a varied amount of ignition timing on each cylinder. Many engines are detuned to eliminate detonation that is only occurring on a few bores due to a worn distributor bushing. For a primer on detonation, reference "Knock, Knock ... Go Away" in the Sept. '06 issue of HPP.