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Points Conversions
Pontiac V8 Points Conversions
Keep the Look, Lose the Points — Points Conversions for Pontiac V8s
A points conversion leaves the original distributor in the engine and replaces the breaker points underneath the cap with an electronic trigger. On a numbers-matching Pontiac V8 that is the whole appeal: nothing changes above the cap, and you stop setting dwell and burning points.
Butler stocks the Pertronix Ignitor for 1957-74 GM points distributors, the Ignitor II with adaptive dwell, and the Ignitor III with multiple sparks and an integrated digital rev limiter.
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More About Points Conversions
1. Which Ignitor
All three drop into a 1957-74 GM points distributor. They differ in how much the module does once the engine is running.
| Ignitor | The straightforward conversion. Points and condenser come out, the module goes in, and the distributor looks stock with the cap on. |
| Ignitor II | Senses coil current and uses a microcontroller to vary dwell, which maintains peak energy across the rpm range. Pertronix rates it at up to four times more available energy between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm and twice the available plug voltage, and it adjusts spark timing to compensate for inherent electronic delay. |
| Ignitor III | Multiple sparks through the entire rpm range plus an integrated digital rev limiter with LED feedback and a memory safe function so the limit does not get bumped. Pertronix describes it as ignition box performance without the box, at five times the spark energy of a points system. |
2. The Resistor Wire Will Bite You
This is the single most common reason a conversion runs badly or not at all.
| Confirm 12 volts | If you are using factory wiring, verify a full 12 volts at the distributor. Do not use the factory resistor or resistor wire. |
| Ballast resistor | Butler stocks one for points distributors, and MSD is clear that you can leave it out when a 6 or 7-series ignition control is doing the firing. |
3. Coil Pairing
The module and the coil work as a pair, and the upgrade is only half done without it.
| Ignitor II | Pertronix calls for a low resistance Flame-Thrower II style coil to get the high rpm benefit. |
| Ignitor III | Pertronix calls for a Flame-Thrower III or HC coil for the maximum benefit. |
| Staying stock looking | A black canister-style Flame-Thrower coil keeps the engine bay correct while the work happens under the cap. |
Check the shaft and bushing condition of the original distributor before you convert it. An electronic trigger cannot fix a worn distributor.
Not sure what your Pontiac needs?
Email our tech team at tech@butlerperformance.com. Tell us your engine, heads, car, and power goal, and we will put the parts together as one combination that works.