Distributor cap contact vs. electronic ignitoin

[caliber60]

I checked the distributor cap while doing a valve adjustment. All the contacts have burning marks after 10K miles. I can clean it up with sandpaper, no problem. Just like how I clean the electric seat contact. Suddenly I realize I am sitting on a proven but old technology that requires regular maintenance. Will MSD electronic ignition makes the system maintenance-free(just the ignition part)?

[stlrj]

Burn tracks on the copper mean nothing. Copper oxide is still very conductive, that's why they use it.

Just close your eyes and pretend you never saw it, or it will drive you nuts.

[911pcars]

If you still have the factory breaker points, these still must be inspected periodically for point gap. Even though the actual contact surfaces will see very little wear (pitting), the rubbing block wears which changes the gap and the ignition timing.

If you have a breakerless conversion kit, that will greatly reduce the maintenance in this area. However, the distributor shaft must still be lubricated. The distributor cap and rotor will exhibit the same amount of wear with or without the electronic ignition box.

Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[stlrj]

I think what you are looking for goes under many names: distributorless ignition system, DIS, crank fired ignition, coil pack or waste spark igniton.

You could, theoretically, get rid of your distributor and replace it with a coil pack consisting of three coils mounted al la GM, Ford, Chrysler etc.