Positioned on the breaker plate are the ignition points set and a condenser unit (essentially a capacitor). The points are opened and closed via a cam lobe on the distributor's shaft.

It consisted of replacing the points, condenser and spark plugs. For high-mileage drivers and performance enthusiasts this ignition system maintenance was often needed more than once a year.

Read all about the process of reconfiguring a spark plug as well as a ignition system. Only at Classic Trucks Magazine!

DWELL ANGLE: While there is dwell in an electronic ignition system, it is most easily expressed as the amount of time that the points are dosed between sparks.