Distributer wire, What is this? Options

[eldiosyeldiablo]

What is this wire? It looks to be a little grounding wire but it is just loose. Is it needed?

I burned the condensor so I had to pull the distributer out to get to it.

I am also putting in a pertox pointless system in.

Suggestions?

Thanks,
David

[McMark]

That wire is a grounding wire for the points. Power comes in through the condenser/coil, through the points, through the advance plate, through that wire, through the distributor body, and finally to the engine case. If you're putting in a pertronix, that distributor will work fine as long as you take out the advance plates and make sure it pivots freely and that the centrifugal weights move freely as well.

Check the vacuum advance by sucking on it and then putting your tongue over the port to hold the vacuum. Watch the advance plate inside the distributor, if it slowly turns back to rest then your canister is bad. If it's still good you should hear the advance plate click back to rest when you take your tongue off the port. If you have a hand vacuum pump you can use that instead and watch the gauge.