Distributor capacitor (radio noise filter) failed after pertronix pointless ignition install

[vforge]

I recently decided to switch my M38A1’s distributor to pointless ignition with a pertronix kit. I got the kit in and it ran better than ever. I took it for a quick drive and made it 200 yards before it cut out. It wouldn’t restart at all. After a lot of troubleshooting I found the distributor capacitor wasn’t providing power to the coil. I bypassed it with a wire and it started up and I was able to get it back in my garage.

Now it could be purely coincidental but has anyone had something similar happen? Or know why it failed?

I’m likely going to cannibalize the old one and eliminate the capacitor entirely.

 

[NDT]

Poor thing is probably 70 years old. It was tired of capacitatin'. Only drawback of not having it is possible popping in your AM radio reception.

 

[chucky]

https://www.google.com/imgres?q=radio noise filter for automotive stereos&imgurl=https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Uj0AAOSwEZNhBEVc/s-l1200.jpg&imgrefurl=https://www.ebay.ca/itm/184972611721&docid=50bxPmqU9BCJ_M&tbnid=NoXA7W2oIem7KM&vet=12ahUKEwjT25KewoyJAxVyLtAFHda6DCg4KBAzegQIQBAA..i&w=900&h=1200&hcb=2&itg=1&ved=2ahUKEwjT25KewoyJAxVyLtAFHda6DCg4KBAzegQIQBAA Ive used this brand in the past with good results

 

[vforge]

After replacing the capacitor, it didn't die a natural death. The sheathing at the base was chewed up somehow and shorted out.