1963 timing question??
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Boston Ma
1963 timing question??
Hi Guys,
I have a 1963 327 300HP with a duel point distributor. The service manual tells me to set the dwell through the little door on the dist. cap.
The little plate on the front of the block with all the little marks on it has A O on it with no numbers. I had it running with the timing light and I set the timing mark somewhere in the middle but it diesels when I shut it off. How do I time this thing when I can't set the dwell on the cap?
Thanks in advance, John
I have a 1963 327 300HP with a duel point distributor. The service manual tells me to set the dwell through the little door on the dist. cap.
The little plate on the front of the block with all the little marks on it has A O on it with no numbers. I had it running with the timing light and I set the timing mark somewhere in the middle but it diesels when I shut it off. How do I time this thing when I can't set the dwell on the cap?
Thanks in advance, John
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
you are setting the dwell based on the balancer timing index plate?
I wasn't aware you could do that, I use a dwell meter hooked to the coil & distributor and set dwell for 30. You can set dwell anywhere between
28-32, I use 30. use an Allen wrench (1/8" if I remember correctly) to adjust the Allen screw inside the little window in the front of the distributor cap to adjust your dwell up or down.
Once dwell is set rev the motor and make sure that the dwell stays steady. If it flucuates you have too much end play on your main shaft inside the distributor and you should pull it out and have it shimmed up.
Once the dwell is set and steady you can set your timing using your timing light on the balancer index plate.
You may find one of John Hinckley's articles very handy.
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html
scroll down to the section called: Distributor & Timing
look for the article called: Mapping Advance.pdf
I wasn't aware you could do that, I use a dwell meter hooked to the coil & distributor and set dwell for 30. You can set dwell anywhere between
28-32, I use 30. use an Allen wrench (1/8" if I remember correctly) to adjust the Allen screw inside the little window in the front of the distributor cap to adjust your dwell up or down.
Once dwell is set rev the motor and make sure that the dwell stays steady. If it flucuates you have too much end play on your main shaft inside the distributor and you should pull it out and have it shimmed up.
Once the dwell is set and steady you can set your timing using your timing light on the balancer index plate.
You may find one of John Hinckley's articles very handy.
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html
scroll down to the section called: Distributor & Timing
look for the article called: Mapping Advance.pdf
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
You have a special situation that's not covered in my "Mapping" article, as you have a one-year-only dual-point distributor that was only used on the '62 327/340hp engine (not the correct one for your car). When setting dwell on a dual-point distributor, you need to disable one set of points (stick a piece of matchbook cover inbetween the points on one set) and adjust the other functional set to 29* dwell with the engine running on one set. Then use the piece of matchbook cover to disable the set you just adjusted, and adjust the other set to 29* with the engine running. Then remove the matchbook cover, and with both sets of points operating, your dwell meter should indicate 34* dwell.
THEN you can set the timing; dwell MUST be set first.
THEN you can set the timing; dwell MUST be set first.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Boston Ma
How can I set the opposite side points. The door on the cap only allows me to do one side? I took it apart to replace intake gaskets. It seemed to run ok before I had the dist. out. Can I assume the dwell has not changed? only the timing?
John
John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,592
Likes: 393
St. Jude Donor 05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Just pulling the dist. will not change the dwell
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,865
Likes: 195
From: Maryland
You might be better off getting a tach drive single point distributor core and blueprinting it to your engines specs. That way youll have a Vacuum advance system . I dont think the dual point distributor has a VAC. Also one set of points less to deal with.
Last edited by Donald #31176; May 6, 2008 at 12:34 PM.
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