Help! How do you correctly install and adjust iginition points?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 243
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville TN
Help! How do you correctly install and adjust iginition points?
It's been a long time since I messed with iginition points like 15 years. I'm trying to get a 1970 350/300 project car running and I am so close. It has run in 14 -15 years.
I've got no spark, and it appears the points are not opening (always closed), the set must be worn out and are not OEM points. Looks like a blue streak set equivalent.
It does not appear that there's much to adjust to get a gap, thus I'm going to buy the OEM style. I do remember, my grandfather using part of the iginition point box for gapping or a match book.
I've been looking at some restoration books, but they are not much help.
Any advice would be appreciated. Also got to find that old timing light and borrow a dwell meter.
Thanks,
Ralph
1978 coupe (good driver) and no iginition points, 1970 conv project car (not running yet) and has iginition points
I've got no spark, and it appears the points are not opening (always closed), the set must be worn out and are not OEM points. Looks like a blue streak set equivalent.
It does not appear that there's much to adjust to get a gap, thus I'm going to buy the OEM style. I do remember, my grandfather using part of the iginition point box for gapping or a match book.
I've been looking at some restoration books, but they are not much help.
Any advice would be appreciated. Also got to find that old timing light and borrow a dwell meter.
Thanks,
Ralph
1978 coupe (good driver) and no iginition points, 1970 conv project car (not running yet) and has iginition points
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,342
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Area Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Help! How do you correctly install and adjust iginition points? (78whtshark)
28-32 degrees dwell if you're lucky enough to still have a dwell meter. 0.019 with a feelers gauge :cheers:
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: Conyers GA
Re: Help! How do you correctly install and adjust iginition points? (guppie)
Here's an old trick that we used that will get you up and running. This trick worked back in the '70's...and worked with NAPA points.
Once you install the new points, turn the engine over slowly (by had) until the rubbing block on the points is on top of a lobe (points open). Then, using a piece of the box flap as a feeler gauge, use an allen wrench to set the point gap. The old NAPA box would measure between 0.017" and 0.019" which is close enought to get you running.
Then, when you can get (or borrow) a dwell meter, set to 28 to 32 degrees dwell.
Sometimes I miss the good old days. Try getting a new car running using a box top.... :lol:
[Modified by Martin72, 12:04 PM 8/22/2003]
Once you install the new points, turn the engine over slowly (by had) until the rubbing block on the points is on top of a lobe (points open). Then, using a piece of the box flap as a feeler gauge, use an allen wrench to set the point gap. The old NAPA box would measure between 0.017" and 0.019" which is close enought to get you running.
Then, when you can get (or borrow) a dwell meter, set to 28 to 32 degrees dwell.
Sometimes I miss the good old days. Try getting a new car running using a box top.... :lol:
[Modified by Martin72, 12:04 PM 8/22/2003]
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: Morganton GA
Re: Help! How do you correctly install and adjust iginition points? (Martin72)
Sometimes I miss the good old days. Try getting a new car running using a box top.... :lol:
[Modified by Martin72, 12:04 PM 8/22/2003]
[Modified by Martin72, 12:04 PM 8/22/2003]
Good Luck :thumbs: :smash:
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Help! How do you correctly install and adjust iginition points? (MYBLU71)
You can use the Chevy method. You need a gap. W/ engine running at idle, turn the adj. screw cl. in until it misses & back out 1/2 turn.
When I ran points a long ago, used some special gold plated points & no dwell meter. One time I had a shop set w/ a dwell meter (as I recall that cost $1) to see if it would be better. It wasn't & didn't get one.
When I ran points a long ago, used some special gold plated points & no dwell meter. One time I had a shop set w/ a dwell meter (as I recall that cost $1) to see if it would be better. It wasn't & didn't get one.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 243
Likes: 1
From: Knoxville TN
Re: Help! How do you correctly install and adjust iginition points? (Ganey)
Thanks for all the advice, had to work late so tommorrow, I will hopefully get to install new parts and turn her over...
