Distributor set up help

rockfla

rockfla

Well-known member
SO, working on a 68A with the attached pic of the points plate, I have started at .015 gap and only got 16dg of dwell and 29dg on both sets. I narrowed the right gap to .014 and picked up 2dgs on my Sun on both readings. So I narrowed the right to .013 and the left to .014 and got to 20 and 30 respectively so gained 2 or the right and lost two combined. SO I’ve gone back to .014 both sets and I’m back to 16 and 30. What am I’m I missing or not doing?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6947.jpeg
    IMG_6947.jpeg
    915.6 KB · Views: 23
The points operate in conjunction with each other.
One closes the circuit, the other opens the circuit.
With this the dwell is much wider.
Please forgive me if this is already obvious to you.

Karl
 
Karl Wolf said:
The points operate in conjunction with each other.
One closes the circuit, the other opens the circuit.
With this the dwell is much wider.
Please forgive me if this is already obvious to you.

Karl
Click to expand...
karl
Yes I am aware of that, I am trying to set it up on my Sun distributor machine.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3325.jpeg
    IMG_3325.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 18
Are they genuine Ford points or aftermarket? As Kurt said, unequal wear on the rubbing blocks could cause this. You can reverse those points, if you reverse them, what happens to your numbers? I know with the later points style, it is damn hard to find good quality that enables correct dwell to be obtained.
 
The rubbing blocks have very clear edge wear from the photo. With respect on my Early Cars I run the 37-48 points. The Early points are only good if genuine NOS and still have weak spring tension. Also if they are used ones on the 32-36 variety the stationary ones and get pits bumps and craters that causes weird readings on dwell when adjusting on a machine. I scrap at least 150 of these Early breaker plates and weight shaft assemblies a year to convert to the 37-48 setup. You still use the same rotor, housing, and caps and have MUCH better performance and longevity.
 
rockfla said:
karl
Yes I am aware of that, I am trying to set it up on my Sun distributor machine.
Click to expand...
rockfla said:
karl
Yes I am aware of that, I am trying to set it up on my Sun distributor machine.
Click to expand...
As you view the distributor on the machine,block out the left side points with a piece of paper then adjust the right side points to achieve 22 1/2 degrees dwell. Then remove the paper from the left side and adjust that set of points to achieve 36 degrees total dwell.
 
I have had the same experience with my 39 style Dist . After setting dwell the point gap is much less. This was with nors. Points. Engine runs fine and starts very quickly.
 
Ken/Alabama said:
As you view the distributor on the machine,block out the left side points with a piece of paper then adjust the right side points to achieve 22 1/2 degrees dwell. Then remove the paper from the left side and adjust that set of points to achieve 36 degrees total dwell.
Click to expand...
Ken
Thanks, I have all the directions and have set up "several" distributors BUT never the "early" points version....SO not familiar with all the nuances of them....With that said, Thanks MIchael....The points plate I posted the picture of was just an "example" plate of the one I am working on SO not the actual one....but I will look at the rubbing blocks this evening......"maybe" try flipping the points just to see what happens??? Marko....I know what you mean....I got down to .012 and pushed it to .011....just didn't feel right and turns out, it wasn't!!!!
 
Here’s a thread I created testing one in my Allen Syncrograph.

Z

Thread 'Test Results - Helmet Dist on my Allen Syncrograph'

Will be removing the helmet dist I rebuilt from my C59A tonight. Plan to test it tomorrow on my Allen Syncrograph in preparation for the first start-up of the C59A which was also rebuilt. Got all the parts from 3rd Gen. Here is the rebuild thread if interested.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=292865&highlight=Helmet
 
rockfla said:
Ken
Thanks, I have all the directions and have set up "several" distributors BUT never the "early" points version....SO not familiar with all the nuances of them....With that said, Thanks MIchael....The points plate I posted the picture of was just an "example" plate of the one I am working on SO not the actual one....but I will look at the rubbing blocks this evening......"maybe" try flipping the points just to see what happens??? Marko....I know what you mean....I got down to .012 and pushed it to .011....just didn't feel right and turns out, it wasn't!!!!
Click to expand...
What wasn’t right about it? I too questioned it and confirmed the dwell with two other meters. If I was doing it wrong I would like to know.
 
marko39 said:
What wasn’t right about it? I too questioned it and confirmed the dwell with two other meters. If I was doing it wrong I would like to know.
Click to expand...
No, the "generally" used points gap is .014-.016.......so when I was getting down to .011 it just didn't seem/feel right was what I meant~
 
a quick addendium,
Back in the circle track days, trying to get a Chevrolet to spin 7000 RPM's with points.
The point surfaces had to be absolutely parallel when closed.
As touchy as a six volt system is , I would think checking those points for parallel would be something a person would want to look at.
 
Gene1949 said:
a quick addendium,
Back in the circle track days, trying to get a Chevrolet to spin 7000 RPM's with points.
The point surfaces had to be absolutely parallel when closed.
As touchy as a six volt system is , I would think checking those points for parallel would be something a person would want to look at.
Click to expand...
Gene1949
Funny you post that AS Micheal and I just had a phone conversation about very same issue about an hour or so ago.
 
I would tend to agree, but here is a a link to a short vid of one of my crab style distributors running on my Allen Syncrograph. You can see the points are not parallel and the arc is biased towards the side with the smallest gap. I still managed to dial it into spec, but of course I only tested up to about 3,000 rpm.

www.facebook.com

Ford flathead V8 crab style distributor operating on an Allen Syncrograph distributor testing machine. | Daddydogoodgarage

Ford flathead V8 crab style distributor operating on an Allen Syncrograph distributor testing machine.
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top