Dwell question on a 256 engine-6volt system

[Bob from Northport]

I want to check the dwell on the points for my 54 Mercury 256. The meter usually connects to the distributor side of the coil, and to ground. Does the ground contact go to positive-ie the ground, of the neg terminal??

Anyone know what the point gap on a 256 should be???

 

[dmsfrr]

If the dwell meter has a Red lead and a Black lead, connect the Red lead to a (+) ground (bare metal on the engine or body) and the Black lead to the distributor points wire/connection from the coil, see photo example.

I'm betting the dwell is the same as any other regular Y-Block: 26 to 28 degrees.
I like to set point gap on the slightly wider number to allow for some initial wear-in of the rubbing block.

http://ford-y-block.com/tuneup.htm

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[Daves55Sedan]

Point gap is .014-.016" on all Ford 272, 292 and 312 engines. They recommend a dwell angle of 26-28 degrees. I always try to achieve as close to 28 degrees as I can.
The 256 is basically the same as a Ford 272.

BTW....where did you find a 6-volt dwell-meter still working?

 

[Bob from Northport]

I bought a dwell meter for my father in 1962 for his birthday. Marguette brand. It s still like new in the box I gave it to him in. Thank for all the great information!!!!!

 

[dmsfrr]

CRS is real
and speaking of items that have been hanging around the garage for a long time.

Use a little distributor cam lube to help the rubbing block on the points last longer.

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[Daves55Sedan]

I bought a dwell meter for my father in 1962 for his birthday. Marguette brand.

GOOD LUCK using that old dwell-meter. I also have a Sears brand that was new around 1968 but it no longer works and takes a 4.2 volt battery, but once I found a new battery, the thing didn't work anyway because the old condensers inside were toast. We did get good use of it back in the day though.
This was NOT solid-state technology back then.

 

[Merc Cruzer]

This is what I use on my 6 volt pos ground, 53' Merc. Works great, just hook it up backwards, just like dmsfrr said above.