Points setting

M

Maurer1929

Member
What is the effect on the engine performance, if any, if the points are set at the lower end recommended setting of 0.018 versus the higher end recommended setting of 0.022; assuming that the timing is set correctly for both settings? thanks
 
When the point gap is wider the dwell time is shorter (the number of degrees of rotation that the points are closed) and therfore the time the coil has to build up a high voltage in the secondary winding is somewhat decreased. This becomes more important at high rpm but apparently Ford considered .018" to .022" to be an acceptable range. If you change the point gap the engine should be retimed.
 
Maurer1929 said:
Thanks for the response, I tried 0.018 and the engine did not run as smooth as it did at 0.020. I plan to try 0.022.
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Much of that could be distributor issues as the point gap can vary between the four lobes for various reasons, mostly poor replacement parts.

As Lindy noted, you must retime the engine at each point setting for a proper evaluation. If you simply increase the point gap without resetting the timing you will in fact increase the advance of the distributor.
 
I set mine on the wide side of the range of adjustment. (.020-.022) Then as the rubbing block wears down, the points will go toward the close side of the range of adjustment.

If you initially set them at .018 to start with, the rubbing block wears a little and they are out of adjustment.

That is what I do.

Chris
 
.018 here switched from modern dist plates to original
Seems it is so much easier to set the point gap now
.018 saturates the coil for better spark so they say
 
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