timing and dwell question

68GEETEE

5 Year Member

Nov 21, 2003

481

5

38

Texas, USA

Dec 8, 2003

#1

• Dec 8, 2003

• #1

Sunday I put a dwell meter on the car as she hadnt been running too good. I set the dwell to 29 and the engine runs better. However my dilemma is after I took it for a drive, I pulled up into the driveway, shut the engine off, and when I tried to restart, there was a very slow crank, like the timing was too far advanced. So do I set the timing first, and then adjust the dwell?



P.S. Original 302 4bbl motor in car. She has a warmed over cam, not sure of duration or brand. How does that affect my timing setting, if at all? Factory timing is supposed to be 6 btdc, she runs like crap at that setting.

PPS Not intersted in switching to electronic, keeping her stock.

 

pabear89

Active Member

Apr 15, 2003

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High in the Hills of So Ca with the Voices in My H

Dec 8, 2003

#2

• Dec 8, 2003

• #2

From an Old Stock Fart,
Ok couldn't help it [dam voices]
You can watch the dwell while its running and set your timing.

try around 10-12, if its high miler the chain may be loose.
Your dwell should only change slightly with the advance taking over.

PB

 

O

Ozsum67

Too much thin air

Founding Member

Jan 6, 2002

5,152

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Eastern Colorado

Dec 8, 2003

#3

• Dec 8, 2003

• #3

I believe that timing will change dwell,but dwell won't change timing. Set your timing first.

 

pabear89

Active Member

Apr 15, 2003

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High in the Hills of So Ca with the Voices in My H

Dec 8, 2003

#4

• Dec 8, 2003

• #4

But isn't dwell measuring the gap on the points?
they are set and timing sets when it starts to open.

PB

 

68GEETEE

5 Year Member

Nov 21, 2003

481

5

38

Texas, USA

Dec 9, 2003

#5

• Dec 9, 2003

• #5

dwell is the amount of time the points are closed. Fine tuning really is done by setting the dwell to correct specs.

 

pabear89

Active Member

Apr 15, 2003

2,126

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46

High in the Hills of So Ca with the Voices in My H

Dec 9, 2003

#6

• Dec 9, 2003

• #6

68GEETEE said:

dwell is the amount of time the points are closed. Fine tuning really is done by setting the dwell to correct specs.

Click to expand...

I guess from old habits is why I set the dwell first.

PB

 

68GEETEE

5 Year Member

Nov 21, 2003

481

5

38

Texas, USA

Dec 9, 2003

#7

• Dec 9, 2003

• #7

I noticed a huge difference in performance after I set the dwell, its just that it had a slow turnover when i tried to start her up again, that made me wonder about the timing and what to set first. I havent owned a car with points since 1979 when i had my 67 Stang coupe, so my memory is a bit rusty.

 

HookandLadder

Founding Member

Feb 17, 2001

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St Louis

Dec 9, 2003

#8

• Dec 9, 2003

• #8

Set the dwell first. Then set the timing.

 

WORTH

20+ Year Stangneter

Nov 18, 2002

2,166

44

98

Cape Cod, Ma.

Dec 10, 2003

#9

• Dec 10, 2003

• #9

As you change the dwell, the timing will also change. You have to set the Dwell first , then the Timing.

Think of it this way. As you open the points, they will break contact later which in turn will retard the timing. As you close the points they will open sooner which will advance the timing.

The Dwell is simly the POINT GAP. Once it is set the only thing that will change it is a loose bushing in the distributor.

 

Roger Ramjet

New Member

Oct 31, 2003

131

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Southern Maryland

Dec 10, 2003

#10

• Dec 10, 2003

• #10

You gotta do dwell first. It's really the rotational degrees that the points are CLOSED - when current is flowing through the coil. More dwell equals more coil saturation time. More dwell equals closer (less) point gap. More dwell is better for high RPM operation. The spark occurs when the points open. The dwell will change as the points rub block wears - always lube the rub block on points install.