Dist. question

Hudlow66 · 05-26-2011, 11:13 PM

Got a question for the guys (and gals) who may have to run these old school distributors because of class rules. What do ya think I should I set my points gaps at, in my Accel duel point dist.? Mind you, it's in a 1966 GTO street car. Thanks ~ Phil

Richard Grant · 05-26-2011, 11:45 PM

Unless you are required to run points for some reason, change to a MSD. Set one set of the points where they are barely open to trigger the MSD or change to a MSD distributor. You will have so much grief with trying to run points that you don't have to endure. The car will start much easier and run much better. By eliminating the points you never have to worry about the gap closing up and it not starting or running.

Phillip marvetz · 05-27-2011, 12:25 AM

Set dwell at 28-32. Run each set of points seperately from the other to get the dwell. IE set one set then disconnect and set the other. This is the only way I could get my dual point to work worth a dam, Then I could scare my friends to death on the street with 3rd gear curb to curb steering wheel spinning fun. Dam I miss that 440 Cuda. . . . .

Alan Roehrich · 05-27-2011, 12:39 AM

I use the corner of a business card to block off each set of points individually, and set the other set to 28 degrees dwell.

BlueOval Ralph · 05-27-2011, 08:48 AM

At one time Sears use to sell a kit to do this, it had 4 or 5 rings if different dia to go over Dist Cam and held both sets open. Still have mine along with my P & G Valve gapper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

I use the corner of a business card to block off each set of points individually, and set the other set to 28 degrees dwell.

Hudlow66 · 05-27-2011, 10:09 PM

Thank you very much

Jeff Lee · 05-28-2011, 02:17 AM

I had a low compression fairly hot (for the day) 340 using an accel dual point. It was the good one with bearing to support the shaft on the top of the body and used the GM style points. I had the luxury of using the track free of charge with a buddy one day. I tried everything that was in the tunning category. That included different dwell angles and even trying to stagger settings on each set of points. I was convinced I would find something..
In the end, 28-32 as the directions said (I kept them at 32 dwell angle each) was as good as it got. And do run the HD points by accel. I forgot, are they 32oz spring tension? That's been a LONG time!
FYI - Old Modified racers would set up one set of points to retard in high gear and gain MPH. I'm sure somebody here knows how to do it as I don't.

Adger Smith · 05-28-2011, 03:02 PM

Jeff...Yep, been there done that with the offset. I had a dist machine that I played with to do the set up. I had a switch on the shifter that would activate in 3 rd or 4 th gear. If my memory isn't too faded I think it was a 7 degree offset. You could vary the dwell angle on, gosh can't remember, leading?? set of points and change the degrees slightly. Setting the points with the high spring pressure was always better if you Didn't block one set. I had a pigtail that broke them apart. That way the heavy spring pressures wouldn't push the dist cam around if there was any amount of slack in a well used dist. I still have one of thes dist in my collection of old parts and some of the points in stock...I'll never forget when the Accel BEI came out. I took my points setup out and installed the BEI. Set the timing at exactly the same place and then had to do some work on the idle. The spark quality at low rpm was so much better it idled the engine up a sigifinant amount. Those were the good old days just as technology started taking off!!!

Mark Yacavone · 05-28-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

FYI - Old Modified racers would set up one set of points to retard in high gear and gain MPH. I'm sure somebody here knows how to do it as I don't.

I've got to edit this ...give me a few!!

Instead of using the jumper wire between sets, you run it through a toggle switch, then to the sec. set...
In high, the 1st set is open but the second set is still closed, grounding the coil.
When IT opens, you get a later spark.

Leading set is about normal, 2nd set is adjusted for drop.

Jeez, it's only been 40 years!

Yes, that's the old adage...Increase dwell, decrease timing...and vice versa

I've got to get this right before Mulry jumps all over me!!

Adger Smith · 05-28-2011, 04:03 PM

That is it, Mark your memory is way better than mine!! :~)
The dwell on the second set coud be way different to get the deg drop. I ran one set of secondary points so close they arced and burt up. Again If my memory is all there it was more dwell on the second set got less timing... ?? OK Memeory Mark!! ??

05-26-2011, 11:13 PM	#1
Hudlow66 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 59 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Dist. question Got a question for the guys (and gals) who may have to run these old school distributors because of class rules. What do ya think I should I set my points gaps at, in my Accel duel point dist.? Mind you, it's in a 1966 GTO street car. Thanks ~ Phil __________________ Phil Hudlow 6678 (S/C, S/G, ET-PRO)

05-26-2011, 11:45 PM	#2
Richard Grant Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: West Monroe, La. Posts: 301 Likes: 9 Liked 13 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Dist. question Unless you are required to run points for some reason, change to a MSD. Set one set of the points where they are barely open to trigger the MSD or change to a MSD distributor. You will have so much grief with trying to run points that you don't have to endure. The car will start much easier and run much better. By eliminating the points you never have to worry about the gap closing up and it not starting or running. __________________ Richard Grant 4988 STK

05-27-2011, 12:25 AM	#3
Phillip marvetz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lynden ,WA Posts: 820 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Dist. question Set dwell at 28-32. Run each set of points seperately from the other to get the dwell. IE set one set then disconnect and set the other. This is the only way I could get my dual point to work worth a dam, Then I could scare my friends to death on the street with 3rd gear curb to curb steering wheel spinning fun. Dam I miss that 440 Cuda. . . . . __________________ 2009 V/SA Record Holder

05-27-2011, 12:39 AM	#4
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,111 Likes: 1,570 Liked 1,814 Times in 413 Posts	Re: Dist. question I use the corner of a business card to block off each set of points individually, and set the other set to 28 degrees dwell. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

05-27-2011, 10:09 PM	#6
Hudlow66 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 59 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Dist. question Thank you very much __________________ Phil Hudlow 6678 (S/C, S/G, ET-PRO)

05-28-2011, 02:17 AM	#7
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Dist. question I had a low compression fairly hot (for the day) 340 using an accel dual point. It was the good one with bearing to support the shaft on the top of the body and used the GM style points. I had the luxury of using the track free of charge with a buddy one day. I tried everything that was in the tunning category. That included different dwell angles and even trying to stagger settings on each set of points. I was convinced I would find something.. In the end, 28-32 as the directions said (I kept them at 32 dwell angle each) was as good as it got. And do run the HD points by accel. I forgot, are they 32oz spring tension? That's been a LONG time! FYI - Old Modified racers would set up one set of points to retard in high gear and gain MPH. I'm sure somebody here knows how to do it as I don't. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

05-28-2011, 03:02 PM	#8
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Dist. question Jeff...Yep, been there done that with the offset. I had a dist machine that I played with to do the set up. I had a switch on the shifter that would activate in 3 rd or 4 th gear. If my memory isn't too faded I think it was a 7 degree offset. You could vary the dwell angle on, gosh can't remember, leading?? set of points and change the degrees slightly. Setting the points with the high spring pressure was always better if you Didn't block one set. I had a pigtail that broke them apart. That way the heavy spring pressures wouldn't push the dist cam around if there was any amount of slack in a well used dist. I still have one of thes dist in my collection of old parts and some of the points in stock...I'll never forget when the Accel BEI came out. I took my points setup out and installed the BEI. Set the timing at exactly the same place and then had to do some work on the idle. The spark quality at low rpm was so much better it idled the engine up a sigifinant amount. Those were the good old days just as technology started taking off!!! __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

05-28-2011, 04:03 PM	#10
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: Dist. question That is it, Mark your memory is way better than mine!! :~) The dwell on the second set coud be way different to get the deg drop. I ran one set of secondary points so close they arced and burt up. Again If my memory is all there it was more dwell on the second set got less timing... ?? OK Memeory Mark!! ?? __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

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