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This might sound confusing, but the positive lead to the dwell meter goes to the negative side of the coil -- the same side the wire to the points goes to, and the negative lead to the dwell meter goes to a good ground like an intake manifold bolt or coil bracket bolt for example. Make sure you read the dwell on the right scale for the number of cylinders the engine has, or make sure you have the meter set to the number of cylinders the engine has (depending on what kind of dwell meter you're using) or else the dwell readings and RPM readings will be wrong.
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What is the points gap on a 350 Chevy?
When set properly, the gap would probably be about .018". The correct way to set the points would be to hook up a dwell meter and adjust the points for 30 degrees dwell.
How do you set the points on a gm ignition system?
It depends on the year. For quite a while the points could be accessed through a little hole on the side of the distributor cap. The points were installed "close enough" to get the engine started then you would use a "dwell tach" to set the points through the little hole. But for the record, newer GM engines don't use points. The "dwell tach" the previous poster is referring to is a combination tachometer and dwell meter that can be purchased at most auto parts stores. The points should be set for 30 degrees dwell. Most GM cars stopped using points and went to HEI around 1974.
How do you set the points on a 1978 vw bug 1600?
There are two ways to do it: the cheap way and the right way.The cheap way is strictly with feeler gauges. You remove the distributor cap and rotor, rotate the engine until the points are all the way open, loosen the little screw holding the points in, gap the points to 0.016" and put the car back together. The right way also requires a dwell-tach. After you set the gap to .016, hook up the dwell-tach, put it in four cylinder mode, and start the engine. Put the instrument on TACH and adjust idle to 1500 rpm. Then put it on DWELL - the length of time, in degrees, the points are open. The dwell should be 50 degrees plus or minus two. If it's too short, the points are too far closed; if too long, they're too far open.
What is the gap for the points for a 1973 vw beetle?
If you have a dwell tach, the proper dwell is 50 degrees plus or minus two at 1500rpm. If you're too cheap to buy a dwell tach, set it at 0.016" and call it good. On my car, 50 degrees of dwell equals .009" gap. Dwell is the length of time, in degrees of crankshaft rotation, the points are open. Too little dwell and you're not getting spark long enough to properly burn the fuel. Too much dwell and you're just screwing up your plugs for no reason.
How do you set the points on a 350 1973 Chevy Impala?
Hook up a dwell meter and turn the 1/8" hex screw on the point set to achieve 30 degrees dwell. (Engine running)
How do you set the points on a 350 Chevy?
Chev 350's haven't used points for a long time. If you have an older one, just put the new points in place & reassemble the distributor, then, with the engine running, open the little window and use an Allen wrench to adjust the dwell. Of course, that means that you will need a dwell/tach. Newer Chev 350's don't have points. Correct dwell would be 30 degrees.
Should the point gap be set at TDC on 69' Chevy 350 C20?
The point gap should be set when the cam follower is at the highest point of the distributor cam lobe. Depending on how the distributor is timed that may not be TDC, and for that matter, it doesn't matter which of the eight high points you use. If you have a "dwell tach", setting the dwell is a lot more accurate than messing with feeler gauges and trying to figure out when you're at the high point of the distributor cam. When using a dwell tach you just have to put the points in and have them close enough to start the engine, then you can adjust the points from there. If I remember right, didn't the Chev use points that had an Allen wrench adjustment and a window for access? It's been a while. Previous post is correct about using a dwell meter to set point gap. New points should be close enough out of the box to start the engine. Allen wrench is 1/8". Correct dwell should be 30 degrees.
What is the gap for the points for a 1983 vw 1500motor?
50 degrees of dwell. You can't do the final point setting procedure with feeler gauges, because every set of points and condenser is a little different. How to set them: First set the points to .016" gap. Next, hook up your dwell meter and start the engine. With the meter set to the 4-cylinder position, see if you have 50 degrees of dwell angle on the meter. If you have more, close the points .001" and try it again. If you have less, open them up .001" and recheck. Keep doing it until the dwell angle is 50 degrees.
How do you set the dwell on a 1974 350 Chevy truck?
attach a dwell meter and set the points for 30 degrees.
Point setting for a 1978 super beetle?
50 degrees of dwell, plus or minus two degrees. Set them to .016", hook up your dwell meter and run the engine. If the dwell's too high, open the points gap; too low, close it down.
How do you set dwell with out engine running?
My advice would be to set the points at .020" with a feeler gage to get the engine running, and then use a dwell meter to set the dwell after the engine is running.
What do the points get set at in a 534 engine?
30 degrees dwell
