How to adjust dwell
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC USA
How to adjust dwell
Coming from the ranks of another car manufacturer,
? I need to know how to adjust the dwell on a Ford F-100 360.
The other distributors had a trap door to allow access with an allen wrench.
I have a dwell tach and always thought it was a fine tune adjustment after the initial gap setting.
Please help,
Thanks,
Richard
? I need to know how to adjust the dwell on a Ford F-100 360.
The other distributors had a trap door to allow access with an allen wrench.
I have a dwell tach and always thought it was a fine tune adjustment after the initial gap setting.
Please help,
Thanks,
Richard
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Tucson
How to adjust dwell
Spoiled by a Chevy, heh. Anyhow, as far as I know, you have to adjust the points the really old fashioned way. Use a feeler guage, put the cap back on and see what the dwell is. If it's out of range, take the cap off, use the feeler...
jor
jor
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 6
From: Coal country
How to adjust dwell
Richard, you are correct in your assumptions about the dwell, and that it is a fine adjustment. Since Fords don't have that little window, you need to pull the cap off each time.
HOWEVER. Dwell isn't so critical that a couple of degrees are going to cause a problem - ususally. Most of the exeptions have to do with non-stock carbs, cams, coils, etc. Here's the basic process, with the vacuum advance plugged (or connected, if so indicated):
1. Set your static dwell with a feeler gauge.
2. Set your static timing.
3. Start the engine, and get it warmed up.
4. If dwell is close, set your timing, and you are done.
5. If dwell isn' close, set your timing to the approximate spot, shut the engine down, and re-set your dwell.
6. Repeat Step 5 until you've got it good.
Hope this helps!
HOWEVER. Dwell isn't so critical that a couple of degrees are going to cause a problem - ususally. Most of the exeptions have to do with non-stock carbs, cams, coils, etc. Here's the basic process, with the vacuum advance plugged (or connected, if so indicated):
1. Set your static dwell with a feeler gauge.
2. Set your static timing.
3. Start the engine, and get it warmed up.
4. If dwell is close, set your timing, and you are done.
5. If dwell isn' close, set your timing to the approximate spot, shut the engine down, and re-set your dwell.
6. Repeat Step 5 until you've got it good.
Hope this helps!
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
How to adjust dwell
I tuned Fords for 25 years before I had a dwell meter. 
Used to test the ignition by pulling a high rpm in 3rd gear. If it didn't miss, I was satisfied. I was running a capacitor discharge ignition in 67, points lasted forever with just a small trigger current going thru them. 
Used to test the ignition by pulling a high rpm in 3rd gear. If it didn't miss, I was satisfied. I was running a capacitor discharge ignition in 67, points lasted forever with just a small trigger current going thru them. 
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC USA
How to adjust dwell
Thanks for all the help.
Put on a high quality copper contact cap and new rotor.
I checked the dwell, without knowing to zero, and found 34 degrees.
Too late in the night to make adjustments. May try tomorrow.
Plates in the distributor did NOT seem to be very moveable for advance, but I know it gets up to about 28 BTDC at 1600RPM so centrifical is evidently moving. How freely should they move?
Richard
Put on a high quality copper contact cap and new rotor.
I checked the dwell, without knowing to zero, and found 34 degrees.
Too late in the night to make adjustments. May try tomorrow.
Plates in the distributor did NOT seem to be very moveable for advance, but I know it gets up to about 28 BTDC at 1600RPM so centrifical is evidently moving. How freely should they move?
Richard
