I just got an old 351m. The previous owner stupidly replaced the old distributor with a single point distributor. Does anyone know the point gap?
Thanks

 

I recently got a 1978 with a 351m and the previous owner swapped out the original distributor for a single point distributor. Does anyone know the point gap for this distributor?
Thanks much

 

Welcome to FTE!

Use a dwell meter and set them to 26-30°. Unless you are practiced setting points with a feeler gauge can be wildly inaccurate.

The best thing to do would be to put back in the original DS-II ignition system. It is tremendously superior to points.

 

We will have to buy another original ignition system, but in the meantime just need this one to run. I have been giving setting from .019 to .022, but don't have a dwell meter on hand. I guess we will just try each setting until we get it to run well enough, unless anyone out there has done it and knows the setting.
Thanks

 

The setting is a match book cover.

OOOPS!, I guess there are no match book covers around anymore.

Seriously, I always used 0.015", but you only have to get it close to run. The points have to close and open some time later. Have you cleaned the points? Dirty points will not work. You should use a point file, but they are probably scare items also.

 

Start small. Smaller gap means the timing happens later. Wider and the timing advances. Also, used points will have pits that hold the points open farther on the gauge than a smooth new set.

 

Use 0.017" for the points and 0.034" for the plugs. I have set thousands of them but I have seen a lot messed up. Check around for someone with a dwell meter.

 

oh how i miss those points...

i almost forgot that dwell affects timing. you need to check the timing after you set the points.

 

Set them at .017" to get it started. Then drive it somewhere and get a duraspark II distributor asap.