distributer contact points!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 16, 2008 | 10:06 PM

Angry Slide

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 15

Likes: 0

distributer contact points!

hello, i have a 1972 f100 and would like to know how to change out the distributer contact points and adjusting them. thank you!

Mar 17, 2008 | 02:33 PM

blue68f100

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,836

Likes: 261

From: Piney Woods of East Texas

Remove the cap, the points are held in place with 2 screws. I would use one of the pointless conversion units. Will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Points require a lot of maintance. To adjust the point you need to have the cam open the points at max position. There is a slot at the end of the points that is for a slotted screwdriver, this is use to adj the points while the screws are just snug (not tight). I do not recall what the gap is, but I think it's 0.017 or maybe 0.025". Should be a label some where stating the gap and plug gap.

Mar 17, 2008 | 04:04 PM

Unimog005

Elder User

Joined: Jul 2004

Posts: 920

Likes: 0

From: Westminster, Colorado

You'll need either a big wrench or a "bump switch" to roll the engine over to get the lobe in the right position for points open.....another method (once you get better at it) is to simply, loosen and spin the distributor a bit until the points are open to the max, then adjust it back to position for timing afterwards....

Adjusting points, although a PITA, is one of my favorite parts of tune-ups.....I have yet to switch to electronic.......My Beetle was sooooo much easier to adjust though!

Mar 17, 2008 | 07:32 PM

baitmaster

Posting Guru

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 1,622

Likes: 0

From: nevada

I would side with Blue68, installed that Pertronix system in my '72 almost 10 yrs ago, and havent touched it since. Got tired of buying and playing with points. Best 60 bucks I ever spent on the truck.

Mar 17, 2008 | 10:52 PM

pdd

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

You can also get a friend to bump the ignition to get points on the high lobe of the dist. You can watch dist. while he bumps ignition till it rests on the high part of the lobe. Just adjusted mine again yesterday, can't wait to get my duraspark system in. A pointless system is the way to go.

Mar 17, 2008 | 11:26 PM

pdd

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 47

Likes: 0

http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us...rInfoPages.htm
Not for your truck but proper procedure, I think .017 is correct gap but someone correct me if I'am wrong.

Mar 18, 2008 | 06:09 PM

dgassett

Senior User

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 148

Likes: 0

From: las vegas

I also agree. I went with the pertronix set up and really like it. I had a bad experience with points. Maybe it was just autozone bad points or bad luck. I had to go through 2 sets of points before I bought another set from somewhere else. Tons of trouble shooting and frustration. As far as gap goes I just use a match book cover. Used to work great for me. Bit, now I don't have to worry about that anymore. yeehaww