installing Petronix question

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by magic marouke, Sep 4, 2018.

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  1. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Bill's post reminded me of something- You did adjust the points when you put then back in right? BTW, how exactly are you adjusting them? With a feeler gauge or with a dwell meter? Remember that adjusting the dwell will change the timing. So you have to adjust the dwell to 30 degrees, THEN adjust the timing.
     
    CJay, Oct 1, 2018
    #41
  2. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    I’ve checked the distributor bolt and choke seemed ok . Haven’t got a dwell meter and didn’t set the points again as they worked fine the second time I put them in . To be honest I’ve never done it and not very confident
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #42
  3. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    I should probably mention that I have been losing my memory really bad the last 4 years or so and it has been affecting me really bad. I also have a problem with concentrating on things like this .it has become a real problem and embarrassing in this kind of situation . I do appreciate the help though guys even though I can’t keep up with it all .
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #43
  4. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Oh boy....well, that's likely the issue. Ive never had a set of points go in exactly the same way. They always need to get re-checked.

    Get yourself a dwell meter, a set of feeler gauges and a flexible dwell adjusting tools like this-

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/CTA-Flexib...541524?hash=item4b4d7c56d4:g:7FoAAOSwfsFbiPlc

    When you put the points back in, you adjust them to .016 on the high step of the distributor points cam. Once they are roughly adjusted, you start the engine and use the dwell meter to adjust them to 30 degrees. That's where the flexible tool comes in handy. Once adjusted to 30 degrees, you can adjust the timing.
     
    CJay, Oct 1, 2018
    #44
  5. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    Thanks but how do you think it was running rough before with the pertronix in ? just doesn’t add up . It worked fine yesterday and today until I got home
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #45
  6. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    I don’t have those tools or certainly the confidence to attempt the dwell . I can maybe get that part done at a friends shop
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #46
  7. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    I don't know. You have to get the points and timing adjusted correctly. Once you get everything straightened out and adjusted in the correct order, only then can we put the Pertronix back in and diagnose whats going on with that. And that's assuming something is in fact wrong with it

    That might be the best route at this point.
     
    CJay, Oct 1, 2018
    #47
  8. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    Would a regular HEI distributor be the best way to go ?
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #48
  9. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Waste of money. Its not going to fix anything.
     
    CJay, Oct 1, 2018
    #49
  10. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    Pertronix seemed to be in there good . As far as I know I didn’t loosen anything I shouldn’t have
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #50
  11. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    Really ? Wow everyone asks my why I haven’t put one in yet and swear by them
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #51
  12. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    Reason I suggested that was Incase I’ve messed up this distributor ☹️
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #52
  13. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    I would like to use the parts I already have either points or pertronix . Right now I just need it to run .
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #53
  14. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    I will keep trying some more I think although I do know my limits now . I worked in a classic car restoration shop for 6 years up until 6 years ago . I had to leave as my condition worse worsening and didn’t want to mess up on a $150,000 or so cars we were building . I still keep in touch with the boss and that’s who I can maybe take the car to.
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #54
  15. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    That’s good to know I can use the new coil rather than the one that’s probably been in there since new . Was wondering about that , thanks
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #55
  16. magic marouke

    magic marouke Well-Known Member

    I appreciate everyone’s input and help and will look over everything again tomorrow after work .
     
    magic marouke, Oct 1, 2018
    #56
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