The one I have is a old kind with a big needle and plastic switches. Is there a digital kind nowadays that I can buy that is reasonable priced? What kind of dwell meters, points checkers are you all using these days. I dont even have my instructions anymore for this one and cant remember how to hook it up. It has a Red Clip a Black Clip and a Yellow alligator clip. I remember the Yellow one goes on the neg coil for RPM but I cant remember for points and dwell. Anybody know or can suggest a new digital kind? Much appreciated Thanks
Gary, I would check Sears first and see if they still have dwell/RPM type meters. If there is a digital out there I've never seen it. Most of this stuff went out the window around '74 at the onset of HEI for GM. Ebay might be a good source for a quality used one. That is where I found mine and it came with the original box and instructions still intact.
No way man. You MUST use a period correct dwell meter otherwise you'll lose points at a concours event.
Let me come back to this without much smart-alekism. The red and black clips are for your battery. The yellow will go to your coil positive (I think). I have a sears dwell/tach and can quickly confirm neg or pos coil once I get home.
I think that a digital automotive multimeter is a must have for anyone's toolbox. If your going to buy one, get a good one. I have an older OTC 500 that works great. Does everything you could possibly want. At the time, I paid $450 for it, but Ive seen them on Ebay for next to nothing. The newer Fluke 88 is pretty much as good as you can get. Its a little pricey, but I cant stress enough how important a good meter is. Good tools last a lifetime!
Most do. Just make sure the one your getting does. The OTC 3505 is the replacement for the OTC 500 I have. The OTC website has all the details about it. Mine has a current clamp that I dont see on the new one though. http://www.otctools.com/products/detail.php?id=1318
A digital meter for a mechanical ignition?ou: No way. Come on, man! You have a dinosaur for a reason! The analog gauge is all you need. :beers2: :beers2:
Digital??? What.. do you think this is the 21st century or something? You might cause harm to your non digital car using one of those.....:laugh:
Red clip to positive battery cable, black clip to negative battery terminal, yellow alligator clip to negative side of coil, which covers dwell and RPMs both.
X2, and there should be a switch on the meter to toggle between dwell and RPM. Also, there should be several scales on the meter for 4, 6, and 8 cylinder.
I have an analog type meter. While I don't have experience with digital automotive meters, I have used digital meters in other applications. Sometimes the analog meter is a bit easier to use because if the signal varies the digital meter is harder to read. You have to watch it carefully to determine what the value is as the numbers quickly change around even if it is hovering around the same point. With an analog meter, you can determine the reading much easier in those cases. I'm not sure what I wrote makes any sense, but hopefully you get my point. Nick
Sears still carries them. I just bought one 3 weeks ago. They sell Actron brand. Two leads. Green to neg. side of coil, black to engine ground. By the way, as you can see by my user name, I'm an Oldsmobile guy but I Come IN peace. Hello. Tom
I bought one at Sears (in the Sears box) just before Christmas for $30. It was the only one they had...
