Alright I was thinking about doing points and condenser as well as checking the timing on my 1954 Ford Customline with the 239 OHV V8, but i need to know, i still have a 6 volt system? do i need to have somebody with a 6 volt timing gun? what do i need to make sure of? what is the best timing to set for a 239 v8?
Back in the day, we did a tune up with those parts once a year or every 10,000 miles. Points and condenser and new spark plugs was a fall tune up. A Y block does not need a timing light, they respond well to timing with a vacuum gauge. After the new points are in and adjusted correctly, advance the timing to max vacuum, then back it off 3/4 inch. Test drive to check for pinging. If you feel the need for a timing light and cant find a six volt model, park a modern car nose to nose and use its battery for power. Ten to 12 degrees should be OK.
The Jalopy Journal
