57 fuely dist

Chevy gurus--need a little insight-
fired the car a few days ago--runs fairly well but having issues with the dist--it's an FI dist with the pump drive, etc and had dual pts--it is really hidden behind the unit and I can't see as well as I did 30 yrs ago--anyway can't get the dwell to where it needs to be--supposed to be 34 degrees with dual pts--got it to 30 but that's the best I can do-( I set it up out of the car with the pts at .016 prior to install-dwell was at 12 degrees!)-also won't run right with timing below 12 degrees advance--book says 4-8

any help/advice appreciated--one old timer told me to disable the leading set of pts and it will run much better

I guess the next chore is to remove dist and put it on a Sun machine

THX in advance for any help

 

Get it on the Sun machine is probably your best bet, they can also check you condensers and coil.

 

I believe the dwell is suppose to be 32 degrees.. Any chance you can set the gaps at .019" on the points??? I could be wrong, but I hope not!

 

Fuel injection manual says 34 degrees for this dist in the 283 HP mtr--I can try 19 and see--manual says 4-8 dgrees advance but it won't run there very well--at 14 degrees it runs pretty good and has 15.5 inches of vacuum and steady--idle is at 850 but thats about where an 097 cam wants to idle from past experience--had a 62 340HP 327 with this cam and a wcfb and it didn't like to idle below 800 and it's a little larger CI so the cam is less lumpy than in a 283. I knew this thing was going to test my dedication--it drove me crazy 30 yrs ago til I got it dialed in--back then I just set the advance with a vacuum gauge then drove it and advanced til there was a slight ping then backed it off and never fooled with it much after that other than set valves, etc.

 

Put a piece of cardboard in one set of points and set the dwell. Now put the cardboard in the other set and set the dwell on the first set.

 

I agree with last entry. I had a real fuelie '57 way back when and you have to set the dwell on each set of points. I remember working on the car and the wife called me in for Supper just after setting the first set. When I resumed after several adult beverages I blocked the second set and it took awhile to figure out where the fire went.

 

did the paper in each pt trick already--just did again and it's now at 34 degrees--runs good but likes about 14 degrees of timing-book says 4-8-has 16 1/2 inches of vacuum and steady --idles at about 850--haven't really leaned on it yet -just driven around neighborhood-so far so good I guess

 

Tim........I figured your wife would have black lined the street by now!!!!