Technical GM points dist and timing

While timing a 327 with a points dist, The mark on the damper was bouncing around. My first guess was worn dist bushing, but they are good. Cap rotor ect check out as well.

SO here is my question. Will a GM stock points ignition be enough to trigger and induction timing light?

I misplaced my old spring on plug light, I use this one at the track all the time. But things go bad...

 

should work fine with points and an inductive timing light

 

I never had a problem getting mine to work, The stock GM ignition should be more than adequate to trigger the light. Have you tried changing the position of the pickup, along the wire ? Is the wire for another cyl possibly touching the pickup ?

I'd borrow another induction light, to verify if it's the light. What condition of plug wires?

4TTRUK

 

put a dwell meter on it while running and see what it does

 

How far is "all around?" Could be a bad balancer.

 

Also check the ignition advance springs inside the distributor, one or both could be broken, missing or off of the tabs.

Points or electronic doesn't affect the timing light, either system will work.
Let us know what you find.
Greg

 

Thanks. I while the weight springs are fine, or look fine, I was wondering about them or a weight hangin up. Every other component is New with the tune up.

The strobe is eratic, like its not picking up the signal, I did move it on the wire, and switched position ...

While timing it, the mark moves 4 deg up to 10 either way, then back to stable, then advanced 10 retard 10, back and forth while stailizing as it goes...

While I was timing, the other guy was watching saying the light strobe wasn't consitant, which makes me think it in the pickup not consistently getting a signal.

 

I had a cheapo sears advance timing light do that to me once. I had to shit can it. Borrow another timing light and see what it does.

 

How old is your timing chain?

 

Engine is all redone, and it runs great. 327 and P-glide. I timed it by ear, no ping, performs well. I have to borrow a light. This was a good one, I got it at Summit, with the dial on it. I am gonna try another, then that will tell.

I am also gonna try to time my HEI in my 40, it did fine before....

Thanks for the input

 

If the light is a dial-back, I would suspect something wrong with it. If your car REALLY has 20 degrees of ignition timing "slop" at idle, the car wouldn't run that well.

 

Mike, try it on another wire to see if you get a consistent strobe....maybe # one plug wire bad?

 

this ^
try the light with a slight but steady higher RPM,
like hold the RPM's up at ...say 900 or 1200.. just not at idle.
and see if the light steadies it self.

 

Hey UPSPIRATE,,, ya I tried it on another wire it was still eratic....

I gotta check this gun. It never gave me any headackes, but think its gone bad.

 

I don't think dial back timing lights can be as accurate as a simple light.


Ago

 

You could also put the distributor in a distributor machine to prove it's OK.

 

some times the contacts on the gate for the inductive coil get rust/oxide/metal shavings on them and it will drop signal , take a peice of paper and pull strip thru the ferrite ends on the inductor to see if any rust comes off . mine does the bouncy bounce if its been sitting for a while, a quick hit with the paper or a shop rag and it works perfectly . it just takes a little bit as its not a true closed contact and it has a very weak magnetic field