Dwell - cannot get larger than 39, '74 2.0 - Barn Find Options

[ctc911ctc]

Hi,

Have been spending a great amount of time on timing.

Bought new everything (points, wires, coil, etc).

set the gap to .016 as per the manual and then the dwell came in at 25.

closed the gap more and cannot get the dwell above 40 (aiming at 45). Right now it is at 39.

Question: what would you chase first?

Points? (perhaps they are not engineered correctly) (they are not Bosch)
Dwell Meter ( I have 2 of the same manufacturer - I know, I know.....)
Ignition Cam? (car has 20K on it, should be ok)
Ignore the last 6-8 dwell points and go to the next thing (close enough)

Thank

[r_towle]

Pull the distributor, set the points on the bench?
Might give you a better angle of attack?

It’s a 4 lobe cam in the distributor.
Get close to what you think is TDC, with the points open, then turn the distributor back and forth while watching the gap in the points.you may be setting them slightly off.

16 gets you home, but it’s rarely 16 in my experience.
It’s usually less.
I remember using a matchbook cover to set points (to get home) after a roadside tune while scraping carbon off the points with a knife, then setting them with a matchbook cover, in the dark....after a long night.

You can get this, drop down a gauge.
Remember, each car is different, the gauge gets you close, the dwell meter is the true setting.
Car won’t run right if the dwell is off.