George Vondriska teaches you how to find the correct gaps between points on your car engine. He starts by showing you how to create the largest gap possible between points. This will not give you the perfect gap, but allows for your classic car to run. Then, he teaches you how to maneuver the gaps to find the perfect distance between points.
2 Responses to “Gapping the Points on Your Car Engine”
-
4:01
Classic Car Maintenance Tips: Timing the Engine
Brent Ackley teaches you how to correctly install a distributor into the engine of a 1956 Chevrolet 150, walking you step by step through the process and demonstrating the essential classic car maintenance tips and techniques you’ll need to utilize. He shows the proper method for opening the intake valves in order to drop in…
Watch Now >> -
3:17
The Shade Tree Mechanic: Engine Repair
George Vondriska pops the hood on Brent Ackley’s 1966 Buick Skylark to take a look at its 225 V6 engine and talk about what it means to be a shade tree mechanic, or someone who can learn to fix some of the problems in a car’s engine with the basic tools they have lying around…
Watch Now >> -
2:44
1977 El Camino Project Car
Brent Ackley and George Vondriska have a new project to work on, a 1977 El Camino. Mechanically the El Camino is in good shape but the body is in poor shape. The body is what they plan to focus on. Brent and George will be providing lessons on how to work around the fact that you can’t readily find body parts…
Watch Now >> -
1:01
Tips for Timing the Engine of a Classic Car
Brent Ackley teaches you how to time an engine for a classic car. He explains that all you need is ordinary chalk to mark the timing marks between the harmonic balancer and timing grid.
Watch Now >>
How do you set GM points with a screwdriver? I always had to use a allen wrench and a dwell meter.
Most early cars and trucks do not have a window in the side of the distributer cap to set the dwell and points in the manner you are describing. Most points have a round and a slotted hole in them. Once they are snuggly put in place the engine is manually rotated to place the points in the max open position then a feeler gauge is used to adjust the points to the desired distance apart they should be at max open, then the points are tightened down securely using a screwdriver.
Dwell is the number of degrees of engine rotation that the points remain open not the distance they are open. You are correct that dwell does affect point gap, however it is not the only adjustment that should be made when setting the points.
I generally look at it like this… setting the point gap will get it running… setting the dwell fine tunes that adjustment.
Wrench Safe, Mark