How to adjust dwell angle on a 050 distributor

Touque · 12-10-2002, 04:17 AM

I have NO clue on this? I have read about about the dwell angle, but can't figure out how to adjust it. There is a little 'window' on the side of the dist, but don't know if that's where it's supposed to be adjusted...

any ideas?

thanks in advance,

Troy

ron69912t · 12-10-2002, 11:50 AM

Troy:
There is no little access window on an 050 distributor like there was on old GM distributors so you could adjust the Dwell Angle with a little allen wrench while the engine was running.

Dwell Angle just refers to the duration in degrees that the points are open. You need a Dwell Meter to read the Dwell Angle. And if you had a Dwell Meter you would still have to adjust the Dwell (point gap) by hand with a feeler gage on you 912.

You could take the distributor cap off the distributor and crank the engine while reading the Dwell Meter and adjusting the points gap. Hard to coordinate everything this way.

Better you forget the Dwell Angle and just adjust your distributor point gap to factory specifications, my 69 is 0.016" (or 50 +-3 degrees Dwell Angle).

Good Luck
Ron

Touque · 12-10-2002, 12:37 PM

thanks Ron,

I didn't realize that the dwell angle was essentially 'controlled' by the points gap - I thought they were adjusted separately...

I do have a dwell meter, but also adjusted my points when I 1st installed the 050... By the sounds of it, i'm done then!

thanks again,

Troy

ron69912t · 12-10-2002, 01:12 PM

Troy:
You can still use your Dwell Meter to check your points to see if they are still set OK. It's faster than doing the feeler gage check.

Food for thought...I installed a Pertronix electronic breakerless points kit on my 050 and I love it. No more adjusting points. One less thing to worry about in life.

I recall I paid about $65-70 for the 050 Pertronix kit. Check around you may do better.

Good luck,
Ron

Green 912 · 12-10-2002, 01:28 PM

Ron is spot on, just the gap and then you won't have to dwell on it anymore. Don't forget to check the timing if you change the gap and use a CLEAN grease and oil free feeler guage. I zap the point contacts and feeler with a shot of brake clean when I install fresh points. The little bit of oil on the feeler can start a carbon buildup that feeds itself from there. Just the tips not the rub bar or pivot

The real good side of breakerless ignition, no points to gap. The bad side, when they cr@p out there is nothing you can do while you are standing on the side of the road.

Touque · 12-10-2002, 03:14 PM

since you've 'pointed' out all the angles, I won't dwell on it anymore

I've thought about the Pertronix and should've bought one last week when I fried my current set of points (thought it was more $$ for the electronic)

didn't know that about the oil on the points, so i'll go in and clean them off...

ron69912t · 12-11-2002, 05:03 AM

Green may be right regarding if and when my electronic ignition fails that's why the old points and condenser are in my glove box! Just-in-case.

Also carry a spare distributor cap, rotor, set of plugs, clutch cable, quart of oil, rags, manual, air compressor, fuses, v-belt and a ton of hand tools.

Thanks,
Ron

Green 912 · 12-11-2002, 09:50 AM

Ron, Smart.

The level of reliability is directly proportional to the weight of the toolbox. With that in mind my old rattle trap now requires an 18 foot trailer.

I want to try electronic ignition but I still have 3 sets of points left.

maf 914 · 12-18-2002, 12:17 PM

Kinda late on this post, but I have an 050 distributor and used to use points. I found that the factory specified point gap resulted in the dwell being at the limit of the specified dwell. By setting the points at the max setting or a little over I could get the dwell within the recommended dwell range. It seemed to run better for longer.

I have since installed an Allison/Crane ignition. No more points. Much better!

Mike

Touque · 12-20-2002, 10:27 AM

is it right to assume that the dwell angle is more important than the points gap (even though you change the dwell by adjusting the points)?

ron69912t · 12-20-2002, 11:31 AM

Touque:
They are one in the same and one cannot be more important than the other since they relaite to the same thing.

If you can only set points with a feeler gage forget the Dwell Angle.

If you can read the Dwell Angle with a meter than forget the point gap feeler gage measurement and focus on the Dwell Angle. You have a Dwell Meter so just use it to set or check your points.

When the points are set properly the "Gap" and "Dwell Angle" are for all practical purposes the same just expressed differently, inches vs. angle.

They are just two methods used to set-up or check the same thing.

I know it's confusing!

Ron

Touque · 12-20-2002, 11:59 AM

thanks Ron, 'but'...

I totally understand that they are essentially the same, but are two different 'methods' of setting up the correct ignition - however, in another post, someone mentioned that when the points were set correctly, then the dwell was not correct, and I have a feeling that mine is the same.

i'm going to check for sure this weekend, but I thought my dwell was in the low-to-mid 40 degree range, and if memory serves me correct, it should be 53+- 3 or so...

that's why I was wondering which one would be the 'most' important...

of course, I could be totally wrong (like usual - hehe)

Touque · 12-20-2002, 12:36 PM

well, just had the chance to check the dwell and it's at 52 degrees... right within spec

Duke · 12-20-2002, 07:43 PM

If your points are set correctly, your dwell should be 50 degrees +or-3. Mine is always right on 50.