Update:
Finally got a chance to take the truck back to the mechanic yesterday armed with what I thought would be the answers to my rough running engine. Following the instructions from the previous owner, set dwell to 30 and timed engine to line up pointer to bead (I had cleaned flywheel and painted bead bright yellow). Truck still ran awful. We then confirmed that rotor did not match up with contacts in cap so turned distributor. Long story short, truck would not even start. Unfortunately, the mechanic was backed up with some other work (wish he hadn't even started work on mine) so I told him just to get it where it would start again and I would bring the truck back next week. Did that but was barely able to get the truck back home (2 miles) since it was misfiring so bad.
I (and some Stovebolt members) have come to the conclusion that the distributor has been installed incorrectly and is a tooth off. This would explain why the PO had modified the cap so it would line up with the rotor.
That being said, will attempt to start from scratch. According to my 1952 manual I need to:
Put a mark on the distributor body where the #1 cap contact is located
Remove valve cover and turn engine until both valves on cylinder #1 are closed. Flywheel pointer should be at U/C mark.
Loosen screw and pull distributor out of engine. Put distributor back in engine making sure rotor lines up with mark on distributor. Will probably have to use long screwdiver to turn oil pump so distributor will drop in.
Set gap in points (0.019") per 1961 engine specs
Set timing so pointer lines up with bead
Sound about right?????
Many thanks
