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#79288 06/27/2007 7:50 PM | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 92 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 92 | Can someone tell me how to hook up a dwell meter and set dwell on a 283? I understand you set dwell then timing. Thanks Virg :rolleyes: | | |
#79289 06/27/2007 8:07 PM | Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,464 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,464 | I have a 2-wire dwell meter. The black goes to a good ground, the red connects to the coil terminal that is wired to the distributor. Set the meter for 8 cyl., fire it up and let it idle. The dwell for you engine should be 28-32 degrees. If it's not within those limits, adjust the point gap. Good luck! | | |
#79290 06/27/2007 9:52 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Virg,
With the very cool trap door in the distributor cap, this task gives a whole new meaning to the word 'easy'! I think you are right...dwell then timing.
Stuart | | |
#79291 06/27/2007 10:20 PM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 236 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 236 | Yep, with the 8 cylinder distributor it should be a piece of cake. Why they didn't provide access for sdjusting the points on the distributor for a 6 cyl. I will never understand.
58 Fleetside, 235, "The Old Buckin' Bronco"
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#79292 06/29/2007 7:10 PM | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | 6's aren't as sensitive to dwell problems as 8's, and not very many people had dwell meters when the 6 cylinder Delco distributor was designed in the 1930's.
Paint & Body Shop moderator
A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | |
#79293 06/30/2007 9:52 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | You don't even need the distributer cap on to set the dwell, just hook the meter up and spin the starter. Dwell is just the number of degrees the points are closed to get the right coil saturation. Pull the rotor off so it doesn't crash into your screwdriver and adjust the points for the desired dwell while the engines spinning over. Takes maybe 20 seconds. GM's and Chryslers didn't give much problem by setting the point gap with a feeler guage, not so Ford; the gap often didn't correspond with the dwell reading--especially on one with some wear.
Evan
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