| Author | Message | ||
     Blake Monchilovich (Azblake) Member Username: Azblake Post Number: 81 Registered: 02-2003 |
I rebuilt the distributor a while back and recently relocated the ignition module amp. A local tech suggested checking the dwell to avoid overworking the amp. Has anybody done this? Need specialized tooling? Thanks | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1160 Registered: 09-2002 |
Blake, on a distributor with magnetic pick-up, dwell is a bit of a misnomer. Having the pickup coil closer to the reluctor ring will increase the signal level, and, maybe, time between the most positive and most negative voltage coming from the pickup coil. I may be wrong, but I have NEVER seen any changes in breakerless ignition operation with change of pickup coil location (other than when you move it closer, your spark gets more advance, so you should recheck that). peter | ||
| Dave Thomas (Dthomas) New Member Username: Dthomas Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2003 |
Wow...'checking the dwell'...havent heard anyone say that in a long time! Blake, were you able to find a source for a new reluctor for your distributor? When I rebuilt mine I was told that you can not purchase the reluctor, only the baseplate and pickup. | ||
| Blake Monchilovich (Azblake) Member Username: Azblake Post Number: 82 Registered: 02-2003 |
When I messed with the distributor, I broke the plastic piece that holds the pickup in position. I took it out to JB Weld it back together. I had replaced the ignition amp a few months before and it died after about a year and a half. When I got the new amp and relocation kit, a LR Tech said it seemed like a pretty short lifetime for the amp and said that the pickup position could be making the amp and coil work harder than they had to. I shimmed it per the manual, but he said the objective way to measure it was by the dwell. I can't remember the exact number, but he said you could fine tune the gap and save wear and tear on the other parts. Dave, I just replaced all the brittle plastic bits and reused the same reluctor. Still curious how to do it. Can you buy or rent a specific tool? | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1163 Registered: 09-2002 |
Well... in that case, if you have any room for adjustment, just move the pickup coil away from the reluctor ring, by about 1/32". Even that could be too far away, then you may see some miss at high RPM. The best way, I believe, is to use GM HEI ignition amplifier - especially since you have relocation kit already installed. | ||
| Blake Monchilovich (Azblake) Member Username: Azblake Post Number: 83 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hey guys. Thanks for the feedback. Looks like I can rent a meter locally. I'll probably have time to play with it over the break and will post results. | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1166 Registered: 09-2002 |
Where do you hook it up? | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 175 Registered: 11-2002 |
The Atlantic British rebuilt kit has the little plastic "top hat". | ||
| Blake Monchilovich (Azblake) Member Username: Azblake Post Number: 86 Registered: 02-2003 |
Not sure about the hookup until I go get it. I assume it will be an inductive type like a timing light. Will post when done. |
