My cousin is running a dual point distributor. Does that mean the dwell is more than single points? I figure that is the whole point- longer dwell means more coil saturation time and hotter spark. Why else use one?
Dual points dwell
- Thread starter Bonnewagon
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yes you get more dwell but it doesn't help. With single point the coil has enough time to recharge. What kind of car does he have?
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It's a '69 Cuda with a full race 340. Totally unstreetable and trying to get it a little less unruly. I sent him an MSD-5 and I suggested he remove one set of points since they are merely a low voltage switch now. The goal is to get it to idle at 1000 rpm or less. Right now he's at 1200-1500. He removed a tunnel ram dual quad intake and replaced it with a dual plane Offenhauser with a Holley 750. So dual points do in fact increase the dwell? How much? If a GM normally likes 30 degrees, what would dual points show?
That sure soiunds like a sweet Cuda. There is a formula but I have long forgotten it. There is a problem with duel points is they wear out condensers faster since a condenser absorbs excess voltage. The duel points build up excess voltage which also causes the coil to run hotter and thats about all I remember about duel points. I borrowed the chart below from the link
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/ignition/ig202-1.htm
CIRCUIT BREAKER ADJUSTMENT --------------
SINGLE POINT DIST: DUAL POINT DIST:
TYPE OPENING (EA) DWELL (EA) TYPE OPENING (EA) DWELL (EA) DWELL (TOTAL)
8 cyl .018" 29°-31° 8 cyl .022" 26° 31°-35°
6 cyl .022" 31°-33° 6 cyl .028" 29° 34°-37°
4 cyl .018" 34°-36° 4 cyl .022" 32° 39°-41°
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/ignition/ig202-1.htm
CIRCUIT BREAKER ADJUSTMENT --------------
SINGLE POINT DIST: DUAL POINT DIST:
TYPE OPENING (EA) DWELL (EA) TYPE OPENING (EA) DWELL (EA) DWELL (TOTAL)
8 cyl .018" 29°-31° 8 cyl .022" 26° 31°-35°
6 cyl .022" 31°-33° 6 cyl .028" 29° 34°-37°
4 cyl .018" 34°-36° 4 cyl .022" 32° 39°-41°
whether he is has one set or two sets of points the real point is that he has one of the nicest year's of a cuda
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Thank's Steve, I will forward that info to him. He's running points because the car was set up in the early 80's then was stored for over 30 years. His wife has Alzheimer's and he is cleaning house. He sold her Turbo Shadow against her wishes, and now he wants the Cuda gone. He thought his dwell meter was out of whack but that chart shows it to be accurate. He also said the coil got ballast voltage at all times even in the "start" position, no 12 volt goose to help startup.
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