Re: [FWDLK] ignition points on old hemi engines

It sounds to me you should also check to see if you have power going to your points when the engine is shut off. You might have something wired incorrectly, or you have a slight short in your regulator or generator…ect.. I’ve seen electric cooling fans do this also, they can allow a very slight current through their windings … just a thought…

From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List [mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dave Homstad
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 5:27 AM
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] ignition points on old hemi engines

Ted,

My experience has been completely different. My Dodge has dual points too. I cleaned up and lubricated the distributor when I installed the rebuilt engine 20 years ago. I used an NOS AutoLite dual point set I got at a swap meet (got 4 sets for $1 each, all he had).

The points were set to spec at .017 gap (about a 30 deg dwell individually) and a combined dwell of 38 deg. There are now 16,000 miles on these points and they still work perfect. They have been filed lightly twice and gap checked every 5000 miles. I use a high voltage output coil with a low resistance ballast resistor. At startup, the engine rarely goes more than one revolution before firing.

Chinese metalurgy is always to be considered highly suspect and this is critical to long lasting contacts. They could get pitted quickly from use or just oxidize from sitting. I would suspect anything from any 3rd world foreign country, and maybe even modern US made parts if not manufactured by a well known company. The fact that they fail quickly and the contact even broke off the arm shouild tell use all we need to know about their quality. My recommendation is to find some NOS points and condensor, or consider a PerTronix conversion.

Dave Homstad

56 Dodge D500

On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 3:27 PM, Mike & Sharon Higgins wrote:

I'm sure that you know that dual point distributors are designed to overlap the dwell period to achieve a longer dwell without setting the points too closely ( decrease the gap, increase the dwell). If the dual points are set too closely, the primary (closing) set may allow some arcing while the secondary (opening) set closes. I have always had better luck by setting the dwell about 25-28° for each set individually, for a combined dwell of 35-40°. The points seem to last a little longer and deliver plenty of dwell time.

I suppose that maybe the condensor is maybe too small, and allowing too much crossover spark.

Good Luck.

Mike Higgins

1955 Belvedere Sport Coupe

----- Original Message -----

From: Ted Blackington

To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 10:57 AM

Subject: [FWDLK] ignition points on old hemi engines

Hello Web-

I have two mid-fifties Mopars with hemi engines, a 56 and a 55. If allowed to rest for several weeks or months the points will not fire, and have to be carefully filed to obtain spark. The points (dual) are almost new, having replaced them several times. The cars go nowhere, just rest in the carport. I have replaced them several times-

My later Chrysler products with single points had no problems-am I getting a bad batch of points from NAPA or the on line sellers (Chinese maybe??) My last attempt to file them resulted in the contact completely breaking free from the arm-

Is anyone else having a similar problem? Any solutions??? I'm getting too old and inflexible to crawl way back there under the hood each time it happens-

Your help appreciated !!!! (Yeeow! got zapped again!) Ted Blackington

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