Problem solved???

Posted by prentice672 On 2017/10/24 19:54:15

Well, I think it's solved. PackardV8 suggested on this thread to open the point gap to 0.018". The Repair and Tune_Up Manual for the 23,22 and 21 Series has a page that says the point gap should be between 0.0125 and .0175". The Tune-Up Specifications and Adjustment Chart for 1949-1950 says .017" for the IGT 4203 Autolite distributor that I have. When I replaced the points about a month or so ago I set them to 0.016", which was a compromise and a number I remember using for all the old eight cylinder cars I'd owned in the early '60's. So anyway, I thought what the Hell, I'll open them up to 0.018. I did so and ran it and it was a bit worse. So I figured if opening them up makes it worse, then what will narrowing the gap do? After all, the one tune-up guide said I could go all the way down to 0.0125. So I incrementally brought the point gap down and lo and behold it ran better! I finally settled on the lower bound (0.0125") and it ran about the way it should, although it was a little sluggish (but no rough running), but I suspected the timing would be off a bit due to the point gap change, and indeed it was. So I advanced it a bit, back to spec. I haven't yet tested it, but I think it'll be fine now. My question is, why is it so picky? I've never owned a car where the point gap mattered that much. If you were within a couple few thousandths of 0.016 you were fine. When I set the points I move the crankshaft by turning the fan and I'm pretty good at getting the point cam follower right on the peak of the lobe. So I don't think it was an issue of not setting the gap accurately.
Anyway, I'd like to thank everybody who took a shot at this, you were all very helpful and I appreciate your help.