Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Just got around to changing the points on my 1940, with Auto Lite. Book calls for .015 point clearance, which when I do gives me a dwell of 26 degrees. Car is hard starting and idles lousy. When I use .013 clearance and a dwell of 28 degrees runs much better. Is this about where the dwell should be? Higher, lower?
Thanks

I don't find any dwell specs given so maybe like torque specs, that wasn't much of a thing then.

Publications of the day have differing specs on point gap with the SM saying .015 while a later Packard publication says .017. Packard and other publications give a wider range with .013 being at the bottom end of that range. Possibly the cam has worn a bit resulting in your car running better at the narrower gap. I would guess where you leave the final setting depends on how well the car runs.

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Should be in pre-war.