Installing New Modern Points

[Ed in Maine]

My car was just not running perfect so I decided to do a major tune up. I am using modern points and the modified upper plate. I noticed when I got into the distributor that it seemed the block on the points was worn and I could not get the correct point gap. As I installed the new points I could get the correct gap but there wasn't much more adjustment in the points for future wear. It took a while to find out why the mounting base of the points did not move more. The point set is located precisely in the upper plate with a small short pin below the point hinge. The points during adjustment rotate around this pin. The adjustment is made with the screw in the elongated hole on the right (looking down on the distributer). What I found is that the mounting screw on the left was moving into the edge of the hole in the points base. If this happens, you cannot get any further adjustment in the point gap. It appears that the points block is worn and no further adjustment is possible. However, remember that the points are rotating around this pin and you are swinging the base of the points so that the screw interferes with edge of the hole in the base of the points. Use a Dremel tool and relieve the hole where the mounting screw interferes. Most likely, your plastic block is not worn enough to prevent further adjustment. Have you noticed this problem? Ed

[40-A Twins]

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I had to use a small round file to open the slot and get it adjusted correctly. Look for a 3/16 round chainsaw file. Also had to drill and tap a new hole for the condenser grounding when the cheap one in this photo quit working and the replacement old stock FOMOCO condenser I bought was slightly longer.