[NoVa-Corvairs] Vair Fair and tech question

[Curtis L Shimp]

Dan:

If you are comfortable that the points are set at  .016 " then I suspect
there is something wrong with the dwell meter or the scale on which it is
set.

If you believe the dwell meter is good and there are no problems there,
then adjust the points until you get the correct dwell.  If by chance you
end up with the points set too tight the car will run but sometimes it is
hard to start.

Regarding the timing on your 140, over 40 years you don't know what has
been done to the car.  That means some one may have replaced the
distributor with a non-140 one, changed parts inside, or something inside
is not working right.  The best way to set your timing is to set it at
about 34 to 35 deg. at 4,000 rpm then let it go to idle, read the idle
timing and that becomes your initial timing.  Of course, you need a
"degreed balancer" (I have one, don't you) or one of the newer digital 
timing lights that measures total advance (ditto).

Curt