How to test a 440 out of the car?

[jimynick]

The points should open and close and if there's no or not enough gap, it won't fire. A quick and dirty way to gap the points is to use the cover of a pack of paper matches as the gauge. Look at the points, there'll be a screw attaching them to the advance plate. Roll the engine over by hand until the cam in the distributor lifts the moveable side to it's max lift (the centre of the cam lobe) and see if the match lid fits between the point halves. If it doesn't. loosen the attaching screw slightly and using a flat blade screwdriver in the notch that's there for the purpose, lever the point arm until the cover does, just, fit between them and then tighten the screw down, clean and replace the rotor and check that the cap contacts are clean. You can hook up the coil as previously mentioned and there should be a spark at the points when they open as the engine turns over. Check the coil wire is in properly as well. Good luck and glad to hear about the cradle. 

[challenged72]

Thanks for all of the awesome advice thus far guys, much appreciated.

I followed your intructions and gapped the points with the match cover, they just barely spark every great once in a while now whereas before they wouldnt spark at all. So, an improvement at least. Are the points worn out? 

[jimynick]

They may be and running a full 12 volts to them all the time won't help. The contacts should be flat faced where they meet each other. I'm sure Chryco Psyco could give you the proper point gap, but at least you're seeing something. Does it fire at all? Spark at the plug end? Farts and bangs? Is the timing near where it should be? If it fires, you could try giving it a sniff of ether (starting fluid), but don't get carried away as it's VERY volatile and too much can hurt the engine.

[challenged72]

They may be and running a full 12 volts to them all the time won't help. The contacts should be flat faced where they meet each other. I'm sure Chryco Psyco could give you the proper point gap, but at least you're seeing something. Does it fire at all? Spark at the plug end? Farts and bangs? Is the timing near where it should be? If it fires, you could try giving it a sniff of ether (starting fluid), but don't get carried away as it's VERY volatile and too much can hurt the engine.

No spark at the plug end, nothing. Its just a tiny little spark when I do see it, and it isnt consistent. It doesnt even try to fire, its just the starter turning over

time to get point gappers or new points? I will be running electronic ignition when I do get this dropped in but Im still working on my engine bay harness going through and testing and fixing the broken wires

[Chryco Psycho]

Point gap is about .012 , you may have a weak coil , do you have another one to swap ?

[challenged72]

yeah but its dented and beat up, I'll probably just buy one and a new set of points and go at it  this weekend

[challenged72]

new coil and she fired right up! Didnt hear any obvious knocks or anything of that nature, she sounded pretty good!


 

Thanks for all of the great advice!!

[jimynick]

Good for you!!