Need help with gap for new points

[acemang]

I cant find my ford book, and dont know that gap,dwell for the points im gonna install, does anyone know off hand what they are? 1968 f250 360 stock

[FORDification]

Point gap: .017
Dwell angle: 29º
Spark plug gap: .034
Timing: 6º BTDC

[r-remmer]

Keith is of coarse right. That is the factory spec. You may find with a experienced distributor .013-.014 will attain the needed 28-29 degrees dwell.Ron

[fordman]

so if the hex is worn then less might be better?

[r-remmer]

Coil saturation is the key. Not so much a worn hex as free plate movement. A spec points gap is a starting point. dwell is saturation time. The later is the determining factor in kvs and spark duration. Ron

[fordman]

so maybe replce the springs on the plate to help

[r-remmer]

Tightening the tolererances on the dist. ie shaft bushings, plate springs etc. will assure the relative positioning of the components to one another. Therefore maintaining the proper dwell once set. At that point, you may find .017 the factory spec. attains your desired dwell. But dwell is the key I stess not gap. Ron

[QC]

Replace the plate that the points mount on. Its called a breaker plate and you can get one for under $10. That plate pivots on plastic pins when the vacuum advance pulls on it. Those pins wear out and the points won't stay adjusted. It's the weakest part in the dist. I was a partsman in the 70's and 80's and I sold a lot of them. I new Ford mechanics that recommended that the plate be replaced every other set of points.