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Re: Ignition

To: "MGB" <mgs@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: Ignition
From: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 17:59:11 -0800
Ah. I guess I've never really trusted my dwell meter. Anyway, I'm out of 
the points business on the MG, at least.

Dave Wood had this to say:

>Max,
>
>I agree about the little screws, but I don't use a feeler gauge at all, I
>just use a screw driver to open/close the points until the dwell is correct,
>tighten up the screw that holds the points in place and put the cap on.
>
>Dave
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
>To: MGB <mgs@autox.team.net>
>Date: Friday, March 24, 2000 2:40 PM
>Subject: Re: Ignition
>
>
>>Well, I am tall and have to bend over double, but mainly it's my
>>eyesight. I can't tell if the feeler gauge is going in straight or not --
>>if it's cocked and dragging I can wind up setting the gap way too wide.
>>Also I tend to drop the tiny screws which then vanish into the leaf
>>litter.
>>
>>Possibly my negative atitude towards point adjustment can be traced to my
>>other vehicle. My Plymouth has a dual-point distributor mounted at the
>>center back of the V8, otherwise known as the "pole of inaccessibility".
>>In fact, you can barely reach the bolt which secures the distributor in
>>order to remove it. It would take a remote control miniature robot to
>>replace and adjust the points in position. Or you could remove the hood
>>and squat on the air cleaner, I suppose...
>>
>>Dave Wood had this to say:
>>
>>>Max,
>>>
>>>I have never taken my distributor out to change the points, maybe I'm
>>>shorter than you.  I use a dwell meter and adjust while cranking.  Then
>put
>>>the cap on and check while running.  I usually have to readjust a bit as
>the
>>>cranking dwell and running dwell are a couple of degrees off and I forget
>>>from one set of points to another how much to compensate for.  I just
>>>purchased a Pertronix for my 72 B but haven't put it in yet.  Too many
>kids
>>>cars to fix first.  I usually know to change points when my B doesn't
>start
>>>within a couple of seconds of cranking.  I don't mind setting the points,
>>>but thought the electronic ignition might make the old ragtop run a bit
>>>better.
>>>
>>>Dave 72 B
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
>>>Cc: MG CHAT LIST <mgs@autox.team.net>
>>>Date: Friday, March 24, 2000 10:16 AM
>>>Subject: Re: Ignition
>>>
>>>
>>>>I may have stated this before, but in my opinion the chief benefit of
>>>>"pointless" ignition in the B is that it saves the hassle of removing and
>>>>replacing the distributor. At least, I have always found it necessary to
>>>>remove the distributor to replace and set the points (can't see 'em way
>>>>down there in the engine bay, at least not well enough to measure to the
>>>>nearest one-thousandth), and the distributor clamp bolts are a pain to
>>>>get at, while you shouldn't undo the actual clamp at all due to the
>>>>fragile nature of the distributor base. Reliability aside, I think the
>>>>time savings at every scheduled tune-up justify the expense. I do keep a
>>>>points set-up in the boot in case of electronics failure, but it remains
>>>>undisturbed after 11 years.
>>>>
>>>>I have an older Allison unit, but if I were to do it today I think I
>>>>would go for the Pertronix unit that fits entirely within the distributor
>>>>cap, for appearance reasons (not that anyone who saw my engine
>>>>compartment would think I gave a fig for appearances).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>From: rsexson@excite.com
>>>>>To: mgs@autox.team.net
>>>>>Subject: Ignition
>>>>>Date: Thu, Mar 23, 2000, 1:51 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I would like to know the best type of electronic ignation to install
>on
>>>my
>>>>> 74.5 B [25D distributor], or is it best to keep the points.
>>>>>
>>>>> Opinions please.
>>>>>
>>>>> R, Sexson
>>>>> 74.5 B [ 75% ]
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite
>>>>> Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>
>>>>Max Heim
>>>>'66 MGB GHN3L76149
>>>>If you're near Mountain View, CA,
>>>>it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>
>>===============================
>>Max Heim
>>mvheim@studiolimage.com
>>Studio L'Image/San Francisco
>>415 643 9309 : 415 643 9307 fax
>>Studio L'Image/New York
>>212 242 3366 : 212 242 3399 fax
>>www.studiolimage.com
>>
>>
>
>


--

Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.


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