I am in midst of starting my rebuilt motor for first time. It is a 455 in a 442. The wire harness is NEW OEM style. I have a stock style points distributor, coil and cap/rotor.

is there anything special to setting up the motor? I have done a 455 on a 76 GMC motorhome with HEI, but never a Points. Do I need special plugs/wires? What is the appropriate Gap for new plugs on a points setup? I am leaving everything stock for now. I wont upgrade the distributor until later when I put on a EFI.

i should add that I have an antique tach with a Dwell function!! Is that vital?

 

the plug gap and dwell setting will be in the emissions decal or in your chassis manual. The plug gap is independent of the points. You can check the points gap with a feeler gap (described in the chassis manual), The gap in the new points usually comes close enough to get the car started, and then you can adjust the dwell setting.

 

As long as the points open and close , as said the engine will run. Get a dwell meter and adjust the dwell while the engine is running thru the window in dist. cap.

 

Spark plug gap should be around .035" and the points gap should be around .019" (about the thickness of a match book cover if you don't have feeler gauges). That will get the engine started, then use a dwell meter to fine tune the dwell to 30ş.


If you run into issues, read through this thread:
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...gnition-76706/

 

Make sure your new harness has a resistance wire for coil+. I use a plug gap of .040 and a point gap of .016 to get it started. Once started set the dwell at 30*, timing to 12*, and adjust the carb accordingly. Points use 7mm plug wires.

 

7mm plugs. Check

Resistor wire Coil Check

My wire harness is OEM with the Purple and Yellow wire to the starter and the dual wire that is on single spade connector to the Coil +. Check?

I have a Dwell meter, and my Cap has a sliding “window” thing that I have never seen on a HEI cap, so Check!?
spark plugs... better check those. NOT Check

I think I set them at .45 for when I was thinking I would go with HEI. NOT Check.

assuming it starts and I rev up to 2000RPM for 20 min and 2500 for another 5 min will the initial settings with vacuum advance plugged in be close enough for rocket surgery to do the break in?

 

The engine does not need to be fine tuned for break in, it just needs to run smooth. Get it running and up to rpms as soon as you can, leave the vacuum advance disconnected for now. Watch your temps and oil pressure.

 

The matchbook cover works well. I have feeler gauges but no sizes I can use to set points. I do have a dial gauge, a match book cover is incredibly close. After attaching a dwell meter I didn't have to readjust the last time I adjusted points. Now I have perfectly adjusted points and a skipped timing chain in a now worthless piece of **** of a car.

 

Make sure you adjust dwell first, then set the timing. Changing the dwell setting also changes timing

 

 

Ready to rumble! Need a foot of 3/8 fuel hose. Gonna try tomorrow.

 

Cap that open port on the drivers side of the carb. Make sure the PCV is secure in the hose. Good luck

 

Your belt alignment looks off on the alternator belt.