replacing distributor 351W -- advice welcome!

[strad]

It is a crane cams xr700 box. I see the kits come with several trigger wheels for different apps. I of course only have the one the boat came with since I didn't install it. :-(. The resistor will be no problem.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

I would give they guys at Crane a call on this. You may only need a different shutter and rotor to make your EI work with the new distributor.

[strad]

Not a bad idea.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

I have them once in a while.

[strad]

Well I installed the new one, set the points to .017 while the rubbing block was on a lobe, hooked up the wire to the coil, cranked it and it fired right up!! Must have done something right lol. Now I just have to figure out how to fine tune the timing, and talk to crane regarding the retrofit. But at least I got it running on points. Yay.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Well I installed the new one, set the points to .017 while the rubbing block was on a lobe, hooked up the wire to the coil, cranked it and it fired right up!! Must have done something right lol. Now I just have to figure out how to fine tune the timing, and talk to crane regarding the retrofit. But at least I got it running on points. Yay.

Great to hear you are up and running again. It is very rewarding firing up an engine that you have had apart.

Setting your points by the gap is just the first step. In order to get a reasonable life and optimal performance from your points, you really need to set them using a dwell meter. A cheap unit can be found at Amazon. The gap method gets you close, but you will be able to feel the difference setting them properly. Starting will also be improved.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00062YUUS/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=34589087328&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=926316719271189779&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_2lnsun7gy3_b

[strad]

Out of curiosity, what is a reasonable life with a properly set up set? I'm not opposed to going old school.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Out of curiosity, what is a reasonable life with a properly set up set? I'm not opposed to going old school.

When cars has points, I used to replace them twice a year. You could get by with once a year but you gave up some performance in the summer and ease of starting in the winter.

When I had points in my '77, I replaced them each spring. A guy could probably get two seasons out of them, but that's not my style. I change spark plugs every year too. Nothing wrong with points, but EI is a great upgrade when the budget allows.

[TRBenj]

My best running and starting boat has points that I put in when I first bought it... in 2007. A decent quality, properly adjusted set of points can last a long time.

100% agree on setting dwell once the engine is running. Gap will get you close, but dwell is really what you care about. That cheap dwell meter does the trick- I have the same one.

[strad]

Well the dwell meter is on order. I located the new parts for the ei that I have, but as luck would have it everybody is back ordered right now. So the dwell meter will arrive first and if I can't make it run well enough I'll order the parts I need for the ei to fit it on the new distributor.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Well the dwell meter is on order. I located the new parts for the ei that I have, but as luck would have it everybody is back ordered right now. So the dwell meter will arrive first and if I can't make it run well enough I'll order the parts I need for the ei to fit it on the new distributor.

Well played, sir.

[strad]

Got the dwell meter. The best we could do was gap at 14 thousandths which yielded dwell of 27 degrees. 1 degree out of minimum spec. Timing at 6 btdc. Sounds relatively happy, but I don't see how to get dwell any longer without going below minimum gap. Good enough?

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Got the dwell meter. The best we could do was gap at 14 thousandths which yielded dwell of 27 degrees. 1 degree out of minimum spec. Timing at 6 btdc. Sounds relatively happy, but I don't see how to get dwell any longer without going below minimum gap. Good enough?

The gap is only a rough setting. Once you get using the dwell, disregard gap measurements and go strictly with dwell. Once your dwell is set, recheck you timing. Some times you go around in circles a couple times with this.

[pbgbottle]

Does timing affect dwell I usually set my timing at 10 degrees. Should I be using
6 degrees. ?

[Spork]

Does timing affect dwell I usually set my timing at 10 degrees. Should I be using
6 degrees. ?

No, 6° was the PCM spec, Indmar is 10°.