My book says .018-.020, .020 being half a mm Make sure your feeler gauge is clean, (No grease or oil) so not to contaminate points.
Once you set by gap it is best to check the dwell if you can, and 49 deg is spot on, you can go up to 55, but 49 is best. Very small amount of grease on Distributor cam to reduce wear on points block.
Remember to check your timing once you are finished.
Best of luck, good on you for doing it yourself.
motor running rough
- classicdat
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Re: motor running rough
Datsuns from A to Zed
- Tony_Whenua
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Re: motor running rough
Okay so i've currently shut up shed but had it set at 0.016 but i didn't clean the feeler. Will pull apart and give it a wipe tomorrow.
I've got a multimeter that seems to have a DWELL reader on it. what setting do i have it on?
- This one:

Video had 3 plugs so im guessing i have the wrong tool here???
I dont have any idea or tools to check timing. Are they costly from repco or something? Car seemed to run much better before it got put away.
I've got a multimeter that seems to have a DWELL reader on it. what setting do i have it on?
- This one:

Video had 3 plugs so im guessing i have the wrong tool here???
I dont have any idea or tools to check timing. Are they costly from repco or something? Car seemed to run much better before it got put away.
"Dude you're like 30 degrees retarded" - Chris_g1 & 2 Doors
- classicdat
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Re: motor running rough
you only need 2 wires, that looks like it should work. Red to the coil -ve I think and Black to earth. If this doesn't work swap to +ve terminal of the coil.
Timing light is a good tool to have especially if you are going to maintain older cars. Supercheap have them pretty good, and with the card they can be even cheaper. Same quality as Repco, just cheaper. Paying a mechanic to set it will cost about the same as buying a light. But doesn't feel as good as doing it yourself.
Timing light is a good tool to have especially if you are going to maintain older cars. Supercheap have them pretty good, and with the card they can be even cheaper. Same quality as Repco, just cheaper. Paying a mechanic to set it will cost about the same as buying a light. But doesn't feel as good as doing it yourself.
Datsuns from A to Zed
- Tony_Whenua
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Re: motor running rough
Moved feeler to .02 and did the dwell test like this:

negative was to strut.

What do i do from here? move space at points out or in a little or wait untill i get a timing light?

negative was to strut.

What do i do from here? move space at points out or in a little or wait untill i get a timing light?
"Dude you're like 30 degrees retarded" - Chris_g1 & 2 Doors
- Tony_Whenua
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Re: motor running rough
sorted!!! You guys are BOSS!!!
Got DWELL up to 50 now.
Here are some pics of the girl in the shed.





Big thanks
Got DWELL up to 50 now.
Here are some pics of the girl in the shed.





Big thanks
"Dude you're like 30 degrees retarded" - Chris_g1 & 2 Doors
Re: motor running rough
Really liking that ute. Nice dude.
Start a build thread is all the thanks we need
Sent using Tapatalk 2
Start a build thread is all the thanks we need
Sent using Tapatalk 2
"It's ok, we know what to do...we talked about this a lot on the internet."
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Re: motor running rough
That is a sweet sweet ute dude!
And the luckiest dog in NZ getting to roll around in the back of such an epic datto too!
And the luckiest dog in NZ getting to roll around in the back of such an epic datto too!
They don't call me the man with the rubber arm for nothing you know.............
- classicdat
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Re: motor running rough
Well done man, would be great to see this thing on a cruise sometime, I love the style.
Wee rule for adjusting dwell, "Larger the gap, smaller the dwell."
Wee rule for adjusting dwell, "Larger the gap, smaller the dwell."
Datsuns from A to Zed
- Tony_Whenua
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Re: motor running rough
Yeah i didn't think i was worthy enough to set up a profile as i didn't do much of what you see of the ute.
Suppose to be re-doing the rear suspension bushes and drum brakes so will start a thread then.
Bart do you have any spare brackets for the s13 brake upgrade?
I will be down for this years akaroa cruise for sure!!!
Also ... somehow i managed to become the new owner of another 1200! Its a sedan but its been put in the old mans shed up in Palmerston North. Will get picks up of it as soon as i can. Apparntly it had a worked a12 engine
Suppose to be re-doing the rear suspension bushes and drum brakes so will start a thread then.
Bart do you have any spare brackets for the s13 brake upgrade?
I will be down for this years akaroa cruise for sure!!!
Also ... somehow i managed to become the new owner of another 1200! Its a sedan but its been put in the old mans shed up in Palmerston North. Will get picks up of it as soon as i can. Apparntly it had a worked a12 engine

"Dude you're like 30 degrees retarded" - Chris_g1 & 2 Doors
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Re: motor running rough
I need to have some more laser cut.
They don't call me the man with the rubber arm for nothing you know.............