LUVTruck.com

Anybody ever use a dwell angle meter? I set mine at about 59 Degrees 3 years ago and was playing around with it the other day , and now its reading 54 degrees. Could this be a sign that the points are wearing down? They look fine, and my truck runs great.I have series 1 through 4 specks, and it says the angle should be between 49 and 55. Now on a series 5 and 6 it says it should be set between 47 and 57. Now heres my real question. What are the specks on a 79 or 80 luv? I dont have those specks. I went to 4 different mec. shops 3 years ago and there wasent a mec. that even knew what a dwell meter was!!

Where will I find the dwell angle specs? I have the factory manual for the series 10, and can't find it. Would it be in the engine electrical or general specs?

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Kuranosuke
Grampa's Driving:

1990 Luv 4X4 "Family Cab"
with the big 4 banger on 31" Dueller A/Ts

1989 Dodge Raider with some junk...

"Urban Fighter F.P.C" coming soon to a road near you...
got BOOBIES?

if i remember corectly the dwell angle should be set at about 50-55* at 900rpm. But if your going to be replacing bits in that old distributor i highly recomend that you go out and buy a remanufactrued 81-82 luv electronic distributor and control module. I did that swap on my truck super bowlsunday and got my tires to chirp in third.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

It would be around the same area you'd find ignition specs like timing or point gap. I would say that whatever the spec for a 76 or 77 is, the 79 or 80 would be identical. The engine and ignition system on them is the same.

As for the dwell angle changing, basically two things affect it. Timing and point gap. If it has changed, it is probably wear on the points. I suppose it is possible that the coil or the condensor could have some affect too as well as the cap and rotor, but the points do wear down and are the most likely thing. According to the shop manual I think it says to replace the points at something like 12000 mile intervals, which isn't much when you think about it. That is pretty conservative, but some trucks go through them faster than others. My 76 I usually had to put in points every second or third oil change, about 8-9000 miles. It ran great, but it ate points.

thats how my truck was and it was a major reason i whent to the elctronic. It being a new motor (only 12,000miles on it) i figured i have a good 100,000miles in it so the $900 for the 82 ignition should pay for itself.

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1980 LUV 4x4, going under re-construction...

Its not really an old distributor,i put a new one on it a few years ago...but havent changed the points since then. Like i said though"my truck runs great". I just noticed that the dwell has changed. Just curious about the reasons all. I think you would find the specks for a 79 or 80 to be located in the timeing section Kuranosuke. Thanks...$900 bucks...uuuummmm...I think i would probly buy another luv if i had that much moolaa to blow!!!! 12000 mile replacement. Guess i need to read my milage. Whos got the most miles on there stock truck??

I'm pretty sure that MEPR meant $90. I found the dwell angle "47-57 degrees". I'm installing the electronic ignition out of an 81-82 as well. I don't think I'll be chirping my 30" tires though...

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Kuranosuke
Grampa's Driving:

1990 Luv 4X4 "Family Cab"
with the big 4 banger on 31" Dueller A/Ts

1989 Dodge Raider with some junk...

"Urban Fighter F.P.C" coming soon to a road near you...
got BOOBIES?

dwell angle can change for several different reasons mostly due to wear of the contacts. there is a plastic wear block on the points that rides on the distributor cam the distributor cam can also wear. if the bushings in the distributor shaft are going south that will make it change and possibly fluctuate. if the dist bushings are worn it can create performance problems. instead of the shaft turning in a perfect circle it spins in an egg shaped pattern throwing timing off on all cylinders. pertronix ignitions makes conversion kits for alot of points distributors you might try them. i ran one in my sandrail for years with no problems. prices start at 50.00 and go up to about 130.later

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don`t have the luv no more but I still like em.72 el camino,
00 & 06 silverado one 4x4, turboed vw sandrail,99 banshee, 06 raptor 700, 02 polaris trailblazer.

Thanks all...now i get it!!