[mikerahn]

trying to find the correct point gap for my 72 mercury monterey with the 400 in it,I currently have the #1 cylinder that will not fire,I have replaced spark plugs,plug wires,cap & rotor,and points.now the car will not start at all(it started before the point replacement)and i am guessing that i have not done the points correctly,I am more of a Chevy person and am used to dealing with hei ignitions vs. points

[Rick WI]

If I remember right it's about .016 or 28 degrees of dwell.

[poncho62]

yep 16 to 18 thou.........Did you replace the condensor?

[docvette]

Doc here,

The point gap should be around 17 thousands, that should get you running.

Inspect the Pigtail wire going into the points to be sure it isn't grounding on anything, accidentally in the change.

BE SURE the points OPEN and CLOSE all the way or it won't spark at all.

Ensure the ground pigtail is on the adjuster screw to the advance plate.

Be sure the new rotor isn't bad, measure with a DVOM from the tang to tip, and move the tang up and down while doing so, It should read a steady 000.

With the points closed, using an INSULATED Tool, open and close the points, be careful not to hit ground or get tangled up with the spark end of the tool..Do you have Spark? If not,

Go to the coil. With a DVOM, set for V X 50 or auto range, set the points closed (low lobe) or jumper them to ground, turn the key on, and measure between the + side and ground, It should read between 6 and 9 volts..

Do the same test while cranking,If it drops out during cranking, you have secondary ignition trouble, the wire that goes between the "I" terminal on the solenoid and the Coil.

Quick test for either case.., run a jumper wire over to the battery from the + side of the coil and try and start it..If it starts, track down the coil power wire. you'll have to remove the jumper to stop the engine.

If all the power is proper, test the coil, Set your DVOM, Calibrated to 000 on R X 1 Scale, remove the wires from the coil, measure the primary side, It should read Less than an ohm, but more than 000, or infinite..If out of range or infinite, toss the coil..It's shot.

Next measure the secondary side, set your meter for R X 10 K, and measure It should read between 10,000 and 11,000 ohms .. much outside of that or infinite.. toss the coil, it's bad.



If all that checks good and you have an Ignition Condenser, Disconnect it, and try it, it will run for testing if it's bad unhooked..

That should get it running..