Fussy boat this spring

My boat is being fussy this spring. Runs good - runs like crap - runs good - runs like crap. Usually to pull it out of a runs like crap phase, I check ignition specs, specifically timing and dwell, get it running good, then next time out runs like crap. I will set the dwell at high 20s which I did last time I had to fuss with it. Now its running rough (which is better than dying and leaving me stranded, which it did the other night). Now its running a little rough again. Check dwell, up to like 45. I havent pushed it back down yet, but why would it drift so easily in such short time. Look how cruddy my cam is. Its only two years old, I've never seen a cam get cruddy like that. Do you think it is eroding the points contact pad? I can polish up the cap and lube it (something, I admittedly never did, could that be a factor?) Boat ran great all last summer (second year of new dist. Let me know your thoughts before I order an e-spark module for it. (ran one of those for about 7 years with now troubles)

There is no split/tooth washer under the gap set screw. Should there be? It is possible gap is actually sliding out of spec?

KENO wrote: Hi Larry I'd look for some genuine NOS Mallory points .

Ken,
Really NOS?? Last week I was just in NAPA and they had all the Echlin tune up parts for a 1949 Prestolite. on the shelf!!


Larry,
I agree with Ken that you should ether convert to EI our find a point set.

KENO wrote: So Pete Do those Prestolite parts fit a Mallory distributor. ?   Nope but they probably have Mallory stuff too. Didn't you buy some Sierra stuff for you Mallory from NAPA? You can still find NOS Mallory too.

Ken,
I mentioned the Echlin/Prestolite parts only from the ease of finding them and certainly did not expect them to fit a Mallory.

Yes, I did end up with a Sierra kit back a few years but only because I walked into a auto parts store blind without and part numbers or even a part number of my distributor on the 312. Plus, I didn't even have an internet connection up here then.

That rusty cam is killing me, how could the point gap possibly stay the same
Take it apart and clean that thing up, it should be lightly greased not lightly rusty.   Theb it looks like half of the contact is gone. None of this maybe causing the problem but its causing me stress from here.

My thougths exactly joe. I've never seen a cam like that. I thought they were stainless and stayed clean forever. And note Kens comment about misalignment. I had another Sierra point set in my emergency response kit I went to put in yesterday. First, I could not even mount them so that they opened and closed. The hole for the set screw did not set them close enough to the cam. So I cut out the end and got it to slide closer to the cam. Now it opens and closes but the two surfaces were not flat against each other, barely touching on the edge. So I bent them to lie flat. Set a reasonable gap. Tried to set dwell. No contact. Even when they were in contact, there was not contact as verified with my VOM. Crazy. Oh, I didnt mention. This point set was the same part number as the one I took off and they did not match in appearance.

That was a long story to get around to say, I'm sure points systems are just fine and can last and work forever, the problem is, these days, they make them out of junk overseas and they are no good. I was warned about that when I didnt buy an electronic replacement 2 summers ago. I was told since no one gets these any more, mallory, or now, Sierra,, invests nothing in them any more and just sells the junk. I have some legit Mallory points coming. We will see how that goes. If this recurs I think I will go espark. I wonder if the old espark out of my crab cap will fit. I know Id need a new rotor but the actual unit might work. Any thoughts on that. Problem is knowing the number or finding the right rotor on its own.

Thanks for that tip, Ken. You all know me, I'd much rather spend $14.94 than $81.73. In the mean time, I plan to do Pete proud.