I've a 65 dart with a 77 slant six. I went to adjust my timing and the first step said to adjust my idle speed. While setting up the tester for that I switched the setting over to dwell and noticed it was low. Sorry I don't remember how low but it seemed a significant amount number of degrees at the time. I figured I needed to fix my distributer first. I've taken it out but I can't figure out how to adjust "point gap" I'm not certain this is that type of distributer. How do I fix my dwell? I was going to get a new distributer cap and roter (with spark plug wires as well) but am uncertain if that will even help anything. Is this an electronic distributer? Is that what the little black box is? perhaps that's defective? The plates it's attached to look significantly newer than the rest of the distributer parts. Since I'm posting how does the cap contacts and roter look?

Thanks again.
-- Aaron

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It looks like someone updated the distrubitor with an electronics module in place of the points.
It might be a pertronic(sp) module?
Anyhow, with the electronic ignition, there is no dwell setting, it is all electronically controlled.

so if the dwell is electronically controlled and it registers as low do I then replace the electronic part?

You don't.

dwell is quite simply the amount of time the points are closed. There is only so much time, because:

In the case of points, or electronic, there is only so much "time" between each cam lobe. Obviously, the points (or ecu) has to be open a certain amount of that time---that's when the spark "happens." So, there is only so much time for each cylinder, that the points can be closed.

In a points system, part of the reason that you can only have "so much" dwell, is because the cam lobe must have a ramp that opens quickly enough so the points don't tend to arc and burn, in other words, sort of "snap" open, so to speak.

This means that so much of the "time" on the cam must be occupied by the lobe and the ramp on each side.

This is part of the reason that dual points were used. The points overlap, so one set CLOSES the circuit, while one is still open, and the overlapping set opens, while the second one is still closed, and opens last. This allows for greater dwell, and leaves each set to do "half the work" meaning the arc and spark is shared between the two.

Dwell for 4, 6, and 8 cylinders was "decided" by many things, including the time envolved, the shape of the cam, point wear and bounce, a number of things.

One electronic igniton, the dwell is set pretty much by the electronics IN THE BOX. You cannot change it. I spose it's possible that if you put a different box in there, it would improve, but it might not, either.

The upshot is, if you have a good hot spark, and the car runs good, leave it be

Your distributer is set up with some ones solid state electronic set up.(aftermarket)If you go back to a point distributar the setting for points is .015 to .017 and the dwell is 28 to 32 degrees.There is no setting for the solid state except maybe air gap at .008 to .012, if it's is even adjustable.Of its not working toss it an install a Chrysler electronic distributer.You can get rebuilt ones fairly cheap at most auto parts stores.

Thanks for all the quick replies. I checked quick before going to bed and that is exactly what I have though I have the first ignitor not the ignitor II. So it's probably all just fine. Thanks for the help.