Ford 8n timing

[yotehunter66]

Okay guys I have a question for you. I've been playing with my front mount distributor on the bench. New points, condenser, new bushings. Everything but coil and cap. I've been trying to set the timing according to the manual but not having any luck. My question is, I noticed that the surface of the points that are suppose to ride on the cam/lobe has a significant gap when closed. No matter where I move the timing I can't seem to get the points to open like I would expect. I'm using on ohm meter to do this with. Should my points be touching the shaft all the time? Seems it would be hard to adjust the timing if they weren't.

 

[jimmysisson]

The points block does not ride on the cam all the time. You can probably see wear marks on the cam where the block hits, and where it doesn't.
If you did manage to get the block to touch the cam in between lobes, when the points opened they'd be 'way too wide. If your point setting is, say, .025, the lobe doesn't have to lift it very high. Clear as mud?
Jim