Hi Team

I understand to set the points you align the timing marks on the flywheel and block. At this point a cigarette paper should just start to pull free from between the points.

Is this correct?

Is it valid for both the 1700 and 3800?

Cheers

MattO

Indeed fully true.
But first make sure the breaker points are nice and flat.
Used ones most of the time have a crater and opposite "mountain"
generated by a little sparking between the points when opening.

Rotate the flywheel clockwise.

Mistakes are undeliberately made when the flywheels of different models are interchanged ( (point of lifting at a different position with respect to the markings.
Or when the spline of the flywheel is damaged then the fixture point with respect to the crankshaft position will change altering the position of the marking with respect to the crankshaft position.

A second check can be made by measuring the ignition timing by removing the spark plug and measuring the distance of the piston before TDC at the ignition point, this should read about 2 metric MM