as far as dwell, you need a tach dwell meter, a feeler gauge and screwdriver. A remote starter switch is nice to have for this job. You set the point gap with the feeler gauge to get it close. Then remove the dist cap and ground the high tension lead from the coil. I use a remote starter switch to crank the engine while the dwell meter is connected to the neg terminal on the ignition coil. You can have someone crank it for you while you watch. If the dwell angle is too small, then the gap is too big and vice versa, they are inversely related. So you use the screwdriver to pry the point plate as you need to get the dwell meter to read right and then tighten the point plate screw. After you get it right with the well meter, then set the timing with your timing light and then set your idle speed. Just like we all did back in 1970.
So I did all of that I have my dwell set perfect and timing all set and idle set at 600 but when I hook up my tach lead around the number one spark plugs wire at the plug I get a tach that contently jump's all over but when I hook up on #1 at distributor it all works fine. Does this just sound like bad wires. I have to pull the motor to change fly wheel teeth so it will be a while before I get back to ignitio.
Are you using an inductive timing light? It should not matter where you put the hook up on the # 1 wire but if you are seeing that you might want to check the ohm readings of the plug wires; should not be more than 1,000 ohms per foot.
