I've got a 66 mustang with 289 with a 4 barrel carb. its been running really rough all week and i've tried tuning the idle mixture with no success, so i think the points in the distributor need to be changed or adjusted. any suggestions, tips, or tricks to doing this or is this even the problem. thanks.

 

The idle mixture screws only adjust the idle. At full power, the screws have nothing to do with the carb mixture. You could be having a jet problem, or even a float adjustment problem. But, to answer your question, check the points to see if they are burned. If they are, then simply replace them and the condenser. Set them at 0.017 and you should be good to go. Consider stepping up to an electronic ignition. The pertronix system is the cheapest and works well with stock or moderately modifies engines.

 

I dont know much, but i'll try and help.
1)distributor points
2)MSD might a problem
3)Carb might need a rebuild/ cleaning

thats whay i had to check this week on mine b/c the idle was rough so i changed it all and its fine now.

 

i have to agree i would check carb jets and float

 

I've been driving the car for the last 9 months with no problem with float or jets and the carburetor is pretty new. It doesnt miss in cruise range but only at idle and wide open throttle, now it refuses to start at all. i am going to change the points for the mean time and by the Pertronix ignitor II on my next pay check. thanks for the help

 

if you're concerned about the braker points ..
check on the points themselves. The surface has to be straight. Not bumpy.
then there is the matter of adjusting the dwell (the gap). Do you have one breaker contact or 2.
Would you have a dwell meter ? or would you have a set of metal blades to measure the gap. Don't know what they're called in english. They are beasically a set of metal blades. everyone has a different thickness so you can check the exact size of the gap

 

Its called a feeler guage here in the states Kalli
Jeff

 

cheers man :-)