Can't get dwell high enough...
This is annoying, because I went to much effort to set up the points with the distributor out on the bench. The distributor shaft is nice and tight with thrust within spec. it has not been rebuilt. The points are new old replacement stock Mopar points(in the old green box), the rotor is NORS Mopar and the cap is NORS Standard...for what it's worth.
I'm gonna guess the Dwell meter is on wrong scale, or the rubbing block is too short, or the corners of the breaker cam are really really worn off, or your feeler gauge is in metric,lol. Of these, the meter is the most likely.
Here's how you prove the D is ok ;
Firstly vertical thrust on Mopar Ds pretty much doesn't matter. But side play, as mentioned, sure does.
So just set the points to whatever, just get a number. Then check the pointgap on every lobe; it should be the same. Then pick a lobe any lobe, and measure the gap with the lobe pushed as far away from the rubbing block as it will go, and then pull the lobe as close to the rubbing block as possible and remeasure the gap. As you have discovered, there is a direct correlation between the pointgap and the dwell, with the variation being something like 1* per thou change in gap. So that's why .003 side play takes you from one side of the spec to the other. But worse is that this varying pointgap plays havoc on cylinder to cylinder timing.
I'm gonna guess that your D will be close enough to run, cuz I still think it's your meter.(or feeler gauge lol)
So reset the gap to the wideside of the spec and call it done. Then go borrow a second dwell meter and recheck the dwell, with it set to the proper number of cylinders. If it still acts gooffy, I would check the alternator output looking for an A/C component and fix that; it ain't supposed to be there; one or more of the diodes is leaking.If it still acts goofie,I would suggest to replace the condenser. If it still acts gooffy IDK.
If this is a slanty; I feel your frustration.
If a slanty in an old combine, with the D on the backside. I think I'd rather go dig a latrine
