I need to know correct NOS distributor part numbers for my 1989 F350 w/ 7.5

The 'aftermarket' distributor that the previous owner installed many years ago is: E8TE-12127-BA

As I said, this is an aftermarket distributor and may not be correct, as I have had issues since buying the truck in 2001 that could be distributor related.

I have also been told that the correct NOS Motorcraft distributor for my truck is: E8TZ-12127-BC

Are these close enough or not compatible?

I also took pics of a small sticker on drivers side valve cover and a large emissions sticker on same cover that might help to identify correct distributor.

 

Usually a last letter suffix change like that indicates there is a newer version of the same part. Therefore the aftermarket part was probably a rebuilt older version.

I am not sure what issue you are chasing, but the change from -BA to -BC is most likely not your cause.

 

There is also a difference in the 4th letter between them.

E8TE-12127 BA (current aftermarket distributor that is installed)
E8TZ-12127 BC (suggested NOS Motorcraft distributor)

I had earlier edited my original post, as caught the other difference.

 

I believe one prefix is an engineering number versus a part number.

 

That could be it, although usually they are majorly different. TBH as a Ford tech, I don't even know the difference. I leave that to the parts department even though we seem to always get the wrong part anyways.

 

Engineering (number on part itself) v/s Part number (for ordering in system)

"E" in the prefix denotes an Engine part.
"Z" in the prefix denotes a replacement part.

12127 = the basic part number for every distributor Ford made.

BA, BC etc are engineering revisions.

The first engineering number you listed doesn't seem aftermarket at all.
​​​​​​​Just a part originally engineered for the fuel injected 460 when it came out in 1988.