1985 f150 regular box reg cab
cid 6 300

hey guys I was wondering what distributor I have in my truck like is it a ford DUI or a Ford dura spark
it has a taller cap (like a upside down mug) with 6 prongs on the outside in a circle and 1 in the middle witch dosent go to a spark plug but to the(dont know what that is) thing on the side of the engine where you wire a tack to.

from looking at pictures it looks like I have a DUI distributor (looking hear Ford Distributors there dosent appear to be any vacuum parts attached to it or have a hook up even for a vacuum advance)

the reason i am looking at performance distributors is to build my dream truck out of this one and see how much performance parts would cost but I do need to replace the distributor as mine is badly burned and the last time I tried napa sent me the wrong one so I want to be able to tell them I have a ____________ distributor now dont send me the wrong one again thanks.

thanks for all your help guys, this form has been invaluable for information.

 

Your center plug goes to your coil. Is there an ignition module on your fender or one on your dizzy? I would expect you would have a dui though given your info.

 

I am prety sure it is on my fender as there is nothing else on the distributor besides the cap, the sparkplug wires and 1/2' away the coil.

thanks for the help

 

DUI is coil on cap.
I can't see any '85 I6 having one unless it was changed by a PO.

There's nothing inferior about a DS II distributor for almost any inline six application.

 

IMHO Duraspark 2 is a great system for any motor running one on my Ford 460.

 

Originally your 85 six probably had a Ford distributor with a TFI module mounted on the side. Your truck originally had a computer controlled carb system. See if it says "EECIV" on the emissions sticker under the hood.

 

its getting confusing to explain what it looks like sooo.... PICTURES seam like a smart thing to add, even have 1 alred taken from a couple months back.
DSCN0709 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
and
DSCN0710 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

so there is the (I think) coil on the side of the engine near the front of the picture, the spark plug wires going from the cap too the plugs and to the coil, on the distributor below the cap there is a plug with 3 or 4 wires comeing out of it (no idea what this is)

maby the pictures will help in explaining.

thanks every one.

 

o and I believe the distributor is stock, along with the carb (1 barrel)
hears a picture
DSCN0539 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!



if you want I could call my grandpa (original owner and purchaser) and ask him.

 

No vacuum connection.
Grey flat plug = TFI as Dave said.

 

Wow, those Carters didn't change much over the years.
I rebuilt one on a friends 1977 Granada a couple of weeks back.

 

If you really want more performance you will need to switch out the TFI for a duraspark unit (75-82? or so) and switch the feedback carb for an older non feedback unit.
THe ignition canbe switched out many ways. look at gofastforless.com for the many ways to get this done.

 

I dont want more performance (yet) I am still working on making it nice enough for grad (biggest waist of money I have ever seen, but is a compromise with the gf, or she will drive me to grad SO NOT HAPPENING)

from what I was reading on the performance distributors website, I can buy there unit if I know what my stock unit is and just simply replace the stock one with there's, (also with the VIP)
just mainly need to know for the future what one I would be replacing it with. I dont want to order a replacement one and find it dosent work with my ignition (ie not a drop in replacement)

yes a new carb is on the list for performance upgrades, it is higher on the list too.


from hear
Ford DUI - Street/Strip Version
this looks like the one that would replace my current distributor and also the coil
or would it be better to go and upgrade to a duraspark 2 ignition system and then upgrade the distributor (see below)Ford Duraspark


all opinions greatly appreciated

the cap style on the duraspark 2 matches my current one better (the way the posts are situated) but the DUI seams to be closer in other ways (ie looks like a cup), back to my problem of what do I have?!?!

o ya this is my first truck and all this is new to me so I am a

 

well reading my hayns manual for 1980-1996 2wd and 4wd full size f100-f350 gasoline engines
it apears Iwill eather have
A duraspark 2 or dura spark 2 with MCU
B duraspark 3 with CPS
C TFI-IV with distributor mounted or remote mounted ICM

it is sounding like I have the duraspark 2 system, how do I tell if I have the MCU (I think I do) or not?

 

its looking like when I do upgrade the distributor I will be getting this
Ford Duraspark
with the inferno coil
I dont know if the dyna-module kit will work with it
Duraspark Upgrade
this leads me to beleave it dose

the dura spark 2 upgrade is actualy cheaper than the DUI distributor so thats a bonus

 

Dave & I both said it. You have a TFI distributor!

The DS II would have a cap adaptor and extended rotor to try and eliminate arcing in addition to the fender mounted module.