This afternoon I made 3 broken distributers into one working one for my 352FE.

I was looking on Summit racing and they had performance weights, and adjustable vacume canisters for my distributer.

So are the above better then what I cobbled togather down below?

While I had it apart I used the springs from the broken FE distributer I had "they were the lightest", and added the vacume canister from a 75 460 Lincoln "only one that worked". Along with a pertronix kit I feel really happy with my wasted afternoon. Especially since the cost is zero.

My timing starts at 15* and end at 36* which for low compression motors is just fine, and all the timing is in by 2500 rpm. It seems to ramp up quickly, but its hard to tell since I have no fan shroud. So I am overly carefull on this part. I will check in the dark to better verify one of these days.

 

It is funny that you mentioned that. I just did the new adjustable Vacumn advance this past week, and the lighter springs, I have to admit the low end saw a nice improvement, of course the top end will stay the same, but the pedal has a crisper feel. I played with the advance adjustment for the past few days. While it is not a huge difference, it does make for a nice throttle feel, and it seems I am not as hard on the pedal as much. My guess is that I will see a bit of a mileage increase. I also have a 352 bored .040 over. with a comp cam. I am happy with the adjustable vacumn advance.. I got mine through Rock Auto for $7.40 plus shipping, it was about $12 total. I had an extra set of lighter springs, but the adjustable advance made as much difference as anything. I have the pertronix II with a flamethrower coil. I love how easily it fires every time with barely a bump of the key hot or cold... I posted before that I had an MSD non vac dizzy with a 6AL and the throttle was great, but not worth the extra money, and the mileage fell off a few MPG about 2.5 which was enough for me to switch back. I am not burning up the quarter mile, so I am much happier with the Pertronix set up.

 

Weights are weights and springs are springs, if it works it works. But the adjustable vacuum advance can be a HUGE asset in tuning that can't be had any other way.

 

This is a good read. I dont know what parts you may have ended up putting together but if they work. The cleaner the better, pull it all down and reassemble. All engines are as different as chassis that host them and driver behind the wheel. Seems once the intl/full adv are earmarked for said engine, the vac advance does fine tune the under load results. You didnt say if points or duraspark but assume later, i converted to a HEI from duraspark and have nothing but positive feedback.

Cheap way to go pointless and same results for without a BOX/inline resistor. Very happy.



Carbed Ford Message Board :: View topic - The Ultimate Duraspark Ignition Timing Guide

 

Thanks Bob for the link to the Timing Guide, it is a great read, and quite helpful.. it was all stuff I knew, but explains it much better than I have ever seen, and in a very comprehendible way! It was a wonderful refresher thanks again!

 

Compliments of Bear from FE forum..cheers

 

All the distributers I pulled apart were points type.

 

First DuraSpark electronic ignition: 1974, but not all vehicles used it until 1976.