Yep, been there, done that. Luckily, I was wise enough even at 16 to toss the points/cond in the glovebox. That could have been a rather long walk.....
Which is why I actually mentioned in the very first post that I was leaning towards the DS2 as parts can be found at any parts store worth a hoot.

 

The same with a Ford factory ignition box. Though you may get a bunch of miles from some these, they will fail and there is rarely any warning as to when. Been there, done that. I had such a bad run with imported part store replacements that I would keep a spare box in the car and had to swap them on the side of the road more than once.

To fix this I run a OEM (rebuilt) DS dizzy with a MSD box now. I've done this with a very hot 302, the 351M in my 78 half ton and the 390 in my new hot rod project 59 Ford. MSD sells an adaptor to plug right into the harness and eliminate the OEM box altogether. So far this set up has served me well in the first two applications and I'm expecting great things from the 59 this coming summer.

 

The cheapo parts store DS2 boxes are crap. I'll trust an original motorcraft from a salvage yard much more than a new cheapo from the chain stores.
Granted, carrying a spare DS2 box is never a bad idea. Keeping one or two in the toolbox, along with spare voltage regulators, is pretty much standard with me. I've found that simply having backups readily available tends to reduce the chances of needing said backups.......

 

Agreed autozone ds2 boxes are crap but they will get you running for time being .
petronix goes out your dead in water , you could reinstall points , and reconnect coil back to pink wire . (p.i.t.a.)

 

The HOUSING of the FE distributor will not interchange with any other motor.

The guts will - the shaft length, gear, etc, are different, but the top end is all the same.

 

Ok, which other dist is the best suited for robbing the guts from, to convert an FE dist housing into a ds2 unit? I'm assuming the shaft and pickup coil/plate from another dist would need to used with the FE housing and gear.

Not sure I'd go this route, with reman DS2 dists available rather readily, but it never hurts to know.

 

from what i read any v8 and you only need parts from under the cap .

 

I'm not pushing Pertronix but mines been in the 428 since approx. 1999 and no problems. If your worried about it you can have a new spare in the glove box for under a C note. 99.9% of all electronics give no warning when it craps out no matter who made it. Not many are under a 100 bucks.

 

I run the same setup. Works great.

As far as the Pertronix, it's hit or miss. There's seems to be some that work without problems, and some that fail rather quickly. A bit of a toss up.

 

Ds2 dist triggering a GM HEI would be cheaper than buying 2 pertronix systems. Doesn't mean I want to go that route, even though the GM HEI's can be found almost anywhere, and will live a longer life when kept off the top of the engine so they can be cooled properly.
I've had bad luck with older Pertronix systems, as previously stated. One of these systems that failed, was on this very truck.
I've never had a genuine motorcraft DS2 box fail, and I've owned many vehicles that had it. One that I was surprised everytime it started, as the goo from the back of the DS2 box was all over the inner fender instead of where it was supposed to be.
Cheap replacements, and even the high dollar MSD branded Ford Motorsport DS2 boxes, have left me without fire.

I'm not being stubborn or anything. That would be dad's job.......
Just prefer to stick with what has always worked for me, and avoid what hasn't.

 

Didnt the F150 360 use the duraspark 74-76 or so? Do they fit the FE 390?

 

Welcome to FTE!

360 & 390 are the same. In pickups, everything is the same except crank, rods & pistons. And the carb & intake if you have an OEM 4bbl.

Duraspark came out in '74, read on for the history:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-fe-360-a.html

 

The problem(s) with PERTRONIX seems mostly to be incorrect installation.

You buy PERTRONIX II (not PERTRONIX I) and read the setup instructions very carefully. They have a TECH LINE to help you.

DS II is an outdated overly complicated system requiring a special harness. It is OK for the trucks that came through with it.

MSD is now CHI-COM and I don't speak DELCO-REMY.

You would still have to check the integrity of the DIST and re-curve to your liking.

 

I have done the points to DS2 conversion and it is very simple, as has been said all you need is the guts out of a v8 dist (baseplate, movable plate for advance, and the trigger wheel). You can use the same shaft. The only mod required is to cut a slot down to the hole the original points wire came out. The DS2 wiring strain relief fits this slot. Careful cutting with a hacksaw and then file to fit nicely. I've completed this conversion on 3 different Fords. I run the original ignition box. Yes, they fail, but you'll have a better shot getting that than an aftermarket box. I've heard you can use a MOPAR box too, which is better for some reason that escapes me now, lol. Some other members may chime in on that, or do a search here.
BTW, take the drive shaft out of the donor, if FE, and use it and a drill to prime oil pump if ever the need arises.

 

A DS dizzy and an MSD 6AL box really helped my 390 run - but then, it was near 11:1 compression with a cam that was quite lopey, and got around 8 inches of vacuum at idle unless I really kicked up the idle timing (and I did).

A Pertronix is probably a better solution for a "mostly stock" build, and even up into lower-end performance. Once you get past that, you can worry about timing stability at high RPMs and a host of other things.

But properly done, a DS is no more complicated than anything else. About all it has that an MSD or Pertronix doesn't is the "start" circuit to boost the spark during cranking. If the truck came with DS2, best thing to do is maintain it until it breaks. To go backward and put a Pertronix on an already-equipped DS engine would be more complicated, in my opinion.