I was discussing upgrading from the breaker point ignition to a DS2 with a freind of mine a couple days ago, and he said he had read there was another dist that would also fit in the FE block, from another Ford engine "family". He thought maybe it was 351M/400 or 351W, but wasn't sure. It honestly wouldn't surprise me, since a 302 dist can be fitted into a 351C to swap in a DS2 system.
Can anyone shed some light on this? DS2 dist's for an FE are rather scarce, so if there's another option that can be used, it could make the hunt a lot easier.

Yes, I know there are "drop-in" replacement systems that retain the original points dist, but am still leaning towards a DS2 simply because any parts store worth a hoot will have coils/modules for a DS2 in stock. The same can't be said for the aftermarket drop-in conversion kits.

 

I'm not sure on the interchange. I just called a bunch of auto parts stores (O'Reilly, Autozone, Advanced Auto, etc.), they all have the Duraspark II dizzy. They are all about $50+20 core charge.

 

^ Yep the a1-cardone if that's how it's spelled. That's the one I bought a few months back.

 

Yeah, I am aware they can get remans thru cardone, but I have access to some good dists for a lot less money, *if* they can swapped. I figure I'll have to recurve it anyways, so as long as it's good, and fits, that's all that would matter.

I was hoping someone could confirm or deny the rumor about another dist being able to fit correctly into an FE.

 

I think I read somewhere on here that the 302 duraspark will fit but I'm not 100% sure.

 

No. The sbf dizz won't fit. Asked around a bit, and it would seem the MEL series distributor will interchange.

 

Don't think that's gonna be much help. Didn't the MEL series fade out of sight 10-15 years before the DS2 came along?

I'm not against buying a reman. I just don't want to do so if I don't need to.....

 

lol Yeah, it doesn't help your cause, just informative. I don't think anything with an electronic ignition is going to interchange. I just searched the other forum and didn't find any info about the FE distributor being interchangeable with anything other than the MEL. MEL series 58-67.

 

Nothing I know of swaps to the FE, but there were a few FE dizzys that had an electronic ignition I think in 75, seems like the last year of the FE was the only ones. I have one running around the shop somewhere but hell if I know where it is, took it out years ago and swaped to an MSD.

Not the dizzys from 351c and mod motors inter change with the 385 series motors.

 

Yeah, the FE was only around till 76, and DS2 didn't start showing up until 74 or so, and then not on everything.
I was afraid there wasn't another dist that would fit, but my freind was rather insistent that he heard otherwise.
I figure a lot of the reman DS2 FE dist's are converted points dist's.

JW, if you happen to run across that DS2 dist, and want to unload it, give me a holler. I'm not too far from you. I live real close to where J & E used to be......

 

You can take the guts out of any V8 DS2 and transplant it to a points diazzy. I have a step by step article somewhere but can't find it right now. Do a search on the web and you should find it. This is what I plan on doing with mine.

 

As distributors go the any of the FE series will drop in, but the electronic duraspark was only stock in some 74 and later trucks. 360s and 390s will both work. The aftermarket also has plenty of options.

 

i heard you can pull the dura spark guts out of any ford v8 dizzy and install in your original fe dizzy. i found this out after getting the hei dizzy

 

Why not remove the points and cond. on your dizzy and put in a Printronix unit. Works great on my 428cj and it still looks stock.

 

i've read a lot of threads about petronix failing and leaving you stranded , staying with ds/ds2 means parts are everywhere if something breaks .