High Performance distributor questions.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
High Performance distributor questions.
High Performance Distributor 351M,400,460
I have a 79 F350 460 in my truck and it doesn't really run right. I'm getting ready to do a tuneup on it and pull the EGR plate, get the breathers hooked back up to vacccuum, change plugs and wires, and some other stuff.
A few forum members have suggested since I'm not running EGR anymore, I need a new or recurved distributor. I don't know much about recurving distributors. The one in the link claims to give you better performance. It doesn't really say how it does this. Would this be better?
I really wouldn't mind simplifying things under the hood, and I've heard these HEI swaps like this are popular:
HEI Conversion Distributor Black Cap
Things are not really working very well the way they are. I'm not sure throwing money at shiny new parts will fix the problem. But even if it doesn't, I'd still have shiny new parts.
what are you guys running?
I have a 79 F350 460 in my truck and it doesn't really run right. I'm getting ready to do a tuneup on it and pull the EGR plate, get the breathers hooked back up to vacccuum, change plugs and wires, and some other stuff.
A few forum members have suggested since I'm not running EGR anymore, I need a new or recurved distributor. I don't know much about recurving distributors. The one in the link claims to give you better performance. It doesn't really say how it does this. Would this be better?
I really wouldn't mind simplifying things under the hood, and I've heard these HEI swaps like this are popular:
HEI Conversion Distributor Black Cap
Things are not really working very well the way they are. I'm not sure throwing money at shiny new parts will fix the problem. But even if it doesn't, I'd still have shiny new parts.
what are you guys running?
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From: South Carolina
I cant really tell you how mine runs yet as I'm still building it but I would give Scott Johnston a call at RHP and he will set you up.
He'll give you good advice on what is practical and at the same time help you improve performance. I recently called him and paid him a visit when I was up in Seattle. I called him on a Tuesday with my questions and by Friday I had a new cam, lifters and a recurved dizzy. He ships so no need to travel.
Scott Johnston
253-988-6648
Re in"Car"nation High Performance - Home
He'll give you good advice on what is practical and at the same time help you improve performance. I recently called him and paid him a visit when I was up in Seattle. I called him on a Tuesday with my questions and by Friday I had a new cam, lifters and a recurved dizzy. He ships so no need to travel.
Scott Johnston
253-988-6648
Re in"Car"nation High Performance - Home
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 491
Likes: 7
My dad had 3 For Vans (2x E150, and a 250) with the stock duraspark setup. He had one unit fail on him, once. After that? Never had a problem.
I've got a 77.5 F250 with the duraspark, and it sat outside for a while before I bought it - it may very well be the original duraspark box, and it's running strong!
The Proform and DUI units are nice, and work well if you're looking to clean up the engine bay, but you can buy a new duraspark unit, coil, and distributor for less than the price of the cheaper proform!
-Brad
I've got a 77.5 F250 with the duraspark, and it sat outside for a while before I bought it - it may very well be the original duraspark box, and it's running strong!
The Proform and DUI units are nice, and work well if you're looking to clean up the engine bay, but you can buy a new duraspark unit, coil, and distributor for less than the price of the cheaper proform!
-Brad
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Big Sky Country
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
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From: West Virginia
ok, halfway through it. appears there is no consensus except that the DUI unit is probably the best. idk. I think anything would work better than what I got, and I also think it would be nice to have the 2 wire hookup to simplify wiring.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,436
Likes: 19
From: Regina, Saskatchewan
Love it...
I think the general consensus here is get what you want... test results haven't proven anything so just go out any buy one.
Reps to Lariat 85.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
He didn't prove anything as far as I can see, just a bunch of blah blah blah... people bring up points, he says "youre wrong," and they didn't care enough to post back. I don't see any dyno charts...
His main point seems to be "it shouldn't be in a ford because its a GM part." which is stupid. Its not a "GM" part. Its just a part. Nissan uses hitachi ignition systems. Honda uses hitachi ignition systems. Who cares? Delphi makes OEM parts for GM as well as lots of other brands, and aftermarket parts for GM's and ohhigosh, fords too. Well I think they are bankrupt now but now the point.
When things work well and simplify wiring, I can't see avoiding them just because they came under the hood of something else. Cummins came under the hoods of dodges, and yet also came under the hoods of many medium duty trucks, including fords, and they are one of the most popular engine swaps for these trucks.
His main point seems to be "it shouldn't be in a ford because its a GM part." which is stupid. Its not a "GM" part. Its just a part. Nissan uses hitachi ignition systems. Honda uses hitachi ignition systems. Who cares? Delphi makes OEM parts for GM as well as lots of other brands, and aftermarket parts for GM's and ohhigosh, fords too. Well I think they are bankrupt now but now the point.
When things work well and simplify wiring, I can't see avoiding them just because they came under the hood of something else. Cummins came under the hoods of dodges, and yet also came under the hoods of many medium duty trucks, including fords, and they are one of the most popular engine swaps for these trucks.
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The EGR dilutes the AF mixture at part load and reduces tendancy to knock or ping. W/O EGR a slower advance curve and/or bigger carb jets may be needed. The issue is the same regardless of ignition type... although the aftermarket units may already be curved for "non EGR". In a stock cam/stock carb application, the EGR doesn't hurt and may actually help in some ways.
I can say for sure that my dent ('78 400m) in stock configuration runs well with fresh plugs, wires, cap, rotor, vacuum lines and replacement of the 35 YO original carb with a reman unit. EGR is intact.
Future plans include power upgrades which may require a re-curved distributor. I'll likley keep the Duraspark as it is capable and reliable with a Ford brand brain box.
I can say for sure that my dent ('78 400m) in stock configuration runs well with fresh plugs, wires, cap, rotor, vacuum lines and replacement of the 35 YO original carb with a reman unit. EGR is intact.
Future plans include power upgrades which may require a re-curved distributor. I'll likley keep the Duraspark as it is capable and reliable with a Ford brand brain box.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
I'm gonna do plugs, wire, and cap, and see how it runs. Maybe once I do cams, intake, and headers, I'll buy a new distributor and take it in and dyno test it before and after.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,051
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From: Douglas, Georgia
looking at one of my favorite most trusted professional builders (BarryR @ Survival), he uses the Duraspark on just about every engine up to 500hp that revs under 6200rpms.
I have little experience with fancy GM ignition systems, I will say that when my factory Ignition box finally started to fail (After 270k miles and 35 years) I bought another "Motorcraft" high end ignition box, for $70. The cheap ones are $20 but I've heard they aren't built well....
When I decided I needed to upgrade my Duraspark because of the modifications I made on my truck, I bought a recurve kit for the Duraspark. It cost $45 because I needed the vacuum advance can. Otherwise the springs are about $4.
Truck runs excellent.
I have little experience with fancy GM ignition systems, I will say that when my factory Ignition box finally started to fail (After 270k miles and 35 years) I bought another "Motorcraft" high end ignition box, for $70. The cheap ones are $20 but I've heard they aren't built well....
When I decided I needed to upgrade my Duraspark because of the modifications I made on my truck, I bought a recurve kit for the Duraspark. It cost $45 because I needed the vacuum advance can. Otherwise the springs are about $4.
Truck runs excellent.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 8,674
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
I ended up with a duraspark dizzy and the HEI module. Stupid-simple to install, and seems to be working great for me. Also only cost me about $20 for the module...
Here is what I ended up doing --> http://www.carbdford.com/tech/HEI/hei.htm
Here is what I ended up doing --> http://www.carbdford.com/tech/HEI/hei.htm
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Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
"Any good parts guy will know exactly what a four-pin HEI module is. Although good parts guys are hard to find so you will probably need to ask for an ignition module for a '78 Camaro with a 350."
lol.. decent tech info there. thanks for the link.
lol.. decent tech info there. thanks for the link.