I've got an '86 F150 4x4 with a 302. I'm having an issue that has been bothering me for a few years, but now its getting to the point where I can't drive the truck. Some days the truck will run fine, no problems. But other days, it starts fine. Then, after a bit, it starts chugging, and will eventually quit running altogether. Then, when you go to try to restart it, it turns over really hard, like the timings off. Let it sit for a while, and then it will turn over normally and run just fine. One time it I turned the distributor a little and got it to start. so then I had the timing set and it started hapening again. I thought maybe the timing chain was jumping or something, so I had the timing checked, and it was spot on where it was supposed to be.
The guy I bought the truck from had just put a timing chain on it, and I now know I got the truck cheap because he couldn't figure out what was wrong with it either. When it runs good, it runs good. Just once in a while this will happen. and its getting more frequent. Used to be it would only happen once a month or so, but now its happening maye once a week. But this isn't my main vehicle and I don't drive it daily, so its hard to say exactly how regularly it is happening, but I know the probelm seems to be getting worse.
Could it be the igniton module? Distributor? Can anybody point me in the right direction?

 

There's some trouble shooting tests in the Haynes manual for this ignition setup that are really good. But with it acting up sporadically you may have trouble tracking it down. If you got a couple of bucks I would go ahead and get a new distributor WITH the ignition control module on it. That way you get a new module and replace the PIP inside the distributor.

I had a similar problem and I could no longer to get my truck to restart at all. I replaced the ICM and I was good. Then a week or so ago it just died on me but fired back up fine 10 mins later.

So I went out and bought a distributor with the module on it and will be replacing that hopefully tonight. I would think that should eliminate my problems all together. I'll keep the "new" ICM as backup.

 

Let me know if your distributor fixes it. I've got a parts car crown vic with a 302, I might try swaping parts out from that before I spend any money on it.
Thanks for the help!!

 

I changed it last night. Took about an hour from start to finish. that includes adjusting the timing afterwards. i revved it up pretty good and it seems fine. But with these electrical issues it could be fine for several months and then just one day it doesn't wanna play nice and the next minute it's fine. Very frustrating.


Be careful with the crown vic distributor. The ones used in our truck use a cast iron gear but the ones in the mustangs use a steel gear. they are not compatible. further, you should verify the distributor in the crown vic has the module attached to the distributor or is it remote mounted. ours are on the distributor.

 

Thank you, I did not know the distributors were different. I would have thought a 302 was a 302, car or truck. I'll be very careful if I do use any parts off the Crown Vic.