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Distributor/Pick-Up Coil Question

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Old Jul 14, 2013 | 12:45 PM
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Distributor/Pick-Up Coil Question

Hey all haven't posted for awhile but have a question regarding the steel/cast iron gear on the distributor. How can you tell which one you have? I have a 302 engine in a 78 F100 2wd. I am having starting problems, it cranks great and will fire when I let off the key but will not start. I changed the coil and ignition control box to make sure it wasn't them. When I did a resistance test on the orange/purple wires on my pick up coil and found there was an open circuit. I am now going to attempt to change the pick up coil and if that fails (never done it before) then I am going to replace the distributor.
 
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Old Jul 14, 2013 | 01:05 PM
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Before you go throwing more parts at it, check your ballast resistor wire. Key in RUN... voltage at + coil should be 6 - 8 VDC. Any less than 5 vdc, the wire is toast.

Many posts/threads on here via the search function about the elusive ballast resistor wire being the cause of wasted dollars on parts before doing some troubleshooting.

The only time the need might arise to check the dist. gear's metallurgy is if one is using a roller cam.
 
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Old Jul 14, 2013 | 01:37 PM
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I used a jumper wire from the + side of the battery to the positive side of the coil and it would not start, just sputter. Spark at coil only occurs when the key is released after cranking. I did a continuity check on the pick up coil and it showed that there was an open circuit.
 
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Old Jul 14, 2013 | 02:13 PM
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Duraspark II - Okey doke - have you checked the 3 wire plug connections for continuity too?...and the distributor ground is good? An open showing in the pick up coil prongs could point toward the connection plug...
 
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Old Jul 14, 2013 | 03:42 PM
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Update

Changed pick up coil and my pickup started so quick is startled me and I ground the starter. When I took it out for a test drive is started to bucking and snorting out of the carburetor, which means the timing is advanced or does it need to be retarded?
 
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Old Jul 15, 2013 | 08:55 AM
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...which means the timing is advanced or does it need to be retarded?
Yes.

Get a timing light and check it.
It will need to be either advanced or retarded depending upon the timing light readings
 
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Old Jul 15, 2013 | 01:23 PM
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D4PZ-12A112-A .. Stator aka Magnetic Pickup Coil (Motorcraft DU-1A).

ALL 1974/79 V8 FoMoCo vehicles with DuraSpark electronic ignition...except 1979 LTD/Grand Marquis 351W with EEC
 
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