The donor van that I pulled my 351 out of has a EEC IV computer which contols the distributor as well as numerous other things that I don't know anything about (don't care either as most of it seems to be emissions related).
Can I just find a vacuum advance Duraspark distributor to swap in there and get rid of the EEC IV? I want to be able to play around with the advance curve which to my knowledge is not possible with the EEC IV. What should I look for, Duraspark II, III, aftermarket?
The motor came out of an 84 Econoline 150 with a 2bbl and AOD trans. I don't think it's a roller cam but could be wrong. What type of dist. drive gear will I need?
Also I will probably end up buying an MSD control module if I go this route unless I stumble across a stock one for cheap. What are the advantages of the MSD over the stock module aside from looks?

 

Nobody wants to take a stab at this one?

 

What year are the vans? We could use a little more info that I wanna swab a for b, Give us some specifics, years, model E150, 250, 350... is the one you want to dirve already set up with the EEC-IV....

 

The motor came out of an 84 Econoline 150 with a 2bbl and AOD trans. I don't think it's a roller cam but could be wrong.
Basically I want to get rid of the computer so that I can adjust the spark advance curve by respringing the distributor.
I need to know what's involved in changing distributers from TFI/EEC IV to Duraspark.

 

are you keeping this thing carbureted, or using EFI? This will dictate your options. EFI will have integrated ignition controls, at which point you cannot deviate from the system, at least not without some seriously slick car-crafting. Going carbureted will make ignition very simple. If that's your plan, then go ahead and tear out all Ford-related ignition parts in favor of MSD 6A box, blaster 2 coil, and Pro-Billet distributor with vacuum advance. Their distributor gives you the option of customizing the advance curve by changing springs under the cap, which is just as easy as changing the rotor. The advantages of an MSD system are better drivability, quicker starts, smoother idle, better fuel milage, quicker throttle response, less plug fouling, better performance overall, and lower emissions, just to name a few. Let us know what your fuel induction plans are so we can get more specific. TK

 

Thanks for the info, yes it will be carburated. The Pro-Billet dist. you talked about sounds kind of pricey. Could I get the same performance using the 6A and the stock Duraspark distributor? Is it just easier to change springs on the MSD? I basically got the engine for free and can't afford many performance upgrades right now.
I just read another article about building your own digital ECU for the TFI ignition that replaces the stock EEC IV.
http://home.teleport.com/~mrriggs/ca...on/digital.htm
Sounds complicated but I think this would be a great way to go if you wanted to tinker with the advance curve, rev limits, nitrous triggers, etc.

 

mwilson that distributor will not work with a carb motor . only efi models. what i dont understand is you say you got this motor out of an 84 and it had this eec-IV distributor in it. but that would mean that motor was efi and that didnt get kicked around till 86-87 are you sure about the year of the motor and such??
just trying to get a clear picture here

late

 

You can actually use any late-model distributor you want with a carbed motor, the trick is finding which wires are the signal wires from the pickups. For example, factory Ford distributors usually have 3 or more wires coming out of them. You only need 2 to trigger an aftermarket control module, or 1 if you're using points ignition (which I wouldn't recommend to anybody). Just go through your shop manual and find which is the (+) mag. pickup wire and which is the (-) mag. pickup wire, and that's all you need to trigger your box. Your 84 motor is surely a flat-tappet cam, so make sure that whatever distributor you use has a cast iron cam gear. Roller cams are made of billet steel, requiring the distributor drive gear be made of steel so that they don't grind each other into bits. Just be sure what kind of cam and dist. gear you're working with, and you can use anything you want. The MSD distributor is indeed pricey, $259 from Summit, but if you want to play around with you rate of mechanical advance, this is the only way to do it reasonably. On a stock Ford distributor, the springs are positioned underneath the magnetic pickup breaker plate, necessitating its removal to change springs, and even then, you don't know excatly what the new springs are going to do unless you blueprint the dist. at a performance shop ($$$!!!). MSD distributors come with an assortment of springs that are color-coded and blueprinted already. For instance, if you are using 1 silver and 1 blue spring, you look up that combo in the manual, and it will display a graph of spark advance vs. engine speed. Changing springs is as easy as changing a rotor button. You can also customize the total advance with a set of color-coded stop bushings, whose effects on the timing curve are also illustrated in the instructions. Basically, the MSD distributors take all the guesswork out of ignition tuning. Besides, it will take many tries to nail down the best curve for your vehicle and driving habits, so you can either have your Ford dist. blueprinted and re-sprung until you find it, or you can just play around with different springs, which can be done at the gas station and won't even take as long as pumping 17 gallons of fuel. TK

 

Thanks TorqueKing, I think the $259 for the MSD will be money well spent, taking alot of guesswork out of the equation.

Kemicalburns - I'm certain that the computer module that I pulled from under the dash says EEC IV on it and it does have the factory 2bbl carb, everything on the motor is stock. So I guess they used EEC IV in 84 to manage spark advance, EGR, vacuum
solenoids, EGT, O2 sensors, choke, etc. The article that I referred to earlier stated that you can use the TFI distributor without a EEC IV and setting your base timing to something like 35 degrees.
There is no vacuum or mechanical advance on TFI, it's all done through the EEC IV. This would be OK for the 1/4 mile (if you could get it started) but forget about driving it on the street and your economy will go right out the window as well.

Regards,
Wilson

 

well, we learn something new everyday dont we. I had no idea , yours is the first ive heard of like this.

Thanks for the info
late

 

hello i have a simular concern i just bought an accel electronic distributor for 50 dollars from ebay it is the tfi version i guess. it has the ignition module on the side of it. anyway i am building a 302 and putting it in a 71 swb f100. i am confused about the wiring. do i have to go to a junkyard and get the harness and the computer off of another tpi truck or car or could i just wire the igniton up to make it work just the same as it should. if will probably just sell it if i ca't find an easy route through this and get another electronic ignition that hooks up with 2 wires any info on this would help significantly any sites ore articles would help too thanks

 

You will have to get a module that can use the magnetic pickups, the module in your '71 is for points ignition. You can either buy a stock ECM for a '75-'79 F100, and wire up the mag. pickups (will require some research to find which wires go where and do what), or you can buy an aftermarket control. It all depends on your budget.

 

ok well i have a 78 and 79 f100's and an 83 and 84 f150's i can just get the box from the wheel well and find the controling wires to hook up the square type coil and the distributor that has the module screwed to the side of the distributor. i did have a 90 model truck with a 5.0 and it had tfi all i sent it to the junkyard i thought i had the harness but i must have put it back in the truck

 

some what cheap .....and very easy 79 351w Dist from the local auto parts store 50 $ and a MSD 6-A box like 180$ it all hooks up fine no duraspark box needed....all ya have to do is find a hot key on wire and ya are done i went from EFI to carb and thats what i ahve been running for a year with no proublems

 

my accel disributor is the tfi style and i am putting it on a 71 truck with no electronics but the altinator and i just want to find the easiest and effective way to hook it up. the advance is controlled by the computer i am guessing since there is no vacuum advance on it any ideas