Electronic ignition conversion possible?
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New User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2
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From: Brownsville, OR
Electronic ignition conversion possible?
1st time poster. 
I may have originally made this post in the wrong forum - sorry.
I work for Fish & Wildlife and we have a 1973 Ford 1ton flatbed, 390 V8 with a single set of points, single vacuum advance distributor. The distributor # is:
D3TF 12127 HA. This distributor is not widely listed
The flatbed died about 2 weeks ago, so I started diagnostics when I returned from vacation. Long story short - no spark. The distributor breaker plate is shot, which will run about $25 to replace. I have ready to install new distributor cap, rotor, points, condensor, plugs and wires.
Can this distributor be convereted to electronic ignition with a kit, ie Hot Spark Electronic Conversion Kit? Would I have to replace the distributor breaker plate to correctly mount the electronic ignition kit?
Electronic Ignition Conversion Kits for 8-Cylinder V8 Ford, FoMoCo, Motorcraft, Autolite Distributors
Is there another electronic conversion kit that would be better recommended and would I require anything else to get this set up running, such as a hotter coil???
Thanks for your expertise!!!
I may have originally made this post in the wrong forum - sorry.
I work for Fish & Wildlife and we have a 1973 Ford 1ton flatbed, 390 V8 with a single set of points, single vacuum advance distributor. The distributor # is:
D3TF 12127 HA. This distributor is not widely listed
The flatbed died about 2 weeks ago, so I started diagnostics when I returned from vacation. Long story short - no spark. The distributor breaker plate is shot, which will run about $25 to replace. I have ready to install new distributor cap, rotor, points, condensor, plugs and wires.
Can this distributor be convereted to electronic ignition with a kit, ie Hot Spark Electronic Conversion Kit? Would I have to replace the distributor breaker plate to correctly mount the electronic ignition kit?
Electronic Ignition Conversion Kits for 8-Cylinder V8 Ford, FoMoCo, Motorcraft, Autolite Distributors
Is there another electronic conversion kit that would be better recommended and would I require anything else to get this set up running, such as a hotter coil???
Thanks for your expertise!!!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Go with a Pertronix Ignitor.. it's been on the market for over 20 years so they have lots of street cred to back up their product line.
I have them installed in all my toys but one (a 71 F250 acquired in early May) with not a single failure or issue. The oldest is in my 65 Mustang from... 1989. Bulletproof IMO.
Welcome to FTE.
I have them installed in all my toys but one (a 71 F250 acquired in early May) with not a single failure or issue. The oldest is in my 65 Mustang from... 1989. Bulletproof IMO.
Welcome to FTE.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: I live in no. ca.
yes you would have to change the plate as any after market conversion mounts to the breaker plate. you can replace it with a stock ford electronic dist. but is not as easy as a pertronics conversion.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
The Pertronix kit (I also highly recommend) mounts to the breaker plate in place of the original points. If you breaker plate is broken or detached, it will need to be replaced, but breaker plates are cheap and easily available. All that would be much easier than changing out the distributor completely.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,553
Likes: 10
I would consider a reman distributor first (NAPA for example) and the Petronix as an upgrade.
NAPA AUTO PARTS
NAPA AUTO PARTS
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
I wouldn't jump the gun on replacing the entire distributor. Breaker plates can pop in half pretty easily; that alone isn't necessarily a sign of the rest of the distributor's condition.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
The breaker plate is actually two pieces, one is fixed, the other pivots to allow movement for the vacuum advance. The two pieces are held together with a plastic rivet. The rivet breaks, which is real common, and the breaker plate can move all over the place. This throws the point or reluctor gap out of adjustment. It will also throw the timing out.
The distributor is usually still in good shape, just the breaker plate needs to be replaced.
Pertronix
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