A friend asked me to help try to start a E300 motor home that had been parked for 14 years. It is supposed to have only 32000 miles on it. I am guessing it is a '72, it has a points distributor. Rats had chewed the wire off at the distributor. I made up a new wire from the points to the coil. What was left of the old wire looks like it may have been a resistance wire. I am wondering if these are still available. Also I wonder how much trouble it would be to change to electronic ignition? Can anyone tell me where to find VIN number or year? The engine fired right up and runs great.

 

NAPA online has those Primary Dist Lead Wires listed, and some Electronic Conversion kits for a 72, but you still need to ID the Year and Engine size............

 

Thank you for responding econolinemanor.
Can anyone tell me where to look for an Id.
number? We found one on the door jamb but it is mostly gvw info.
It is parked in a patch of poison oak so we have not yet been able to search
thoroughly.At first glance I thought it was a 302 engine but since it is nearly a one ton perhaps it is a 289.

 

Napa online is quite a resource. From info there it is indeed a E300 and the only V8 they show for those years (pre 74 HEI) is the 302.
It looks like if we can find the vin number we will have it nailed.;

 

the resistor wire in those old fords is quite long, typically 1 metre or more. If it is just the end that has been chewed, then just crimp a connector or extension wire to it, being a little bit shorter won't worry things too much. You can test by checking voltage at coil with ignition off. Should be 6 volts give or take a little bit. Otherwise, if it is reallt knackered, you can fit a ceramic type ballast resistor, with 12 volts run to one side. You will still have to connect the ballast bypass from the starter solenoid, which feeds 12 volts to the coil while cranking. This should be fitted already.