I tend to stay local when it's something I may need to warranty out. I'll spend more, but save some grief if I have to return it. That said - I've bought a ton of parts off RockAuto and never had one complaint.

 

Go to this page and use the # for a google search:

DISTRIBUTOR ASSY for 1996 Ford F-150|F2TZ12127BA

OR

Don't know your vin#, but you could try here also:

https://www.fordparts.com/Products/P...omponents.aspx

 

Been down those roads. Ford no longer offers it as a replacement part. I was trying to keep it as stock as possible, but this is the first of many dead ends for oem replacement parts. If this happens again it's gonna get a Pertronix distributor and an MSD box, which would have been cheaper and more durable, had I known I was going to run in to all of this.

 

Getting all that to communicate with the EFI might be tricky, but I've been wrong many, many times.

 

All 460 (7.5L) distributors from 1993-1997 are the same.

 

Check supply voltage to ECU. You changed the alt so it may be possible that it may not be supplying enough voltage to the ECU to function properly with SPOUT in. I don't know what voltage Fords will kill but I know (or heard) Chrysler shut down at around 13 volts. GIGO, poor signal strength in, poor signal strength out. The PIP, ICM and other things aren't going to kill all the dash lights and gauges. Gotta make sure ECU is being fed well. What does the scanner say idle speed is? Does it show it to jump around and not correlate with actual engine speed? Voltage to ECU should be a quick, easy and CHEAP check.

It also may be a wiring problem. My '89 ran beautiful till it blew a ICM. It's had an erratic miss ever since even though I've changed everything twice. Still fighting it.

Check ECU ground too.
.

 

The Spectra has worked for me so far. I know it's probably cheap Chinese junk but it has a warranty, was available, and it seemed silly to spend $350+ for a distributor on a $1000 dollar truck with 300,000 miles. We'll see how it lasts. Good luck to you. I marked everything well and dropped the new one in without finding tdc on cyl #1.

 

A normal distributor and MSD box would take the ECM out of the equation completely as far as ignition.

 

Not sure how that applies to my 302/5.0.

 

A new distributor did the trick. Either my uncle was right and we tweaked something during the rebuild of the distributor, or the PIP was bad out of the box. Runs better than ever.

So, lessons learned and hopefully someone can learn from my mistakes. Don't take for granted that a new part is good even if it's OEM or from a reputable manufacturer. Pay attention to more than codes with your scanner. If we had bothered to look at what the ECM was trying to do with the timing to begin with, this would have been resolved a whole lot sooner and with less wasted money on new parts.

Thanks to everyone for all the input and ideas

 

The link in post 47 & 48 went to a 460 distributor so at a glance I made a quick post.
I see now you have 5.0L.

 

Gotcha. I didn't click the links because as soon as I saw the addresses I knew what the outcome would be. I saw your post and lol

 

 

Actually I found one, but you've got it covered. Glad it worked out for you.

 

Better grab it because they're like trying to find hen's teeth now.