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Hello Ford truck owners,
Long story short...bought (2 years ago) 1970 restored F-250 with '79 - '85 460 cu. in. The engine came with HEI GM converted distributor. Two months ago modulator went out...got another one...put it in...started right up...problem solved. Two days ago the ignition stopped working...no spark to plugs...got another modulator...still won't produce spark. I took the coil out and trying to test with OHM meter whether it is the problem. I would hate to get another coil to find I still have no spark. Can anyone recommend a reliable way to test this coil other than a guy on YouTube? Can anyone recommend a good reliable distributor to replace this one with? I'm nervous about this system. The distributor is Summit Racing # 850025. Thanks for your help.
I've heard that if there was a short, the coil could arc thru the cap. And the arcing would occur again and again burning out stuff. Check the cap with a strong flashlight. Look for pinholes.
An HEI just don't look right in a Ford. Get a reman Duraspark and a box and make it look normal. Pretty simple to wire.
Just have to keep an extra box handy as they don't seem to last very long these days.
Beyond that, get one of those ready to run MSD distributors(pricey). Or you could get stock points distributor and get a Pertronix conversion for it? Look stock, work good.
I am not a fan either of a non Ford part like that.
However, the HEI must be fed with 12 volts by a 12 or 10 gauge wire. You may have to power it up with a 30 amp relay. You may be feeding it with the original resistor wire which will cause a voltage spike fron the negative side.
I once went from a Petronics which is a very good system to a Dura Spark and noticed quicker starts with the same MSD Blaster 2 coil.
On the HEI I got, I have to clean the spark plug terminals under the cap along with the center pin pretty often, say every 20-40k miles maybe? Got it down to an art. Takes about 5 minutes. I use sand paper and then blow it out with compressed air. I've also had to replace the center pin which you can get by itself. Eventually the terminals wear out and I just keep a replacement cap handy. You can tell by just looking at the terminals inside if it's the problem. I've put 100k+ on my HEI conversion and this has been my experience.
I've heard that if there was a short, the coil could arc thru the cap. And the arcing would occur again and again burning out stuff. Check the cap with a strong flashlight. Look for pinholes.
Thanks for the tip. Now...the engine is running again. There is no pattern. All I know is the system I have will be replaced by something. I need a system I don't have to worry about.
Thanks for that link. I would like to know if all of these HEI distributors are made by the same manufacturer or are they made by different ones. I get the idea they're made in China.
An HEI just don't look right in a Ford. Get a reman Duraspark and a box and make it look normal. Pretty simple to wire.
Just have to keep an extra box handy as they don't seem to last very long these days.
Beyond that, get one of those ready to run MSD distributors(pricey). Or you could get stock points distributor and get a Pertronix conversion for it? Look stock, work good.
That's a great idea in getting a regular distributor and converting it to a Pertronix conversion. I've made friends with a local speed shop who is a Pertronix dealer and I'll see if they have a system that is high voltage. Thanks for the good idea.
On the HEI I got, I have to clean the spark plug terminals under the cap along with the center pin pretty often, say every 20-40k miles maybe? Got it down to an art. Takes about 5 minutes. I use sand paper and then blow it out with compressed air. I've also had to replace the center pin which you can get by itself. Eventually the terminals wear out and I just keep a replacement cap handy. You can tell by just looking at the terminals inside if it's the problem. I've put 100k+ on my HEI conversion and this has been my experience.
HEI is a very simple setup.
Thanks for the tip. I don't think that's the problem I have. My problem is intermittent... a mechanics nightmare.
On the HEI I got, I have to clean the spark plug terminals under the cap along with the center pin pretty often, say every 20-40k miles maybe? Got it down to an art. Takes about 5 minutes. I use sand paper and then blow it out with compressed air. I've also had to replace the center pin which you can get by itself. Eventually the terminals wear out and I just keep a replacement cap handy. You can tell by just looking at the terminals inside if it's the problem. I've put 100k+ on my HEI conversion and this has been my experience.
HEI is a very simple setup.
Thanks for the tip. I already cleaned the terminals and that didn't help. This system has now converted to "intermittent" and could leave me anywhere...without warning. Three days ago I had to get a tow 1/4 mile back to my home. I'm going to replace the entire system.
My 1st thought was who's modules did you buy? There is SO MUCH automotive electrical products on the market now a days that are junk.
They come over from the land of......
2nd thought was a loose or dirty connection some where. The PO should have deleted the Pink resistor wire from the ignition switch that eventually lead to the factory coil. If he didn't your HEI isn't getting enough juice. If he did, check that connection to be good and clean. Also check them at the HEI itself. Including these:
I pulled my HEI out cause of the vacuum advance failed=sucking air.
I order what, I thought was the correct Vac. advance unit on line which found there was many different ones for the HEI dizzy. And the one , I got did not fit. So yanked the HEI out and installed the Duraspark ll Unit. The MSD Blaster ll coil=now this coil has the same spic's as the OEM Duraspark ll ford used.
After about 200 miles my truck stalled while driving along, but started running worse at taking off at from every stop light until it just quit running.
No spark at the plugs. first time needed a tow home.
Next day checked a few thing all was good, but checked out a dizzy pickup coil.
Cranked right up ran about 10 minute so took a test drive an as sure as SHXT the engine stopped running again. Dang second tow home with in a week.
This time, I had a ohm meter with me and checked the coil and it shows bad.
Order a stock oem Duraspark ll coil and it's been running for a month now with no issues of stalling out.
And Yes I trash canned it and won't be using a MSD coil again.
Orich
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