Posting in a older truck thread. I'm picking up a 351 Windsor this weekend. It's a complete running engine but will be carbureted. It's a efi engine with TFI igniton I believe. From 89. But the truck it's going in won't work a TFI distributor as it sits. Originally efi but 6clyinder. I got everything I need to physically get the engine in there but having issues thinking about ignition due to limited budget.

I been doing some research and I like the idea of duraspark. But unsure on the ignition module? Can it be wired with out it? Or can something substitute it? Or can the duraspark distributor hold a points conversation kit with everything under the cap?

And if I go points. What distributor should I look for? Having trouble finding a 351 Windsor distributor using points. Would a 302 points distributor fit ?
Any information is appreciated thank u

 

You can use an MSD box in place of the Dura Spark module with a Dura Spark distributor. It is an easy install.

 

But I would think the MSD is more $$ than a stock DS box.
If you have the DS dist. then any DS box with the blue gromit would work.
They also say you can use a GM 4 pin module with some work but I don't see why when the stock box will work just fine.

If you get the box from a junk yard also get the wiring as that can be $$ to get outside the JY.

I don't know about the dist. and what will fit the 351 form others.
Dave ----

 

Do they offer replacement connectors?

 

Like the harness end connectors? I had planned on wiring my own engine harness. I have yet to see a duraspark truck at my local junk yards, even the salvage guy here has a bunch of Fords but newer efi.

 

The only difference between the 351W and 302 Distributor is the size of the Oil pump drive.
Used MSD boxes can be found pretty cheap they have been making the things for decades now.

 

I don't think they make the ends.
What you could do is cut the ends off the box & dist and use flat 4 or square 6 M/FM trailer connectors (see Etrailer.com for the ends) and splice them on.
You can also get weather pac kits to make your own connections.
Only thing bad about doing it this way is if you have a box go bad on the road the replacement will not have the right ends on it.
Dave ----

 

A lot of people use these. Most people like them.

SBF Ford 351W Windsor Red Cap Drop In One Wire HEI Distributor w/ 65kv Coil | eBay

 

 

Do some research, I think you can change the factory tach from six to v8 with a jumper on the circuit board where the tach is mounted. Google it and see if you can find something on it.

 

For people intimidated by those pesky electrons, that huge wart of an HEI is nice with the one wire. I like the Duraspark II distributor with the GM hei module. For 2 reasons, the HEI module varies dwell and none of the others do but even better, it will work well with a hot coil from an efi engine and the old blue grommet can't take the heat of the hotter coil. Probably not quite as good as an MSD but can be done on the cheap (or free) with junkyard parts. Make sure and mount the module on a heat sink and with dielectric grease or it won't live.

 

also, when changing from a TFI, do your homework on the distributor gear and get the right one, an older distributor might eat the gear off the cam.

 

Had three of them in 1 season, all crapped out, went duraspark dizzy and module 2 years ago, runs, starts perfect...

 

There is an extra ground in the Duraspark harness that is NOT connected, with the 6 cylinder, Ground that and it reads the 8 cylinder, (thanks Gary!)

 

I just got the red cap gm hei in today! It's made by asault. Freind has one in his Truck pulling w350 dodge. He seems to like it well I'm hoping to have good luck on this Ford version.

I'm pretty sure this is not a roller block? 89 F-250 351 was what I pulled it from. I can't seem to remember any differences in cam gear other than that. But engine looks great! Not gonna even touch it other than a re seal and my intake and carb. Very well taken care of internally. Running electric fuel pump