I'm having zero luck with the EFI on my 86 5.0 so im yanking it all and going back to carb,I'm going dual plane aluminum intake and holley 600.my question at the moment is what year distributor do I need from the parts store that will work with the existing computer/trans setup-I know about fuel pump, throttle cable and odds and ends but the distributor I would like some help with, also how will this effect my shifting, will the ECM still be ok with that?

 

There is no control to your transmission, except the throttle cable which is very important. I am assuming you have a AOD transmission? You will need a regular distributor from a older truck with a 302 in it. You might want to check on ebay and amazon, they sell distributors that are a hybrid of GM HEI and Ford, and drop right in with minimal wiring. The biggest pain is going to be your fuel system. Some people leave the electric fuel pump system in place with the return line, and put a 3 port regulator on it to knock the fuel pressure down to 4-5 psi. And then some people pull the fuel tanks and redo the whole thing, using a external low pressure fuel pump.

 

I don't think you can use the EFI computer with a carb. You will need to switch to Duraspark 2 ignition system (distributor, control module, coil and harness) and ditch the computer. I don't think any transmissions in that year were computer controlled so no issues there.
So one more knowledgeable than me will be able to correct me if this is inaccurate.


Oops, typed too slow.

 

I hope I’m replying to this correctly I’m trying to do this from my iPhone by older truck do you mean early 80s, late 70s? Is it possible you could provide me with the link to the correct distributor on eBay there are so many I can’t figure it out, Also someone else said that they just replaced the high-pressure pump with a low-pressure electric and wired it with the existing wires,Would this work along with the tank pump?

 

The Duraspark system,can it be ordered as a kit or do I have to buy it individually and what year? Thanks

 

If you go the HEI route, as Franklin2 mentioned, it's a 1 wire install. If you're starting from scratch with no Duraspark system in there, it's not a bad route to go if you get a quality piece. I know that @AbandonedBronco has talked about liking the setup. The issue I have seen most is when people run cheap eBay HEI systems and have problems with the ignition modules. Check out this thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-300-a-2.html

Here's another good link on the DS2 vs HEI: https://fordsix.com/viewtopic.php?t=67812

If you want to go with the Duraspark Ignition system, which is a great system, it's probably smart to find everything at a boneyard, that way you get all the connectors and harness pieces. I got a Duraspark module and connector for $10 when I grabbed one last. I gave it to a guy in my automotive class years ago. If that's not an option, no biggy, it's not a complicated system to wire up anyway.

They can be found new or used for less than $50 with a quick search online. They were used from 1976/77 to 1984 (someone correct me if I am wrong on those dates). You can build your own harness of course. Painless Wiring makes one, but the pain of shelling out $85 for it might not be worth it: https://www.painlessperformance.com/wc/30812

Here's the complete write-up on that option: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...on-how-to.html



Best of luck, mate!

 

I would encourage you to look into the Holley Sniper EFI setup, as opposed to a carb. Of course, it's more money, but you have a lot of the work already done for you with having the high pressure fuel system already in the truck.
The vehicle I started with was a 1985 EFI 302. I put my 300 into it, and piggybacked the fuel system, which made installation really straight forward.
A carb will never drive as well as EFI, and the Sniper system works really well. I have an HEI distributor in mine that I've locked out, and is using timing control from the Sniper unit.

That said, if you want to go with the carb, I'd recommend the aftermarket HEI setup. It's a 1 wire install, which makes installation a snap. You can also run the tach wire to it if you have a tach.
If you go that route, I'd suggest a relay that uses the key-on as a source, and then run a good, solid 12 gauge wire from the relay to the ignition so it has plenty of juice.

You can go the DuraSpark II route, but I think in '86 some of the wiring changed. 85 and prior it's a straight up plug-and-play if you have the DSII wiring harness. I've never put one in an '86, but every time I've read about it, people have had problems with the plugs/wires being different. Of course, if you're good at wiring, you can just make your own harness from the above wiring diagram.

Either way, you won't be able to use your current ignition system since it's computer controlled, and you won't have the computer anymore. It would probably run, but you'd have no advance, which would kill performance and mileage.

 

Wow thanks a lot for all the info-This is why forums are so cool,this is a lot of help thank you so much.

 

+1 on Sniper setup, I have it in my 95 Mustang with a 351w. I'm using the HyperSpark Distributor, but like AB said, any locked out distributor would work for the timing control.

I can recommend a guy for the Sniper system if you go that route, he's cheaper than everywhere else and really knows his stuff.

What distributor do you currently have in there? Is it the TFI with the ignition module mounted on the side of the Distributor?

 

I’m at work right now and I’m not for sure about the distributor I have to wait till I get home but thanks.

 

That was stock so I am pretty sure that is what he is going to find.

 

That's what I figured. But who knows after 30 years and with it not running right lol.

Either way, I was just going to mention that using that distributor is an option I would think. Aren't those locked out already?

You can use the PIP, positive wire, and negative and wire it up just like a dual spark for controlling the timing with the Sniper I believe.

 

I would think you could so long as the signal levels where compatible. Yes, it's just like a crank sensor and the rotor points the spark to the correct sparkplug wire. Not much going on inside it.

 

If you go with the carb. set-up, Duraspark 2 was used in trucks up to (I think) 1987 on 351HO carbed truck. Because it was used that late, I believe it is plug and play to that year so Ford didn't have to use separate wiring for each system.

When I swapped a 1984 carbed engine into my '89 EFI truck, I just used the mechanical fuel pump since that is what was on the '84 engine. My research indicated that I could have deleted the high pressure pump on the frame and used the in-tank electric pump with a pressure regulator. If you go that way you have to use some type of jumper to trigger the electric pump since the computer is gone. I had to replace the tank anyway so just got one compatible with the mechanical pump.
I used a distributor for a 1985 351 HO, which it turns out is the same distributor as for a 1981 351W (non HO) according to part numbers on AutoZone website.

 

Ok whistler, so I’m sure, the distributor for the 351 will fit my 302?