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351W How does the ignition work?

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Old Mar 24, 2020 | 03:22 PM
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351W How does the ignition work?

I'm in the UK trying to get a 351W running. I have no idea what it came out of as I bought it to go in my 53 F100 which I have been working on for toooooo looong!!
The engine casting has a 1974 date code and an engine number that I can't read as it's badly stamped. Picture shown below
The distributor has an electronic pickup with 3 wires, and I think I need some kind of electronic module to get a spark

All help greatly appreciated, and if you can figure out the engine number it would be a great help.
Thanks
P



ete
 
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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 01:39 AM
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Originally Posted by petehf100
I'm in the UK trying to get a 351W running. I have no idea what it came out of as I bought it to go in my 53 F100 which I have been working on for toooooo looong!!
The engine casting has a 1974 date code and an engine number that I can't read as it's badly stamped. Picture shown below
The distributor has an electronic pickup with 3 wires, and I think I need some kind of electronic module to get a spark

All help greatly appreciated, and if you can figure out the engine number it would be a great help.
Thanks
Pete
The CASTING ID CODE (raised casting characters) for the engine should be located on the right block skirt at the starter motor. The STAMPING NOS you show are a PARTIAL VIN STAMPING of the donor vehicle.

The DIST is from a 1975 351W (TORINO-MONTEGO) as you stated. It is 1975 SOLID STATE - IGN CONTROL MODULE (which is separate) would be ID'd by a GREEN - CORRECTED - STRAIN RELIEF on the module.

You can either find the parts to adapt it to a 1977/ DURASPARK II, use a PERTRONIX complete DIST or an aftermarket GM HEI DIST {{{ shudder }}} to fire it.

Feel free to ask anything you need to know.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 04:23 AM
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Originally Posted by KULTULZ
The CASTING ID CODE (raised casting characters) for the engine should be located on the right block skirt at the starter motor. The STAMPING NOS you show are a PARTIAL VIN STAMPING of the donor vehicle.

The DIST is from a 1975 351W (TORINO-MONTEGO)as you stated.

It is 1975 SOLID STATE - IGN CONTROL MODULE (which is separate) would be ID'd by a BLACK STRAIN RELIEF on the module.
Is this a typo? Yesterday you said 1975 was green...1974 was black. Since I never can remember, I wrote it down.
D5DZ-12127-N .. Distributor Assy (Motorcraft DA-1457) / Marked: D5DE-12127-SA / Obsolete

D5AZ-12A199-C .. Ignition Module (Motorcraft DY-166-B) // Obsolete ~ 1975 all FoMoCo vehicles.
----------
D4PZ-12A112-A .. Stator aka magnetic pickup coil (Motorcraft DU-1-A)

1974/79 all FoMoCo V8 vehicles except 1979 LTD/Grand Marquis 351W sold new in CA
 
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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 08:12 AM
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It is 1975 SOLID STATE - IGN CONTROL MODULE (which is separate) would be ID'd by a BLACK STRAIN RELIEF on the module.
Originally Posted by Bill Asks

Is this a typo? Yesterday you said 1975 was
Originally Posted by Bill Asks
green...1974 was black. Since I never can remember, I wrote it down.
Not a typo. Just a case of dumb-a$$. The home is supposed to call any day now ...

1975 is GREEN. But if he wants to retain FORD ELECTRONIC IGN, he will have to repin to DS II.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 05:37 PM
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Thanks for the info so far but I still don't really know what to do.
Is there a cheap way of getting this thing working, I can't find an ignition module on ebay that looks right.
I'm not sure what a black strain relief, or a green one is.
The ebay listing https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OUT-O...75.c100623.m-1
says that a D5AZ-12A199-C doesn't fit on a 351w.

What does repin to DS11 mean?
Is there a better option that doesn't cost as much as the engine I bought?
Cheers
Pete
 
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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by petehf100

Thanks for the info so far but I still don't really know what to do.

Is there a cheap way of getting this thing working, I can't find an ignition module on ebay that looks right.
I'm not sure what a black strain relief, or a green one is.

The ebay listing https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OUT-O...75.c100623.m-1
says that a D5AZ-12A199-C doesn't fit on a 351w.

What does repin to DS11 mean?
Is there a better option that doesn't cost as much as the engine I bought?
Cheers
Pete
Sorry, I over complicated things. The IGN shown in your DIST is older FORD ELECTRONIC IGN. It would be very costly to duplicate the system where you are. You have a choice of replacement distributors, one copied after the GM HEI where the module and coil are mounted in the DIST (one-wire plug and play) or a new PERTRONIX DIST that uses its own design ELECTRONIC IGN.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2020 | 08:14 PM
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What you have is a Duraspark type distributor. It needs to connect to a DS type ignition module to fire the ignition coil. There are a number of different module that can work, but the most common one has a blue strain relief (grommet) where the wires come out. Check out this discussion about converting distributors on old (60's) cars to the Duraspark II distributor from late 70's to mid-80's cars:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...lshooting.html

The DS1 system was made to meet California's stricter emission standards. It's designed to use full 12V on the coil, and the module is designed to charge up the coil faster to provide stronger sparks while not overheating it. The DS2 system was the more common version, and uses the full 12V on the coil only during cranking, and switches to a series resistance during normal runs.

I'm not sure if the DS1 and DS2 distributors have different connector pin-outs, but the pictures should show you which color wire should go where.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 03:15 AM
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Let's start all over. The OP is not familiar with what is being discussed.

Read this TECH ARTICLE and then we can proceed - Duraspark II -- The Ford V-8 Engine Workshop
 
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 04:40 AM
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Originally Posted by petehf100
Thanks for the info so far but I still don't really know what to do.
Is there a cheap way of getting this thing working, I can't find an ignition module on ebay that looks right.
I'm not sure what a black strain relief, or a green one is.

The ebay listing https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OUT-O...75.c100623.m-1
says that a D5AZ-12A199-C doesn't fit on a 351w.
Most ebay sellers haven't a single clue what parts fit.
ALL 1975 FoMoCo vehicles with I-4, I-6, V6 & V8 engines ALL​​​​​​
 
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Old Mar 26, 2020 | 08:16 AM
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Thumbs up

Originally Posted by NumberDummy

Most ebay sellers haven't a single clue what parts fit.

1975 FoMoCo vehicles with I-4, I-6, V6 & V8 engines ALL​​​​​​
X2

... or, the part is listed for either a 312 or SHELBY. They are all RACE CAR PARTS and worth the asking price ...
 
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