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so after much thought and debate i have decided to instead of taking my grandads truck back to factory spec with electronic control and all, i want to convert it over to full mechanical. problem is i have no idea of parts to buy, where to buy. considering im on a tight budget this is probably going to be a long project but i have no idea where to start. i use to be a "mechanic" but i never got far with my training and all i really did was whatever the computer told me to do. so i need to ask you guys for hlp. if you guys have any links or websites that can point me in the right direction id really appreciate it.
so after much thought and debate i have decided to instead of taking my grandads truck back to factory spec with electronic control and all, i want to convert it over to full mechanical. problem is i have no idea of parts to buy, where to buy. considering im on a tight budget this is probably going to be a long project but i have no idea where to start. i use to be a "mechanic" but i never got far with my training and all i really did was whatever the computer told me to do. so i need to ask you guys for hlp. if you guys have any links or websites that can point me in the right direction id really appreciate it.
Here's a place in Alabama that has a 1982 300 six engine for sale. Auto Outlet Inc USA-AL(Duncanville) 205-758-6373
You do not need the engine, and they probably will not sell the distributor off of it, but they may still have the truck in the yard where you can get the wires you need. This is also a sign this yard may have some old stuff sitting around. You can get the wires you need off any car or truck with the duraspark system on it, inline six or v8 it doesn't matter. They all used different distributors depending on the engine, but they all used the same wires and most of them used the same ignition box with the blue plastic grommet, which is what you need. The hot tip here, if you can get a original Motorcraft blue grommet ignition box from the junkyard, get it, they are the best boxes that last the longest.
See the picture below another guy took of his truck? He has the same problem as you. If you have all those plugs laying on the fender, if you eyeball this carefully, your duraspark II box will plug right into those plugs, along with the factory harness you get from the junkyard which will plug into the box and the distributor. Plug and play if you get the factory stuff.
The factory was still running the duraspark system in these trucks at the same time they made your truck with the computer on it. But they used the same harness.
Here's a place in Alabama that has a 1982 300 six engine for sale. Auto Outlet Inc USA-AL(Duncanville) 205-758-6373
You do not need the engine, and they probably will not sell the distributor off of it, but they may still have the truck in the yard where you can get the wires you need. This is also a sign this yard may have some old stuff sitting around. You can get the wires you need off any car or truck with the duraspark system on it, inline six or v8 it doesn't matter. They all used different distributors depending on the engine, but they all used the same wires and most of them used the same ignition box with the blue plastic grommet, which is what you need. The hot tip here, if you can get a original Motorcraft blue grommet ignition box from the junkyard, get it, they are the best boxes that last the longest.
The DS harness consists of 4 wires 3 of which go to the same place and one to the coil.. The plugs are available Standard S629 for the 3 pin and S268 for the 4 pin. The harness can be fabbed up for less than $20 in under 10 mins. Never understood why people would encourage sourcing near 40-year-old harnesses for this when a new one can be built for a few bucks.
The DS harness consists of 4 wires 3 of which go to the same place and one to the coil.. The plugs are available Standard S629 for the 3 pin and S268 for the 4 pin. The harness can be fabbed up for less than $20 in under 10 mins. Never understood why people would encourage sourcing near 40-year-old harnesses for this when a new one can be built for a few bucks.
And if building one is outside of your scope Painless sells a kit.
Unfortunately my local yard only had an 88 and 86 electrics already gone
You can build your own harness its just 4 wires. 3 between the Dist and igntion module and one from the module to the coil the plugs you need are listed in post #7.
Unfortunately my local yard only had an 88 and 86 electrics already gone
What do you think about this solution? Only 1 wire to mess with. The price may actually be close if you figure the cost of the duraspark II distributor, ignition box, and the wires. This has it all built into it.
What do you think about this solution? Only 1 wire to mess with. The price may actually be close if you figure the cost of the duraspark II distributor, ignition box, and the wires. This has it all built into it.
We've had issues with the HEI dist on a built 351w that never was had with the previous dist. but that could have been just a crappy engine build that caused the problems we were seeing.
What do you think about this solution? Only 1 wire to mess with. The price may actually be close if you figure the cost of the duraspark II distributor, ignition box, and the wires. This has it all built into it.
I like where this is going but how would I go about setting this up? Would I still need a new carb? Also would the carb need to be single or double vacuum?
I like where this is going but how would I go about setting this up? Would I still need a new carb? Also would the carb need to be single or double vacuum?
Yes you still need a carb. And no idea what you mean by single or double vacuum. I'm not a fan of the chinesium HEI distributors for obvious reasons, regardless. It is hit and miss some are good others are trash.
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