distributor swap
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 7,193
Likes: 385
From: Near Los Angeles
For more than 10 years I have run a stand alone DS2 distributor with an MSD 6A box. It works well and is torquey. If you use a DS distributor, buy an NOS (new old stock) motocraft stator unit on Ebay. It'll run you about $15. The oem motocraft ones last about 40 years. The ones you get in the parts store (China) last about 2 years. I know that from experience. If you don't want to use the MSD box, you can wire a DS2 dizzy through a GM 4 pin module too, but it'll have less spring in its step, so to speak. Good luck.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 896
Likes: 55
From: Bothell
The duraspark distributor with a MSD ignition box is a good setup. The DS distributor is a very simple magnetic pickup and feeds the MSD box or any other ignition box that has magnetic pickup input.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 7,193
Likes: 385
From: Near Los Angeles
Summit offers an ignition box with the same spark energy as the MSD, and the Summit box costs about $50 less than the MSD.
*I have noticed that running so much current through my dizzy makes the contacts in the cap and rotor (all brass) corrode a bit. That makes me change them once a year—for free! I purchased the more expensive type through O'reiley's auto parts, and they came with a life time warranty. I've replaced them for free about 6 times.
*I have noticed that running so much current through my dizzy makes the contacts in the cap and rotor (all brass) corrode a bit. That makes me change them once a year—for free! I purchased the more expensive type through O'reiley's auto parts, and they came with a life time warranty. I've replaced them for free about 6 times.
Trending Topics
5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
I have a '73 with 360. I went with the pertronix setup. I did the coil, distributor that goes in the factory location, new wire and new plugs. The driveability is far superior to what I had. The price was decent and I was able to figure it all out with my limited mechanical knowledge.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
6 months ago I bought one on ebay for $200.00. The seller's name is "theswapmeetparts". Description of my distributor is "Small cap Ford F390 (etc) blue HEI distributor + 45K coil + plug wires." It fits alongside the big Edelbrock air cleaner, that is why I got the small cap type. (Air cleaner has a 3/4" shim under it also.) The distributor came with a steel gear, and I think my cam is cast iron. So I got a brass gear from Jegs and put that on. Big improvement over my worn-out points distributor. If I had it to do over again I would look for something that came with a cast iron gear on it. My brass gear was $50.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Gabes50
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Oct 20, 2020 07:59 PM
xphr8r
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Jun 22, 2016 05:16 AM
whisler
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Dec 11, 2011 07:42 AM