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I recently significantly improved my overheating issue with my 66 F100 with a 360 (heads are D2TE AA, but I can't find the block casting number. I think its under the starter. At the very least, I know its a mirror 105 block). In the hunt to figure out my heat problem, I found the distributor shaft has a good bit of play and my points are so worn, that I'm fascinated that my truck is running. Just about everything in there needs to be replaced. Should I just convert to HEI? I don't particularly want to get rid of points because I like the simplicity but I know HEI is supposed to be significantly more reliable. Are there any other benefits or drawbacks? It seems like there's a bunch of additional things I need to pay attention to/change if I were to swap to HEI. I don't believe I will have any clearance issues with my oil bathe, I've got 2 spacers under the carb. Thoughts?
Does this distributor look like it would work? It has a lifetime warranty. Would I need any extra parts or would it essentially be plug and play?
There isn't anything wrong with using a points distributor. Most people go to some sort of electronic just so they don't have to mess with the points anymore. The play you are seeing is most likely the movement of the centrifugal advance mechanism and is normal. the only way to tell if the shaft bushing is worn is to pull the distributor.
Your best bet is to put a PerTronix in there. Electronic Ignition Conversion | PerTronix 1281 Ignitor Ford 8 Cyl – Pertronix (pertronixbrands.com)
Along with a new cap and rotor.
Please whatever you do, don't put one of those chevy looking made in China distributors in there. Also, any off the shelf distributor you buy will either be made in China or rebuilt in Mexico and will have a generic curve in it that is probably more suited to an F600 than an F100.
