Notices

Points distributor

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 10, 2024 | 08:26 AM
  #1  
6t56's Avatar
6t56
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 4
Points distributor

I have a 300 from the early or mid 80's that I want to put a points distributer in. Will any distributer from any year 300 work ?
Also what years did they use points distributors?
 
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2024 | 08:28 AM
  #2  
Bronco638's Avatar
Bronco638
Laughing Gas
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 774
Likes: 104
From: Elk Grove Village, IL
I don't see why not but there are others that know more than I do. I'm sure they'll be along shortly.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2024 | 12:35 PM
  #3  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,828
Likes: 4,094
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
About 73-74 is when points went away so to be safe go with a 70 dist.

Now I dont see why you would want to go backwards on spark?
There is nothing wrong with the DSII electronic system.
I have see a car run 11's in the 1/4 mile with out any misses.

If you are looking for something that is easy to install / wire up then get a HEI off Ebay.
1 - 12 volt wire hook up and it works.
Dave ----
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2024 | 04:20 PM
  #4  
6t56's Avatar
6t56
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 4
I just got this project truck and it's kinda hacked up. It had a 460 in it originally and someone replaced it with a 300 inline that has the feedback carburetor and the TFI (I think that's right) ignition.

I'm going to a simple setup, non feedback carb, simple ignition, etc. I may end up putting a duraspark 2 on it but my thought was it would probably be cheaper to just buy a points distributer than to buy all the duraspark components.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2024 | 06:49 PM
  #5  
pmuller's Avatar
pmuller
More Turbo
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 701
Likes: 109
You can use the points distributor and upgrade it with a PerTronix conversion kit or you can add an MSD 6A with the points distributor.
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2024 | 07:50 AM
  #6  
HydroDog's Avatar
HydroDog
Tuned
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 99
From: Salkum
Originally Posted by pmuller
You can use the points distributor and upgrade it with a PerTronix conversion kit or you can add an MSD 6A with the points distributor.
I did the point distributor with a Summit Brand MSD box on my 1965.

Since the points no longer pass the full electrical current to coil, they become just a switch for the MSD box so electrical arc at the points is minimal.
Along with that, I made the connections to the MSD box with insulated spade connections so it the box ever stops working, I can go right back stock power for the coil and distributor and be on my way again.
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2024 | 08:07 AM
  #7  
6t56's Avatar
6t56
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 4
I'm having a hell of a time finding a points distributor. I'm looking for a reman original part not a Chinese knockoff but they are "out of stock" everywhere on the web. I might have to go with the duraspark2.
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2024 | 05:47 PM
  #8  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,828
Likes: 4,094
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
Why spend all the money on parts that you dont need, points dist & MSD box, as you have 2 points that can fail.
Being it is not a race motor I dont see the need for the MSD box.

You did not say what year the truck is but something about TFI?
If the truck came with a TFI system then the DSII wiring is there you just need the harness between the dist. and the trucks wiring.
They say that harness can be a little hard to come by from junk yards and bucks from Painless.

Now what I would do as it will work and be less money than the parts & MSD set up.
Go with a Ebay HEI dist. As said 1 12 volt wire hook up.
1 part that might fail but any of the parts, module, you can get it at any parts store as it is in a lot of GM cars & trucks.

There are reasons for the large cap on the HEI and DSII dist.
They both put out higher voltage spark and with small points cap you get cross fire.
You can also run higher RPM, not that a 300 six can, with out cross fire also.

The HEI is also easier to "dial in" over any of the Ford dist.
I can tell you anything got to be easier than the DSII dist to adjust the springs in.
HEI everything is up top, DSII is at the vary bottom.

The 83 to 86 truck have feed back and we tell them go HEI
Go with the HEI and dont look back
Dave ----
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-3

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-6

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

 Joe Kucinski
Old Apr 15, 2024 | 08:22 PM
  #9  
BOBWhite12's Avatar
BOBWhite12
5th Wheeling
Liked
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 26
Likes: 2
Have you tried any Ag places? Ford 300's were in a lot of irrigation stuff as well as new holland and a lot of other equipment. They probably used points distributors well into the 80s but they might not have vacuum advance and a different spark curve. I like points stuff but be prepared to clean and adjust them in the dark on the side of the road. Buy a good quality electronic ignition if you decide to go that route, a cheepo one might give you more problems then points would. Best of luck
 
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2024 | 06:25 PM
  #10  
fire240's Avatar
fire240
FTE Legend
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 191,879
Likes: 352
From: baltimore
Club FTE Gold Member
Could try Brillman. That’s who I use for the family project vehicle for distributor parts. Then again it has an unusual motor in it. Nothing like trying to find parts for a Waukesha with dual ignition systems.
 
Reply
Old Apr 20, 2024 | 06:22 AM
  #11  
6t56's Avatar
6t56
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 4
I decided to go with an HEI from summit racing. It seems to be the easiest fastest solution to my problem. The replacement cap/coil and rotor is only $46.00 so I'll probably get one of those and keep it behind the seat. Thanks for all the input guys !!!
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2024 | 10:43 AM
  #12  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,828
Likes: 4,094
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
You only need a cap, rotor because they wear out like any cap & rotor, and maybe the module.
I have never see a HEI coil go bad since the HEI came out.
Dave ----
 
Reply
Old Apr 21, 2024 | 10:54 AM
  #13  
6t56's Avatar
6t56
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 95
Likes: 4
I thought the coil was built into the cap, now that I look closer at the pictures I see that it's not.
 
Reply
Old Apr 23, 2024 | 02:17 PM
  #14  
FuzzFace2's Avatar
FuzzFace2
FTE Legend
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Liked
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,828
Likes: 4,094
From: Angier, NC
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by 6t56
I thought the coil was built into the cap, now that I look closer at the pictures I see that it's not.
The coil is mounted in the cap.
When you replace the cap you remove 2 or 3 screws holding the coil cover in place.
Then there are 4 screws, 1 in each corner of the coil, lift the coil out being careful of the wires from coil to the spades that fit down inside.
You can push them up from under neath and they come out with the coil.
IIRC 1 of the screws holds a spade that is a ground make sure that comes over with the coil to the new cap.

New cap should have a new rotor button with spring, drop that in the center hole and the new rubber washer and then the coil with the wires and spades.
4 screws to hold the coil to cap, coil cover and screws and you are ready to put the cap back on the dist.
Dont forget to swap out the old rotor for new.
It is a vary easy swap.
Dave ----
 
Reply
Old Apr 16, 2025 | 06:12 AM
  #15  
Turquoise64F100's Avatar
Turquoise64F100
5th Wheeling
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: South central Pennsylvani
Hey while we're here

So I'm also hunting a 300 points distro, but for an unrelated reason. I'm 25 and don't mind fiddling with points on the side of the road, plus it just feels right for what I'm throwing it in. I've got a 1963 223 motor I'm rebuilding for my 1964 F100 and the 223 guys tell me I should run a modified 300 distro with a 223 gear on it. I've got a spare 223 distro to cannibalize, but I can't find a source for a 300 points unit and every junkyard around me either they're already gone or the correct year trucks and vans have V8s in em. All the big stores are sold out of remans and looking elsewhere all I'm seeing is HEI.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:12 PM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE