I have had enough with those stupid points. I changed them out twice in 2000 miles.

I went to autozone and found distributors that replace the points with electronic harnesses. I could not find a 1970 390 part, only mid 70's and up. They sell for $40- $50. The guy said he needed to know my cam and distributor model to know if it worked.

Any idea which one I have?

1970, f250, 390, 6.4, 2wd, stock/standard components,

 

FWIW, I just put a Pertronix Ignitor on my '68 F100, 360. It cost me $55 on e-bay and took about 15 minutes to install. My mileage went from around 12 to almost 13 and now the truck seems to be sitting there just waiting for me to come crank it up. It's like a puppy that wants to go out and play. She used to dare me to try and start her.

Dan Blackwell

 

Kev, stay away from autozone if you can. Most of the help (not all but most) don't have a clue what they are talking about. A duraspark from a 75 or 76 will fit but needs some wiring and a control box to go with. A pertronix is very tough to beat for helping a points equiped truck. The company that makes what you need used to be called Per-Lux, and the part was called an ignitor. Maybe some folks are not used to the new name. DF

 

Kevin, I went with the Duraspark conversion on my '70 F100, but I think the Pertronics unit would be just as good. I bought a used electronic distributor, a new box, and had it wired and running in under 45 minutes.
Jason Kendrick
1970 F100 Custom 390/C6
1978 F150 Ranger Lariat Supercab 460/C6

 

Another thumbs up for Petronix. I have one in my 66 Shelby and loved it. I now put one in my 69 F100 428 and it starts much quicker!! Love them!

 

Jason,

Could you post the details of this conversion? I am trying to put a later engine with a duraspark distributor in my '70 F100. I have the dist and a brain box, but don't know how to hook it up at all. I suspect all I need is switched power to one of the brain box wires and all the rest should run between the brain box and distributor, but I have no idea. Are the wires color-matched? Thanks for any help.



>Kevin, I went with the Duraspark
>conversion on my '70 F100,
>but I think the Pertronics
>unit would be just as
>good. I bought a used
>electronic distributor, a new box,
>and had it wired and
>running in under 45 minutes.
>
>Jason Kendrick
>1970 F100 Custom 390/C6
>1978 F150 Ranger Lariat Supercab 460/C6
>

 

Have you tried putting a simple transistor inline with your points? This is a poor man's pertronix but it only costs 3 bucks and will make your points last forever.... longer than the rubbing block anyways. Its so cheap i carry a spare in my glove box. If you want to know how to do it i can send you a pdf file with the instructions.

 

 

Madcow, Id like to do the same thing!!! Could you send me the file as well???
Thanks, Bill
Email: S351@alltel.net

 

hay,I'm running a 390-30 over in a old v-drive drag boat that I restored switched in a 76 duraspark distributor & ICM,I was running the same coil (with a external capacitor) that I ran on the points distributor,and it seem to run fine for a while,then I was talking to this mechanic and he seem to think that this ignition system doesn't require a capacitor,does anybody know, I'm also looking for the wiring color code for the (schematic)for wiring this brain box (wanting it right)give me some feed back..../ Steve

 

The capacitor that ties to the positive terminal of the coil is an ignition noise suppression capacitor. It's used in either application - points or electronic. It's not required for the ignition system to function, but it helps filter out noise that could get picked up on the radio from the coil firing.

 

Like the others have said, you can't go wrong with Pertronix.

 

Ok, gotta ask. Where can I find out info about this pertronix?

Years ago, dad came up with 2 "Ignitor" setups for Ford V8's. He put one in his 74 390, and the other went in my 70 F100 302 (my first vehicle). After 3 years or so, the pickup went bad on mine, so I went back to points. A couple weeks later, his tossed a couple magnets out of the "reluctor" thingy, so I handed him the one from mine. I have no idea whatever happened to that setup, or when he changed back to points.
With *quality* points/condensor becoming rather scarce and pricey, I'd like to convert to a breakerless system. I know DS2 quite well, and can wire it up *without* hacking up the stock wiring, just need a dist.
I'm open to other options, so show me the "drop-in" options, please.....

 

5x with Pertronix. It's soooo simple a Democrat can do it. Go to Summit Racing or Jeg's to read up on Pertronix systems - it's dead nuts reliable. I run 'em in my 65, 68, 70, and 71. The 73 has DS1.

The problem with points is that they start the instant it is first used... the unit starts wearing on the dizzy's lobes and the contact starts arcing and wearing. IMO, the less moving parts, the better. Set it and forget it.

 

DuraSpark introduced in 1974, but not all vehicles had it until 1976.

The 1974 DuraSpark module is one year only.

The 1975 DuraSpark module is one year only.

The 1976/79 DuraSpark module is the same as long as it's the blue module. This same module was used into the 1990's, has a blue plastic square above where the wires feed out:

1U2Z-12A199-AA (replaced D6AZ-12A199-A, D8VZ-12A199A, D9VZ-12A199A) .. Blue Module (Motorcraft DY893).

Some 1976/79 sold new in CA only vehicles have a red module, which is a POS. Some 1979 CA only vehicles have a brown module.

Inside the dizzy is a stator aka magnetic pickup coil. The same one was used in 1974/79 V8's except 1979 LTD/Mercury Grand Marquis 351W w/EEC.

D4PZ-12A112-A .. Stator (Motorcraft DU-1A).