upgrade ignition
upgrade ignition
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
What are you looking for?
You have a few options.
1) Go all aftermarket - MSD or the like.
2) Convert it to a solid state Duraspark ignition from a '78-'79.
3) Our FTE sponsor, Tim aka "TMI" can walk you through as to what you want out of your truck.
You have a few options.
1) Go all aftermarket - MSD or the like.
2) Convert it to a solid state Duraspark ignition from a '78-'79.
3) Our FTE sponsor, Tim aka "TMI" can walk you through as to what you want out of your truck.
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New User
Joined: Jun 2007
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What in your opinion would be the best way to go. The truck has only 59000 orig. miles but it sat in a field for over 20 years. Because of that I rebuilt the engine so it could run on unleaded gas. I plan on camperizing the truck and want a good reliable ignition that will give me the best performance and fuel economy possible.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Pull a wiring harness and distributor out of a later truck or car with a blue grommet module and find a blue grommet Motorcraft Duraspark ignition module, not an aftermarket unit. Someone may be able to tell you the years the blue grommet was used in trucks and cars. The Motorcraft ignition module can be found in a boneyard also. Just get the ignition module tested at a parts store. Mount the ignition module with 1/4" standoffs on the inner fender back near the firewall.
With an OEM type unit you can get repair parts anywhere and most parts stores can test them. The DS unit also has a spark timing retard circuit that makes for easier hot starts.
With an OEM type unit you can get repair parts anywhere and most parts stores can test them. The DS unit also has a spark timing retard circuit that makes for easier hot starts.
Last edited by Torque1st; Jun 20, 2007 at 11:08 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 10
From: MD
Originally Posted by marty60
What in your opinion would be the best way to go. The truck has only 59000 orig. miles but it sat in a field for over 20 years. Because of that I rebuilt the engine so it could run on unleaded gas. I plan on camperizing the truck and want a good reliable ignition that will give me the best performance and fuel economy possible.
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New User
Joined: Oct 2006
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I think you'd be better off putting in a Pertronix System, for less than 100.00 you'll have a points-less system. The real big advantage to Pertronix is if it ever fails you just pull out your spare points from the glove box , put them in and off you go. The other systems like Duraspark would leave you stranded. Granted, they rarely go up but you did say you wanted to camperize it. My electonic ignition failed on my 91 F150 leaving me stranded, luckily I was in my driveway!
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 367
Likes: 1
From: denver
I have had good luck with the pertronix system. It is by far the easiest way to go. The Duraspark is also a great ignition system!, and if you have the time, and the parts, I believe to be superior to the pertronix setup. Jermafenser, if you can't find an FE duraspark distributor, you can get the duraspark setup from other engines also, it isn't quite as easy though. I had a duraspark setup from a 351M on my 428 (with a '73 390 distributor.) You basically have to take all the "guts" out of the donor distributor, and interchange them with the parts from the points distributor. If you do this, just be sure you get all the advance springs and weights so that the distributor mechanical advance is correct. I used the small cap with success, but if I were to do it again, I would use the large cap that I grabbed from the 351M.
FTE Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2006
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Originally Posted by marty60
Hi, Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could upgrade my point type ignition system to an electronic ignition.
http://www.performancedistributors.com/forddistributor.htm
Also, there is now an excellent installation article on the D.U.I. Distributor on the Ford-Trucks.com site at:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/0/358/article/DUI_Ignition_Installation_In_A_Ford_351W_V8.html
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 601
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I also run the Pertronix with the Flamethrower coil. It utilizes the stock points distributor so it looks factory. With the Flamethrower coil, I have my EFI type plugs gapped at .050, rather than the .034 factory setting, so it burns much more effeiciently. Another cheap alternative, is the Duraspark distributor coupled with a GM module, with a ford TFI coil. This setup works great, and is easy to install. See the attachment for a description of this set-up.
http://gofastforless.com/
http://gofastforless.com/
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
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To avoid being stranded just keep another tested junkyard ignition module under the seat. Depending on the yard and how good a customer you are the cost of a junkyard module will vary. I usually don't spend more than a buck or two. Testing is usually free at your favorite store but just remember all testing machines are not equal. All electronic ignitions can fail but their performance makes up for it. A module is much faster and easier to plug into the harness than it is to install points, no tools required.
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: A Tree Fort in PDX
I went with the MSD Ready run Dizzy. 3 wires to wire up and a coil. No box needed and after I trouble shot which what I tought to be a crappy Ignition setup was really just me letting a friend tell me that he flushed the old fuel lines of rotten gas......stupid. But after that its all good to go. Looks clean too, 1 less harness and set of plugs to foul up (break the holding clips). Its an idea though. I will throw a pick up when I get off of work.