I was going down the highway, driving great, and all of the sudden my truck started dying, acting like it was out of gas, even though I had a full tank. Before I can pull over, the engine started backfiring through the exhaust and the carb really bad. I would think this is an ignition problem? Points? If so, would my best option to go ahead and replace with somthing like pentronix, or just standard old points to see if thats the problem. btw- its a 390, 2bbl, and probly hasnt had the points replaced in forever. Thnx.

 

I'm no FE expert but it does sound like its ignition related, it might be your points, replace them and check your timing, to make sure it didn't jump. If it is the points, and everything is good you can keep those or swap out for the pertronix and keep the points in the glove box, just to be on the safe side.

 

desperado speaks the truth. If you were able to nurse it home it wasn't the timing chain. Could be other stuff but replacing the points, especially since they are burnt anyway is an excellent first test. Later do Pertronix, flat cap and fat wires, all Ford parts and drive on. Oh yea! I use platinium plugs gapped at 60. Runns really good, 26K miles on the way in this morning.
William in Atlanta

 

Thnx yall, ill be doing that this afternoon

 

One more thing to check for is your fuel filter, to make sure it isn't stopped up, i had a 302 do this to me, and it was just a clogged filter.

 

When you said it started backfiring that leads me to think it's likely to be timing related. Hook up a timimg light and check it. If it's off, see if the clamp bolt is tight. If it is see if you can move the dizzy by hand but scribe a mark first so you have a ballpark setting.