Notices
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

simplify ignition?

Old Sep 9, 2007 | 10:01 PM
  #1  
83 F250 Bang's Avatar
83 F250 Bang
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
simplify ignition?

Any way to use existing duraspark ignition system on 83 F250 (maybe late 82)after complete intake, carb and cam upgrade? Along with getting rid of that wierd motorcraft carb, I eliminated all those relays and hoses (that were on the old intake) and disconnected the module under the seat (is that the ECM???). Kept the crank sensor, distributor, coil and ignition module. Currently no spark.

There is an orange wire from the ignition module that went to the module under the seat (ECM?)...so that's not connected to anything. Also, two wires went to the ECM from the crank sensor...so they are not plugged in to anything. A third crank sensor wire connects to the ignition module. That one is plugged in. Didn't have to touch the rest of the wires going to ignition module, they are all still connected (ie: red and white). Everything is plugged in except the three wires I mentioned.

I hope I don't sound too ignorant. Just a matter of understanding what things are and what they do. Can anyone help? Any way to make this work or do I have to buy a whole aftermarket ignition system (boy they look expensive).
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 10:06 PM
  #2  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Does your dist have a vacuum line going to it? Sounds like your engine is way more complicated that normal, and it may be a California model with the duraspark III ignition system. If you have this system(no vacuum line to the dist), yes it can be simplified, but you will need a new dist and a new module.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 10:09 PM
  #3  
83 F250 Bang's Avatar
83 F250 Bang
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
I guess I should mention it has the 351 windsor.
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 10:10 PM
  #4  
83 F250 Bang's Avatar
83 F250 Bang
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
No vacuum line. Now that you mention it, I think it is california emissions. So how can I make this work?
 
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2007 | 10:16 PM
  #5  
83 F250 Bang's Avatar
83 F250 Bang
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Thanks for your help. I will check back tomorrow. Love your icon Franklin2
 
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2007 | 05:58 AM
  #6  
Chiefrider007's Avatar
Chiefrider007
Tuned
20 Year Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 345
Likes: 4
From: Southern IL
Not trying to be a smart you know what but, get you a book first. Second, I might find me a donor in the junk yard and pull the duraspark II module, it's on the driver side fender, or purchase one for about 20.00 and wire it up. Goes starter solenoid, key switch, module, coil, that's about it. I can make one work on just about anything and I'm sure you can too. Just need the wireing diagrams....
 
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2007 | 11:18 AM
  #7  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Just go to the store or the junkyard and buy a dist for a 351w. You might try a 83 or 84 f250. The early 351's were "M's" and they didn't start puttng 351w engines in till a little bit later. Also get a duraspark II module and make sure the plastic around where the wires go in is blue.

You probably will have to go to the junkyard to get the wires going from the dist to the module, but you can get this off any car or truck with a blue module on it.

The only connections you have to worry about are power to the new module, but I am wondering if the old plug on your truck will plug right in and work.

And also make sure you hook the vacuum line up to the new dist. See if you can find a vacuum port that has no vacuum at idle, but has vacuum when you rev the engine. This is the type of port you need for the dist connection.
 
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2007 | 02:36 PM
  #8  
Piffery1's Avatar
Piffery1
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 0
From: Niceville, FL.
Make sure the drive gear and shaft length on the replacement distributor is the same as the original.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

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

 Brett Foote
story-9

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

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Sep 12, 2007 | 09:36 PM
  #9  
83 F250 Bang's Avatar
83 F250 Bang
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
thank you, i will start looking
 
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2007 | 06:00 AM
  #10  
83 F250 Bang's Avatar
83 F250 Bang
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
I found a new HEI distributor (coil on top) on ebay for like $70. Should I just go that route? Looks alot easier.
 
Reply
Old Sep 13, 2007 | 06:26 PM
  #11  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,983
Likes: 2,736
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
That will work. Just make sure you run a new heavy wire from the fuse box to the HEI dist. Your coil + wire you have now, has a resistor in it, so you can't use it. The HEI takes a full 12 volts, and it uses a lot of current too, so run at least a 14 guage wire, and better would be a 12 gauge wire.
 
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2007 | 02:17 PM
  #12  
PerfDistIgnition's Avatar
PerfDistIgnition
FTE Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 83 F250 Bang
I found a new HEI distributor (coil on top) on ebay for like $70. Should I just go that route? Looks alot easier.
If you want a custom curved distributor and excellent tech support(which you want find with a $70 HEI) take a look at our D.U.I..

If you decide to get a new distributor, consider our custom curved Duraspark Distributor built with our new Full Length Oil Impregnated Bronze Bushing. The full length bushing improves timing stability and spark scatter. If stock appearance is not an issue, take a look at our one piece D.U.I. Distributor. Whether you choose the Duraspark or the D.U.I., we curve each on a distributor machine based on your engine combination. Please see them at:

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
 
__________________
FTE Sponsor
Performance Distributors
www.PerformanceDistributors.com
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2007 | 07:26 PM
  #13  
mhg's Avatar
mhg
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 0
From: savannah,ga
www.fordfuelinjection.com
go here and read everything
there is a huge amount of info
this is a great site to learn from
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tcrbraydn
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
28
Sep 23, 2020 07:28 PM
darkbreeze
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
20
Aug 17, 2017 10:43 AM
exidor12
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
Sep 13, 2015 06:34 AM
rangerrod
4 Cylinder Engines
2
Jun 30, 2006 12:18 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:30 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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