Here's one for you guys. I have a 460 just rebuilt 30over and exhaust side is ported and polished, stock cam,here's the twist-1977 460 in a 22'Hawaiian daycruiser jet one of only 60 built.
I keep on burning out condensors.It has a Prestolite dist. with mechanical advance,and a resistor in line(a ceramic thing with a coil or spring running through it)before the main coil. Whats the problem here? I plan on installing a new mallory dist. and msd 2 still with mechanical advance, but I have to wait until me financial advisor(wife) says its ok. Any help would make my life alot nicer.
p.s. I pull it with my 1989 bronco with a 4.9 I6
thanks, Byron.

 

Not sure about a prestolite, but every points type distributor has a ground strap from the breaker plate to the body of the disributor that may need to be reworked.Also, if you painted the dist. hold down clamp and pad the it rests on, scrape the paint off so the bare metal shows,then,retighten and repaint around it. Lastly,the single wire leaving the distributor goes to the negative side of the coil.
Phillip

 

Thanks for the help Phil I plan on trying that today. You dont know how long this has been bugging me. thank God I did'nt use dist. money for a ##### load of condensors. thanks again

 

Just a thought,are you using a coil for an external resistor? If you have a coil for a electronic Ignition you might be puting to much voltage in the condensor.You may need to get a coil for a points type distributor... Just a thought..

 

Well I scraped off the paint, did'nt help.
Burnt out another one. What if I replace the coil
with a "Blaster 2"? and leave the old dist. in?
I might add that if its running with a new condensor It will keep running until I shut it off
then it wont start again,also there is like a black powder inside the walls of the dist. cap. It dosent really show any signs of wear.
Byron

 

Well I put in a new condensor new Blaster 2 and new resistor,checked the volts going in the resistor, 14 going in 5 out,the wire from the dist. is to the negative side,and still wont fire,
checked the points gap again,its good.
I'd really like to solve this problem before I put in a new dist. but I feel that is the problem.
It worked fine last summer,but had to change the condensor a few times.now it just wont fire.
IS IT THE DISTRIBUTER? By the process of elimenation there is something horribly wrong with the dist. I'm going to get a new dist. with mechanical advance.(yes it's getting fuel)how about it Phil or Brady?,or anyone
Byron

 

I need to ask,or you running an ignition box with this points type distributor ? If so, you should change to an electronic type distributor.
Phillip

 

Have you considered just installing a `Pretronix` Ignition module and get rid of the `points and condenser`... ???
The MSD ignition box set up will work just great with the pertronix module Just may be the cheap way to go!!

__JOHN__Õ¿ö
72 F-250

 

Phil- dude how are you, thanks for all your help.
There is no ignition box,its as simple as can be.
just like my old 69 mustang.Except for that thing on the side of the firewall of fender wall,cant think of the name, positive cable goes to it. from battery then to starter, is'ent that the ignition switch?but the pos. cable goes to the thing on top of the starter, then there are two small wire posts for the rest, thats the same thing.right? so, as for that thing the other guy said (john) I think I saw one in the summit catalog. Would that help?
Byron

 

Are you getting any spark at the plugs at all? 2. It sound like 5 volts out anint enough, It should be at least 10 volts. Have you checked all the ovious like cap, rotor,etc. Is the timing set? Is the truck have many miles on it? Could it be possible that timming components are wore. Do you have the S terminal and I terminals on the solinoid hooked up properly? S goes to the starter, or Ignition switch and I gives the coil full battery voltage for start up. My email adress is bvensor(No Email Addresses In Posts!)..

 

Well I pulled the dist. everything looks ok.
there is no side to side movement and a little up and down all in all looks good, thats why I put in. There is a round brass vent on the side of the dist. about the size of a dime,it was painted over so I cleaned it off and made sure the holes are open. Brady you worrie me dude. Please go to the top and read.
Going to order new dist. Friday, sure would like to know what is going on here before I get new one in, I dont want to ruin the new the one somehow. Byron