points to electronic ignition
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 3
From: S. Mississippi
points to electronic ignition
I'm don't know exactly how it would be done. but i know there are some electronic conversion kits out there. one being the Pertronics Ignition. its a direct swap in for points. also there is the factory ford Duraspark II swap that will work, both of these can be added to with an aftermarket ignition box, MSD or whomever you chose.
Hope this Helps!!
Hope this Helps!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
points to electronic ignition
You'll have to get a distributor that was equipped with a breakerless magnetic trigger, all Ford distributors 1975 and newer come this way. Since the distributor is different, you'll have three trigger wires, so you'll have to get a duraspark unit 1975 or newer, but not a fuel injection era box. They should have all the same lead wires, but the three wires that go to the distributor will give the pickup readings. Once you have the box and distributor set up, you can take off the ballast resistor on the coil, as the magnetic pickups are not sensitive to voltage spikes. Some aftermarket boxes, namely the MSD 6A will come with trigger wires for either system, so to convert all you'll need to do is get a mag. pickup distributor. You'll be amazed at how much more reliable and powerful the breakerless ignintions are. Again, the year to remember is 1975, which is when all new Fords got electronic ignitions. If you like the MSD idea, let me know, I've done the swap in mine, and I'd be happy to help you figure it out! TK
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
points to electronic ignition
Desperado was right too, I've talked to some people who have used those kits before, and they say they make a world of difference. It might actually be better, because mag. pickup Duraspark distributors are amazingly difficult to adjust the mechanical advance on, so if you're confortable working on the distributor you have, then go for the conversion!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 3
From: Bismarck, ND
points to electronic ignition
I would highly recommend the Pertronix kit due to low cost (around $60 to $75), ease of installation (pull out and chuck your points and condensor, install unit in same location), and retention of your stock distributor, cap, and rotor. You can go to the trouble and wire in a Duraspark, but the Pertronix seems a much better solution. I liked the one I put in my Mustang so much, I installed two more in a couple of loaders at work and made a huge difference in reliability. Some discussion was had on this earlier at https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/electrical/806.html
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
points to electronic ignition
If you go with an MSD 6a, you can leave your points in for awhile. The MSD will work with points or a magnetic pickup. Since the points only act as a trigger they will not get pitted like they do with a stock system. Later on you can drop in a later model distributor.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 59
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points to electronic ignition
I'll chime in here about the Pertronix...I've heard pro's and con's, but finally put some in my '59 F100 w/ 292 V8. The truck hadn't run in about 6 months and I was having all kinds of problems getting it to fire up. I swapped out the points (I thought they were looking bad, but points and me NEVER got along anyways!) for the Pertronix and swapped in their coil at the same time. The truck fired right up (well after I remember to put the coil wire on the coil!!!!) and ran better than it ever had......no rough idle, no warm up period at all it seemed. All I can say is WOW!
Hope this helps in some way......
Hope this helps in some way......
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New User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1
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From: kissimmee
points to electronic ignition
hey whats up.i have a 1973 ford 302 in a 1984 ford f-150.it runs great me and my dad put it together,its just the ignition.my dad wired it with point type ignition,ever since
i keep frying my coils,like 1 every 3 weeks.i need to know the right way on how to hook it up right i'm talking from batt to spark plug wires. just a stock 1973 ford point type ingition i need to know everything about it.if you can help cool,if not try to point me the direction
joshua kissimmee,fl
email me rope416(No Email Addresses In Posts!)