electronic ignition conversion
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electronic ignition conversion
I would like to convert my 1974 360 to electronic ignition. Can I use the ignition box, coil and pick-up out of my 1978 F150 (351M) along with a new distributor from say a 1976 or 7 360 (which should be electronic)? I have the complete wiring harness too so I have all the connectors I need, I would just need to know where to splice them in. Has anyone ever tried this? My distributor is getting a bit sloppy, and I will need to replace it soon anyway.
Dan
Dan
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electronic ignition conversion
It's a real easy swap. Only one and a half wires to splice into the ignition switch, (I'll explain the 1/2 in a minute).
I agree, get a rebuilt distributor from your local parts house. There real reasonable and will probably take your old "M" motor distributor as a core.
Since you already have the control moduel and wiring harnes, just transfer it all over. Since the plugs are all slightly diferent from one another, they can't be pluged in wrong. (just be sure that you cut off plenty of length of "coil power wire lead" (Red wire). It runs in a taped group of wires that start at the distributor and coil and terminates in a four prong, female plug that plugs into the moduel. You need about 2 feet or more extra of that red wire (this red wire is not conected to the four prong plug as are the rest of the wires in the group, but is taped in with them).
The only thing you need to do is splice that "RED" wire into the ignition switch. Use a scotch connector and splice it to the red wire that is on the very bottom of the ignition switch (it also has a big brown or maroon wire that comes out of the same conector as the red wire, just so you know you have the right wire).
Now is where the "half" comes in. You can either cut off and use the two wire female conector that plugs into the moduel (if you use it you will only be conecting it's red wire), or do like I did and use an old horn wire that has a single female conector. Scotch this into the "red" wire that you just spliced into the ignition switch (except that this splice will be in the engine compartment). This splice will most likly be next to the firewall (depending on where you mount the moduel). Now plug that wire onto the red male lead that comes off the moduel (It has a white lead with the red, but white's not used in a pre 75 application). Start it up and drive it.
If you don't want to disable the donor vehicle, you can get everything from a 78 to 82 at your local pick a part for about$15 to $20 bucks. While your at it you might as well get one of the big caps and convert to 8.5mm plug wires.
I agree, get a rebuilt distributor from your local parts house. There real reasonable and will probably take your old "M" motor distributor as a core.
Since you already have the control moduel and wiring harnes, just transfer it all over. Since the plugs are all slightly diferent from one another, they can't be pluged in wrong. (just be sure that you cut off plenty of length of "coil power wire lead" (Red wire). It runs in a taped group of wires that start at the distributor and coil and terminates in a four prong, female plug that plugs into the moduel. You need about 2 feet or more extra of that red wire (this red wire is not conected to the four prong plug as are the rest of the wires in the group, but is taped in with them).
The only thing you need to do is splice that "RED" wire into the ignition switch. Use a scotch connector and splice it to the red wire that is on the very bottom of the ignition switch (it also has a big brown or maroon wire that comes out of the same conector as the red wire, just so you know you have the right wire).
Now is where the "half" comes in. You can either cut off and use the two wire female conector that plugs into the moduel (if you use it you will only be conecting it's red wire), or do like I did and use an old horn wire that has a single female conector. Scotch this into the "red" wire that you just spliced into the ignition switch (except that this splice will be in the engine compartment). This splice will most likly be next to the firewall (depending on where you mount the moduel). Now plug that wire onto the red male lead that comes off the moduel (It has a white lead with the red, but white's not used in a pre 75 application). Start it up and drive it.
If you don't want to disable the donor vehicle, you can get everything from a 78 to 82 at your local pick a part for about$15 to $20 bucks. While your at it you might as well get one of the big caps and convert to 8.5mm plug wires.
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Joined: Apr 2000
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electronic ignition conversion
If I might add a question- I've got a 74 360 with an electronic ignition already. (durasprark 1, i think?) Would it do me any good to "upgrade" the ignition to pertronix or duraspark II? Anyone had any experience with this late 74 setup?
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