converting to electronic ignition

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Jan 27, 2003 | 08:19 PM

walkhaulsey

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Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 84

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From: South Haven, Mi.

converting to electronic ignition

Can you pros please give me some help. What distributor out of what car/truck that is electronic will fit in my mid 60's 352 motor. I am not having very good luck with the points in mine now. When accelerating rapidly, the motor wants to cut out, hesitate,miss, well sound like BAD.
I replaced the points and condensor and a new vacuum advance, this motor has a mild cam in as well so the timing is real close. Is there anything else I can try. Also will I have to change any wiring around?????

Last edited by Rosati; Feb 5, 2003 at 09:59 PM.

Jan 27, 2003 | 08:55 PM

jaysmith

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Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

converting to electronic ignition

i know your toubles. I had a bad distributor that acted like yours it turnd out the distributor shaft was badly worn and this was causeing problems with the points. The solution I used was a rebuilt stock distributor I paid aprox $30 w/core returned at kragen. then added a pertronix ignitor points replacement system aprox $60 well worth it to never set points again. this is a fairly easy system to install and looks compleatly stock with no new wires outside the distibutor. good luck
also to check the distributor wiggle the shaft where the rotor would be, i was able to open and close the points by doing this because it was so worn.

Jan 28, 2003 | 04:05 AM

truckfarmer

Posting Guru

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 1,310

Likes: 3

From: Illinois

converting to electronic ignition

Look in 74-76 Ford trucks with a 360 or 390 engine. They had the factory Duraspark ignition. Email me for wiring instructions. Can even use a MSD ignition box for more performance!

Jan 28, 2003 | 05:39 AM

jowilker

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 24,552

Likes: 74

From: Creedmoor, North Carolina

converting to electronic ignition

walk, If your dist. is in good shape, you might want to try the Pertronix Igniter modual, as it is highly desirable. You can get both the modual and coil for less than a hundred bucks. There are very few complaints about this product.

Jan 28, 2003 | 11:20 AM

Andysutt

Postmaster

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 3,775

Likes: 2

From: Conway Arkansas

converting to electronic ignition

My 66 has points on the 390
I'd like to upgrade it to duraspark also.
The 70s 390s had a duraspark ignition?
If so what involved in trading that over?

Jan 29, 2003 | 06:47 PM

walkhaulsey

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Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 84

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From: South Haven, Mi.

converting to electronic ignition

Hey guys thanks for all your input, I think I will try to go with the used dist. for now . When finanical times allow me to , I will definately upgrade.

Feb 4, 2003 | 05:55 PM

walkhaulsey

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 84

Likes: 0

From: South Haven, Mi.

converting to electronic ignition

Hey guys , Just checking to make sure that a distributor out of a 74-76 360 or 390 will interchange with a mid 60's 352 to give me electonic ignition. I was told by a co-worker that any ford motor with a 0 (zero) at the end of the engine size (ex. 360 390 400) will all interchange with each other. Is this true? I did find a dist. at as local junk yard for around $30.00 is this a good deal?

Thanks for all your help.

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Feb 5, 2003 | 06:50 AM

William

Logistics Pro

Joined: Feb 2000

Posts: 3,565

Likes: 9

From: Sun River St. George

converting to electronic ignition

Reread Jay Smith's post. He is on the money! A core distributor just costs a few bucks and will have new points and condenser. You can run that combination a while if you want and then convert to Pertronix Ignitor, then a Pertronix coil and when bucks allow add a flat cap, long nose rotor and 8mm wires. Everything here is Ford except the Pertronix. I have used this system and it is the best for the money and allows you to improve things as the budget allows. The Junk Yard distributor is not a good deal.
William in Atlanta

Feb 5, 2003 | 05:37 PM

#10

Mike G

Postmaster

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 3,447

Likes: 1

From: Littleton, CO

converting to electronic ignition

william:
Enlighten us on the "addition of the flat cap, long nose rotor and 8mm wires". I frequent the salvage yard on recon missions about every Friday at lunch time. The past trip I was after the Duraspark but only encountered the ignitor module (with the blue stripe), no distributor to be had. Plenty of the newer style stuff though on the cars running what appears to be 351's.
Thanks, --Mike G

Feb 15, 2003 | 02:25 PM

#11

pashtrd

Junior User

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 70

Likes: 0

From: st francis WI

converting to electronic ignition

i believe the flat cap was used in the 80's all you need is the adapter that sits on top of the dist.from any V8 with the flat cap. it mounts like your cap mounts with the 2 clips. than a later style flat cap and tall rotor get mounted on top. this spaces out the terminals. i think you also need a diferent set of plug wires but i am not sure.
matt