How to rebuild a Motorcraft distributor

I have a motorcraft dizzy that I think is out of an 86 360. I have a 401 with a pertronix distributor.

From everything I've read, the motorcraft with the TFI upgrade (team rush) is quite an upgrade from stock. As good as HEI, maybe better.

I've also thought about upgrading the pertronix with one of their electronic upgrade kits.

So how hard is it to rebuild the motorcraft dizzy? Anybody got a step by step monkey dumb set of instructions?

I believe the pertronix upgrade is almost a drop in.


Any thoughts or recomendations one way or the other?

 

Frame horns work out for you?

 

There's not much you can do to rebuild the distributor. There are a couple of bushings in the distributor body that the shaft rides in, and thrust washers that control end play. Used to be an aftermarket source for those (Standard Ignition) but I doubt they are available today. There may be some nylon buttons that the advance plate rides on.

You can clean it up and replace the the pickup coil. Not a lot of user-serviced parts - maybe more from a Jeep dealer, but $pendy. A new pickup will be $25-30 I'd guess. Beyond that, I think your best option is to use the Motorcraft as a core on a reman. IIRC they are about $80 exchange, last time I looked.

The Prestolite is a Hall-Effect system, and the Motorcraft is a variable reluctance (VR) type (as is the GM HEI). You can make the Prestolite work with other spark modules, but it's a cheesy design IMO (plastic advance can, fragile internal wiring). Also, VR has become the industry standard, and is still used in modern cars for crank sensors and the like. I would certainly go with the Motorcraft and TFI parts if I had the option.

Moderators, I suggest you move this to Intermediate tech.

 

Bob. Have not put in the frame horns yet. But I did get them all clean in the parts washer, gave them a good ospho wash, primmed with rustolum rusty metal primmer and they are sitting on a workbench waiting on a nice coat of black TSC implement paint. Once I mock up the driveline I was going ot reinforce the mounts from the inside with a little gusseting welded in. Thanks again.



Tim, that is what I was thinking as well. But I saw on the prestolite website where they have an upgrade for their distributors. Didn't know if anyone here had tried it and had good results.

Trade the motorcraft in. Didn't think of that.

 

Prestolite website? http://www.prestolite.com/

 

Sorry guys, pertronix distributor. The motor is a 1974 401 in a waggie. My CJ is a 1976 304. The motorcraft dizzy was tossed in the back of the waggie. Got all confused while typing.......

Do I keep the 74 distributor and upgrade or swap to the TFI and use the motorcraft. That is the questiosn. Sorry...........



http://www.carshopinc.com/index.php/cPath/21_24



I'll edit the above............

As far as I know the only upgrade to the prestolite ignigion system is a toss in the dumpster..........

 

You can trigger a MegaSquirt with a Prestolite - it can be configured to understand a Hall Effect input and provide spark control. I'd still go with the VR distributor though.

 

Thanks. Team Rush upgrade it is.........

 

Since the vacuum advance (a 'Consumable' part when doing rebuilds) isn't available to the common market anymore, it's a bust rebuilding.

You are better off walking into the local discount autoparts store and ordering up a distributor for your V-8.

All distributors in V-8 Jeeps will fit your 401, and from '78 to '90 All V-8 Jeeps used the Motorcraft distributor with a very excellent trigger and good general design...

VERY good base for an upgraded ignition, and it will drop in your engine with no worries about hardened distributor gears, ect. like the HEI and other aftermarket distributors have!

Cost on the last one I purchased was under $50 with new trigger, new vacuum advance, ect.
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Two issues you might run into...

Cap alignment tab would be the first...
Make your own out of steel can side, takes about 10 minutes with tin snips, needle nose pliers and a drill.





The second would be distributor cap, rotor, plug wires...
(The 'TeamRush' upgrade)

The distributor cap ADAPTER, Brass Terminal Distributor cap, AND Rotor will all come from a '79 Ford F-150 Pickup with 302 V-8 engine...

OR,
Best distributor cap I've ever used with plug wire locking ring on top...
LINK: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-8414/

Then you have to consider plug wires since the factory 'Socket' style plug wires won't fit the new cap terminals...
(MUCH BETTER TERMINALS!)

I recommend these so you get a correct fit, since no 'Factory' wire fits the AMC engine quite right.
This set comes with stripping wire gauge, crimper, and the best boots & terminals I've ever used!
LINK: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-3119/

If you go this route, you will have free choice of modules, coils, ect. and can build a SERIOUSLY powerful ignition system that actually delivers that spark energy to the plugs instead of letting it leak away!

Let me know and I'll help you out with modules, coils, and wiring diagrams.

 

Thanks for the info.

Do you have a parts list? And a monkey dumb wiring diagram? I will be basically starting the whole wiring harness from scratch using a hot rod wiring harness so I don't need to adapt anything to a current wiring harness.

I don't want to spend bunches of money. I don't really need to run someting like an MSD box. I just want a reliable system that is easy to get parts for and work on. I had thought about using a 5A box because I understand the 6A's are more for racing and the 5A will do everything I need. But I'd be happy with FLAPS stuff that is easy to find and works well as a system.

I want a low RPM motor. Nothing over 5000RPM ever that I can imagine. Thanks for the offer!

 

How about a $25 module install and a $5 coil?

Junk yard for a $5 to $15 Ford E-core coil, don't forget to get the bracket, connector plug and coil it's self.

Any ford with fuel injection between '86 and late 90's,
Look for fuel injection, find the distributor and follow the coil wire back to the E-core ignition coil.

Ford had a module problem they thought they could solve with a super premium ignition coil... So we junkyards full of super premium ignition coils!

To buy one new would run you about $45 for the coil, $15 for the connector and you still have to make a bracket since there isn't a decent on on the aftermarket.

Pretty good deal for $5 or $10...
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Ignition module would be from any GM V-8 with HEI distirbutor up to about '83 or so.
I use a '79 corvette & police car module when I can find them, give a little more of what I'm looking for.

Wiring is DIRT EASY,

Try this diagram and see if you can do this or not,
LINK: http://www.civilianjeep.info/Ignition/HEIstandAlone/HEIwire05.gif

 

ON the wiring diagram, it's fairly simple. One question that I can't confirm.

The GM HEI Module, were do I get this from? It appears from what I have that I can order the part for a 79 vette. But I have not seen a part number. Can I just walk into NAPA and ask for a GM HEI Module for the 79 'vette? After searching and looking at a lot of diagrams, this is internal to the Distributor.

While searching it appears the MSD box repalces the DuraSpark Module.

And where do I get a condenser from? Do you have a vehicle recomendation? Again, I can't find any parts listing. OK, that appears to be part of the starter.

Do you have a wiring diagram showing how the 6A box is wired in? Found it..................

So far I got:

Stock motorcraft dizzy
Summet #8414 for the: Dist. Cap Base, the Dist Cap, the Rotor and I assume the HEI Module is internal to the dist cap

MSD series 6 Box with wiring adapter (Summet #8869) to connect box to dist.

Ignition Coil Summit #8227 with connecter from NAPA #ICC1

Thanks for making it monkey dumb...........

 

I don't give part numbers very often, since part numbers change at the parts stores when they get new suppliers or swap out parts filing system.

APPLICATION never changes, so I give applications,
Like '79 Vette or Police car with V-8 engine...
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MSD will be used in place of the Factory DuraSpark or the HEI module.
You only need ONE module, and it can be factory DuraSpark, HEI or CDI...

Pick one and we'll go from there.

NOT part of the starter, and I have no idea where you got that from...

LINK: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ACF-D203?autofilter=1&part=ACF%252DD203&N=700+115&autoview=sku

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??? WTF ???
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No, the module is SEPARATE from cap/rotor in all ignitions.
You need a DISTRIBUTOR to create the trigger signal,
And MODULE to process the signal and switch the coil,
An IGNITION COIL to make high voltage,
And a DISTRIBUTOR CAP & ROTOR to get the high voltage out to the spark plugs...
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You buy the wiring adapter separately, but Yes, it's an MSD product.
That same adapter also works to connect the HEI module to a Ford/Motorcraft/Jeep distributor if you go the HEI route.
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Correct.