Finding Duraspark?

[cancow]

I know lots of guys recommend finding a duraspark, but where do you find them? Junkyards I have called only have 80's on up trucks. I have not even seen them for sale new at autoparts stores, yet many here say they are the way to go because parts are available.

[basketcase0302]

Always helps folks to help you if we know specifics, (what engine)?
Evilboy is a good place to start as well as your local CL:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... Categories
You can get the wiring for it from most any Ford car/van/truck from mid seventies through the eighties. The wiring diagrams are all over the site here.

[cancow]

Thanks. It would be for a FE 390. Would only FE durasparks up to 76 work?

[basketcase0302]

Here's the distributor you need:
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... rk#p578468
I'm not real sure on the exact application for your truck, maybe someone else can chime in here that knows a little more.

[Thunderfoot]

You have to get the distributor for a FE motor (360-390) from 1974-1976 as the distributor is specific to the engine series for fitment, and these are the only years the electronic distributor was available on these engines before ford stop making them.
You CAN get these from the local parts stores. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0334 and the ignition module that fits lots of vehicles http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0334 You can use the "Compatibility" list on both these pages on O'reilly's to see what vehicles to look for these parts in junk yards. Then follow the wire diagram about half way down this page to wire it up. http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =8&t=48178

[cancow]

Thanks, that is what I was trying to figure out. There is lots of talk about geting wiring harness' from junkers. Why? Can one not just make there own?

You have to get the distributor for a FE motor (360-390) from 1974-1976 as the distributor is specific to the engine series for fitment, and these are the only years the electronic distributor was available on these engines before ford stop making them.
You CAN get these from the local parts stores. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0334 and the ignition module that fits lots of vehicles http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0334 You can use the "Compatibility" list on both these pages on O'reilly's to see what vehicles to look for these parts in junk yards. Then follow the wire diagram about half way down this page to wire it up. http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =8&t=48178

[Thunderfoot]

Yes , just get the distributor and Module and wire it in as shown in that diagram linked above, there is no wire harness that is going to work in our model of trucks from the newer ones.

I like using the duraspark distributor with an MSD box for the extra spark instead of the factory module, but then you can't just pick one up at any parts store...

[Nitekruizer]

You actually can use any Duraspark V8 distributor from that era if you can't find one for an FE. You just take the pick-up coil and vacuum advance plate (a.k.a. breaker plate) out of the Duraspark distributor and install it in your FE breaker points distributor. You will also have to take the reluctor wheel (armature) and the little top section of the shaft from the Duraspark distributor and install it in your FE distributor. You should be able to use the ignition module (box) from any V8 or 6 cylinder car or truck made from '74 to about '78 or so. Although there is some issue with some boxes having a blue wire and others not having it it should be possible to put together a working system. I recently converted my Mopar project to electronic ignition by using the breaker points distributor along with parts from electronic distributors and I'm sure that it can be done with Ford distributors as well. I plan on doing it to my 390. Since my breaker points dizzy is almost brand new no need to replace it. I might use the Duraspark box or I might go with an MSD/Streetfire box.

[basketcase0302]

Nitekruizer on Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:18 am
You actually can use any Duraspark V8 distributor from that era if you can't find one for an FE. You just take the pick-up coil and vacuum advance plate (a.k.a. breaker plate) out of the Duraspark distributor and install it in your FE breaker points distributor. You will also have to take the reluctor wheel (armature) and the little top section of the shaft from the Duraspark distributor and install it your FE distributor. You should be able to use the ignition module (box) from any V8 or 6 cylinder car or truck made from '74 to about '78 or so. Although there is some issue with some boxes having a blue wire and others not having it it should be possible to put together a working system. I recently converted my Mopar project to electronic ignition by using the breaker points distributor along with parts from electronic distributors and I'm sure that it can be done with Ford distributors as well. I plan on doing it to my 390. Since my breaker points dizzy is almost brand new no need to replace it. I might use the Duraspark box or I might go with an MSD/Streetfire box.

This would be a very good tutorial for all the members here, (maybe called Duraspark on a budget).
Please document the procedures and take pictures to share here if you can.

[Nitekruizer]

First off I want to make it clear that I haven't performed this modification to a Ford distributor yet but I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work. As I said,I plan on making this mod to my 390FE. The breaker points distributor that I modified was a Mopar but they are very similar in design to the Fords. You have to remove the little felt pad from the top of the shaft. There's a little clip that holds the top part of the shaft (a.k.a. points cam) to the main shaft. Remove the clip. It's a real PITA to get out,you'll need some small long nose pliers. You also have to remove the clip that attaches the vacuum advance link to the breaker plate and remove the breaker plate assembly from your breaker points distributor. Do the same to the donor Duraspark distributor. Remove the little felt pad from inside the top of the shaft. Remove the clip that holds the top part of the shaft (a.k.a. sleeve) and armature to the main shaft. Remove the clip that holds the vacuum advance link to the movable/base plate assembly that the magnetic pick-up coil is mounted on. Remove the movable/base plate assembly and pick-up coil as a unit. These are the only parts that you need from the Duraspark distributor. Just transfer them to your breaker points distributor and you now have an electronic distributor that fits your engine. This trick should work to convert most pre-'74 Ford breaker points V8 dizzies to electronic. The internal stuff is all the same and should swap across all engine families of the era: 260-351W / 351C,351M-400 / 429-460 / FE and even MEL series engines.

[ForingaMex]

I have converted the points dizzy from my 390 to electronic just the way Nitekruizer described it here. I don't have any pics of the work because I did it long before I knew of this forum. It is a very simple and straight forward mod to do and well worth it. I did mine in 99 and have never touched it since. Very reliable. That is my

[Whateverman]

the conversion that Nitekruiser is talking about works great
my bro's done that trick to a few distributors now ....i ran one for a while in my truck .....and a reverse of that trick to the dist currently in my truck -(i.e : duraspark to points ,so i could run a points conversion setup...yeah i know it sounds kinda ridiculous ...its a long story,but it works great too)

[hazelnut]

Terry has a complete FE duraspark for sale for $40 http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 11&t=62519

[terry1167]

Terry has a complete FE duraspark for sale for $40 http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 11&t=62519

I actually just sold it to Forest Bump (Larry) and shipped it off. He'll put it to good use!

[cdeal28078]

I did it once like that also. Very easy to do and worked great.
clint