2 wires from distributor?

[teddyyyy]

the manual says there is "1 wire from coil to distributor", and distributor is grounded on the chassis.
but my 72 F250 distributor has 2 wires , 1 red 1 black, connecting to the 2 terminals on the coil.

this is really weird, maybe this is not original? my understanding (according to the manual ) is that current flows from coil to the distributor, then ground.
but with 2 wires between them, how is this supposed to work?

the newer distributors sold on autozone also seem to have 2, or even 3 wires

thanks

[Nitekruizer]

If you remove the distributor cap and look inside, you may see a little black box inside your dizzy. If so, it has been converted with a Pertronix unit. It may also be some other brand of stand alone electronic dizzy.

[teddyyyy]

thanks, looks I got the project for next weekend.

I'll open it and post a pic.

but if it's the Pertronix, does it change the procedure for timing adjustment? I have been planning to adjust my timing

If you remove the distributor cap and look inside, you may see a little black box inside your dizzy. If so, it has been converted with a Pertronix unit. It may also be some other brand of stand alone electronic dizzy.

[teddyyyy]

now after reading more on the subject, I'm pretty sure mine was converted to Pertronix.

but it seems the previous owner played the lazy way and connected the Pertronix red wire to coil "+" side directly, but according to Pertronix manual, the red wire should go to 12V. I am pretty sure that my coil should use 8V (it says "needs external resistor" on the label). so my Pertronix has been running on 8V instead of 12V, but somehow it's not a big deal and the motor runs fine. ------- supposedly Pertronix just provides the function of a breaker, so as long as the spark fires, it means my Pertronix doesn't have any issues, and 8V is also fine , right?

anyway I'll meausre the actual voltage tomorrow.

If you remove the distributor cap and look inside, you may see a little black box inside your dizzy. If so, it has been converted with a Pertronix unit. It may also be some other brand of stand alone electronic dizzy.

[BobbyFord]

According to Pertronix website our resistor wire is within spec.