Distributor conversion

[TNIceWolf]

I was reading in the DID YOU KNOW section about converting an FE points type distributor to an electronic by replacing the guts with another type. I did not see a 360 or 390 distributor listed. However i know where there is such a distributor in a local parts yard. I know the housing is broken because my buddy broke it trying to get it out when we were pulling the heads and intake. It is on a dentside era truck that we think has a 390 in it.

My questions are.....

Will the guts fit my points type housing?

What other components will I need to get out of the parts yard to complete the conversion?

Is the conversion really that simple or can it be a pain?

What exactly would be the gain in spending the extra money and time and effort on the conversion?

Will the conversion add an extra power drain to my electrical system and are there any precautions that should be taken to address this?

I am assuming that the distributor cap, rotor, and vacum advance are shared components between the two systems. Is this correct or not?

Thanks for reading!

[fitzwell]

Never "converted" (electronic guts in a point trigger) one, so this might be a somewhat biased reply.....

You can get a reman dist from napa for about 60 bucks. Find a truck, (any motor ) with a Duraspark II ignition. Grab the module, if it's a factory Motorcraft unit, and the wiring from the module to the dist/coil..and into the harness. Bonus if you find a later 5.0 efi motor & snag the TFI coil. This step eliminates the resistance wire on the DII system. IMHO, it's worth every penny...hotter spark, more reliable, and unlike an aftermarket conversion, easy to find parts, if ya ever need 'em, just outside of BFE Texas...


as always, just my

[TNIceWolf]

OK....I am sure the DII means a Duraspark II system coil setup with a resistance wire to control electric flow and save the coil as opposed to a straight wire?

But what does the TFI mean?

I assume something T.....Fuel Injection?
And whats the real difference?

Thanks!

[ForingaMex]

When I retrofited my 390 to Duraspark II, I took the 'guts' out of a different distributor and put them into mine. The dist that I took the parts out was not from an FE (360-390), the guy I got it from told me it was out of a 351M-400 and the inside fit perfect in my 390 dist. Therefore I would assume that the guts out of a 390 dist with Duraspark would fit into a 390 dist with points. Hope this helps. It's an upgrade that doesn't cost a lot but is worth a lot. IMO
Jake

[TNIceWolf]

Thanks Jake!!!

That makes me feel a bit easier about trying it. Now all I need to do is figure out terms and the actual pieces I need to get from the parts yards around here. They are infamous for slashed off harnesses.

[Redcap]

TFI is Thick Film Ignition.

Try all your local parts houses for a distributor. Usually, one will have a better price than the rest.

[craftsman]

Here is a wiring diagram of the duraspark system
http://www.blindchickenracing.com/how_t ... aspark.jpg

[TNIceWolf]

Thanks for the wiring diagram craftsman and Hello Neighbor!!! (Well.....pretty close by anyway)
That should give me something to chew on for a while.

[TNIceWolf]

Thanks for the info Fitzwell. I think I will run by the parts yard friday and snag at least that distributor with the broken housing. Knowing the guy that runs the place he wont ask me more than a couple of bucks for the otherwise useless part and laugh at me for being dumb enough to pay for it. While I am there I will do some nosing around with camera in hand and see what if anything is left on what few dentsides he has.