351W distributor recommendation

[csangster]

Good evening,

Getting ready to assemble my 351W that has been sitting in my garage for years.

It isn't a HOT build, just a reliable build, can anyone recommend a good quality distributor? Will the stock one work fine? I have the Pertronix Ignitor to stick inside a stock one.

Please advise,
Chris

 

[Broncobowsher]

Carb or EFI?
Either way a stock distributor (although Duraspark for carb and TFI for EFI) is a good choice.
TFI is easy, run as is.
Duraspark is a good starting point. A recurve kit can pull it out of an emissions tune into a performance tune. The advance rate, total advance and initial timing are the basic adjustments. Add in vacuum advance for improved street operation.
Add in an ignition box of your likeing (MSD is common although I use Jacobs, old roomate used Crane) and a good coil (stock EFI E-core coils are good and cheap).

 

[broncnaz]

Stock one will work fine but as was said the factory duraspark is a good option. I wouldnt bother with aftermarket boxes as when they go out will you be able to get one at whatever parts store you happen to be near?

 

[csangster]

Carb or EFI?
Either way a stock distributor (although Duraspark for carb and TFI for EFI) is a good choice.
TFI is easy, run as is.
Duraspark is a good starting point. A recurve kit can pull it out of an emissions tune into a performance tune. The advance rate, total advance and initial timing are the basic adjustments. Add in vacuum advance for improved street operation.
Add in an ignition box of your likeing (MSD is common although I use Jacobs, old roomate used Crane) and a good coil (stock EFI E-core coils are good and cheap).

I have a carb setup, it's been ages since I collected my parts, I need to pull everything out and look at it again.

Duraspark, how easy are they to find new? Or used? Is there a 'rebuild kit' if I find a used one?

 

[ugly74]

Just buy a new duraspark setup. I scrounged through junkyards looking and couldnt find anything I liked. Went to autozone and it was surprisingly inexpensive. I wish i'd've looked there first!

 

[broncnaz]

Probably cost you around $120 to do the duraspark conversion. can be cheaper or more expensive depending on what route you take.
Basic Parts needed
dizzy with single vacuum advance. $45 + 12.00 core
module $35.
optional parts
cap rotor and adapter $36
plug wires. I'd go with ford motorsports wires usually around $45 from summit racing.
factory type connectors Not sure on pricing here probably $20
best bet is to hit up a junk yard find even a 302 with a duraspark and use it for a core. You should at least get a cap adapter and if your lucky the stock wiring harness could be worth grabbing the module as well especailly if it says motorcraft on it.. You can reuse your current cap rotor and wires if you want to. just the later style offers less chance of crossfiring due to the larger cap.
I've actually had pretty good luck at the junkyard the last setup I got cost me $20 not including new plug wires.

 

[csangster]

Probably cost you around $120 to do the duraspark conversion. can be cheaper or more expensive depending on what route you take.
Basic Parts needed
dizzy with single vacuum advance. $45 + 12.00 core
module $35.
optional parts
cap rotor and adapter $36
plug wires. I'd go with ford motorsports wires usually around $45 from summit racing.
factory type connectors Not sure on pricing here probably $20
best bet is to hit up a junk yard find even a 302 with a duraspark and use it for a core. You should at least get a cap adapter and if your lucky the stock wiring harness could be worth grabbing the module as well especailly if it says motorcraft on it.. You can reuse your current cap rotor and wires if you want to. just the later style offers less chance of crossfiring due to the larger cap.
I've actually had pretty good luck at the junkyard the last setup I got cost me $20 not including new plug wires.

Pardon my ignorance, it's been a while since I worked on my bronco. She currently has a 302 in it, but the 351W I'm swapping in was only the long block, so I have had to collect everything else.

Will your parts list get me where I need to be?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[broncnaz]

Yes just make sure you get a dizzy from a 76 up car or van with a 351W. Up to about 1986 big broncos and pickups had 351W's with durasparks so they are good options as well. Also you want a module that has a blue plastic strip where the wires come out of it.

 

[nathan.hall1]

I got a HEI dizzy for mine i love it, great throttle response clean 1 wire install, parts are available at any parts store

my duraspark system with its rats nest of wires to make it work went in the junk parts pile

 

[75junebug]

X2 on the HEI. I have had no issues with mine since installation in 2005. Everybody bashes the procomp HEI, but I love it. I tried Duraspark, points, and pert robins, and had trouble with all.

 

[wildbill]

Mallory unlite work very good and run a long time. Mine was put in back in 86 still nothing done to it. Got it back in the days of super shopes. Good luck with your choice. Bill

 

[bronconut73]

The Jegs & Summit versions of the Pertronix dizzys are pretty cheap, one style needs a box like a MSD and the other version doesn't. I got the one that doesn't "have" to have the MSD box. Mine has been great (Jegs version). It will run without a MSD box but I have one anyway. If the MSD box ever dies I should be able to just hook a 12 volt wire to the dizzy and run the coil wires again and go. Kind of makes it a little more secure for venturing far from home or the parts store.

 

[bronconut73]

Mallory unlite work very good and run a long time. Mine was put in back in 86 still nothing done to it. Got it back in the days of super shopes. Good luck with your choice. Bill

I got a Unilite from Super Shops too! Ran it for about 25 years. I think the module was starting to act up but it never died. I wanted vacuum advance and it didn't have it so I got the Jegs version of the Pertronix mentioned above.

 

[matts460]

Stock distributor with pertronix inside has never let me down. Have been using for over a decade no issues in 5 differnt vehicals of mine. Basically a Duraspark inside a little ity bity box. LOL If it does go out you just throw the points back in and go! Takes 5mins to install and uninstall! 2 are in bigblock fords that see 5500rpms 390/460 I have raced the 390 for years and also have ran NOS powershot through it alot!

 

[rguest3]

Parts List:

351w has a different distributor than the 302.

351w intake is wider than 302.

Almost everything else (externally) can be used from 302.

I use the Summit Racing Billet "Ready To Run". Has the one wire hookup to coil and a ground and you are done with wiring.. Could not be easier.

 

[Oatmeal]

I know this an old post but, I've been running a Duraspark distributor with a Standard Motor Products LX101 module (Mopar) for close to 20 yrs now.
Much more reliable than the Ford stuff, still on the same module!
Hans

 

[73azbronco]

Can't say enough about bone stock duraspark. Unlike the autolite carb, these things are supported. This guy took mine, replaced bushings and curved it to match the camshaft:

https://www.ignitionengineering.com/

 

[bronco italiano]

I used a performance distributor in my EB and am very happy with it.
https://performancedistributors.com/product/ford-duraspark-distributors/
You get what you pay for.

 

[nvrstuk]

Duraspark when wired correctly and use a MOTORCRAFT blue module- not an aftermarket one.

OR

Stock distributor w/Petronix. Petronix is proven super reliable with multiple decades of use. Much more reliable than HEI distributors. Who cares if the local parts store has a new pickup coil for your HEI if your day is now ruined, you needed a tow or your vacation is now ruined. Seems the only good thing we hear about HEI conversions is that if someone gives you a ride to the parts store you can usually get a replacement pickup module. You won't need to go to the parts store if you have the Petronix.

 

[BroncoJimbo]

My Advance Auto Duraspark rebuild has been working fine for 20 years and 70K miles now.
Good call on the rebuild/recurve @73AzBronco. I should probably send mine there for a spruce-up.