Crank Trigger on 351W

[rcmbronc]

Has anyone ever installed an aftermarket crank trigger on a 351W with the standard water pump and front dress.

I am building a new 408W. Using a Holley Terminator X ECU. Holley EFI Hi Ram intake. Need a cam sync signal and ignition signal. There is not a ton of room under the Hi Ram intake for a dizzy. I also have a cross brace between my coil over shock hoops that add to the fun. Obvious method is to use a Holley dual sync dizzy. Needs a special one low profile. One thing is with this I will need to use an ignition box with using the dizzy for spark application with a conventional coil. Not sure I want to use an ignition box (MSD). Another thing to wire in and maybe fail. I can add a cap on the dizzy and then use LS style coils with coil on plug application. Just thinking about doing something different not spending a ton. Even though this method probably is not the cheapest.

Thinking about a MSD cam sync dizzy to run the oil pump and the cam signal. Then I need a crank signal. Most Ford crank triggers are passenger side but standard water pump is there. I also think that some Explorers use a crank signal and also cam sync dizzy. Then I will need to change all my front drives and stuff to Explorer stuff. Internal balance engine also so need neutral balancer.

Mostly maybe trying to do something different so just wandering if anyone else has.

 

[markw]

Well, yes I ran one on my 408 and currently on the 427.
64bittuning.fwscart.com
Company is 64 Bit Tuning Concepts. They have more stuff now than when I bought from them. I did have one trigger seize and shear the roll pin. Happened to be watching the oil pressure when it happened so no damage. I took it apart and honed the cylinder and polished the bushing and it's been fine since. Bought an extra to take to Baja but haven't needed it.
Mark

 

[bronconut73]

That Explorer serp solves a few issues.
I love mine. Couldn't cool my 351W adequately without it.

It would give you room for a fat fan. A spot for a/c or on board air supply. 140 amp alternator.
Serp belt that won't slip and squeal like v-belts when you put a big load on them.
You can do the Super Duty mod to the Explorer ps pump, but my stock/junkyard Explorer ps pump is turning my 35" MTZ's with ease.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I had a factory crank trigger on a 351 years ago. About an '82 F150 had it factory. Parts engine came with a unilight distributor and I just used it instead. The factory setup was a 4 tooth wheel on the damper and a standard magnetic pickup.

 

[markw]

Mount you coils on the crossbar between the towers. Highly recommend Explorer dress as well. I cut the compressor bracket off to clean things up. I remote mount my PS reservoir anyhow, also on the crossbar.

 

[Broncobowsher]

For can sync there is a way of adapting a 3.8 mustang cam position sensor (late 90s?) for the 351.

Early 90's 4.6 mod motor ignition module will run a wasted spark ignition system and pretty much acts like a normal TFI ignition to the engine computer. I think the Explorer crank signal is correct for that EDIS-8 module.

 

[unimogger]

Why not ditch the distributor completely and go straight crank trigger programmable ignition? I've installed a dozen of the megajolt system on 4 and 6 cylinder engines. USB tunable ignition curve
https://www.autosportlabs.com/product/megajolte-mk2_crank_fired_ignition/
If you can mount a trigger wheel, and find somewhere to put the coil packs, you're good to go. The factory Ford 4 post coils are pretty good, and inexpensive.
SD

 

[rcmbronc]

Cool packs mount easily on my valve covers. I did it on my last motor. I need some type of cam sync or dizzy to run oil pump. That is easy. I can run the crank trigger into the Holley EFI ECU and run the coils no problem. Just trying to mount a crank trigger with a passenger side water pump. May have to change the belt set up as an option. I think I did find a drivers side trigger mount.

 

[rcmbronc]

Does the timing cover matter if the water pump is standard rotation or reverse or what dump side ?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Does the timing cover matter if the water pump is standard rotation or reverse or what dump side ?

Sometimes.
The Explorer only works with the Explorer reverse rotation pump.
The standard covers have the scrolls transitioning from the water pump into the block in both standard and reverse shapes. Either pump will bolt up and seal fine. I have seen evidence of severe cavitation erosion on one that was mixed. I have also heard that from the factory a standard cover and a reverse pump is a factory combo on some engines.

So 2 versions of the regular cover, the Explorer cover, and a close relative of the SN95 cover. And a few variants of the standard cover depending on what year and brackets, sensors, etc.

 

[Digger556]

I had a factory crank trigger on a 351 years ago. About an '82 F150 had it factory. Parts engine came with a unilight distributor and I just used it instead. The factory setup was a 4 tooth wheel on the damper and a standard magnetic pickup.

I would be interested in pictures of that!

 

[Digger556]

Has anyone ever installed an aftermarket crank trigger on a 351W with the standard water pump and front dress.

I am building a new 408W. Using a Holley Terminator X ECU. Holley EFI Hi Ram intake. Need a cam sync signal and ignition signal. There is not a ton of room under the Hi Ram intake for a dizzy. I also have a cross brace between my coil over shock hoops that add to the fun. Obvious method is to use a Holley dual sync dizzy. Needs a special one low profile. One thing is with this I will need to use an ignition box with using the dizzy for spark application with a conventional coil. Not sure I want to use an ignition box (MSD). Another thing to wire in and maybe fail. I can add a cap on the dizzy and then use LS style coils with coil on plug application. Just thinking about doing something different not spending a ton. Even though this method probably is not the cheapest.

Thinking about a MSD cam sync dizzy to run the oil pump and the cam signal. Then I need a crank signal. Most Ford crank triggers are passenger side but standard water pump is there. I also think that some Explorers use a crank signal and also cam sync dizzy. Then I will need to change all my front drives and stuff to Explorer stuff. Internal balance engine also so need neutral balancer.

Mostly maybe trying to do something different so just wandering if anyone else has.

Had a similar issue when running MegaSquirt where I needed a better ignition trigger source. Not wanting to switch to Explorer serp right then, I had to brew up my own using a 3.0L Ford V6 crank trigger. I have some better pictures at home, but here's a few to give you an idea. The crank trigger wheel only clears the water pump by .050"-.100".

 

[pcf_mark]

I did the same as above on my 289 when I used Megasquirt. I had a cast iron lower pulley I turned down in a lathe to make room for the timing ring. You can buy them in plenty os diameter and tooth options. Just make sure it runs pretty true (perfect not required) and that the gap is .020-.040 and it will run fine.

 

[rcmbronc]

Funny I just found a timing cover and balancer in my extras pile that has a factory trigger on it. Would be from my 1986 5.8 from a F250. Might be able to figure something with this. Not sure yet