Fit distributor with Explorer serpentine bracket.

[fvb100]

I have a Explorer serpentine set up on my 302 with carburetor. I knew I might have to cut the bracket behind the pulley to fit the Duraspark 2 distributor with its vacuum canister.

Will I get enough clearance for the vacuum canister or will this distributor just not work?

 

[Crush]

I have a stock 94 351 but i notched my explorer bracket right behind the idler pulley and clocked the dizzy just a bit to get the amount of timing i needed. I ALSO USED A SMALL DIAMETER VACUUM ADVANCE CANISTER TO GET AS MUCH CLEARANCE AS NEEDED

 

[fvb100]

I have a stock 94 351 but i notched my explorer bracket right behind the idler pulley and clocked the dizzy just a bit to get the amount of timing i needed. I ALSO USED A SMALL DIAMETER VACUUM ADVANCE CANISTER TO GET AS MUCH CLEARANCE AS NEEDED

What vacuum advance canister did you use?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[fvb100]

I have a stock 94 351 but i notched my explorer bracket right behind the idler pulley and clocked the dizzy just a bit to get the amount of timing i needed. I ALSO USED A SMALL DIAMETER VACUUM ADVANCE CANISTER TO GET AS MUCH CLEARANCE AS NEEDED

I found this vacuum canister but it does not seem a lot smaller:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/crn-99607-1/reviews?page=2

 

[Crush]

Took one off a 60's mustang dizzy

 

[DirtDonk]

If you're not dead set on the stock Dura Spark distributor (which looks fantastic and brand new in this case!) then there may be aftermarket distributors that have smaller overall profiles. MSD ready-to-run and Pro-Billet types for starters.

And if you can find one of the Mallory fancy ones that they came out with not long before Holley bought them out, they have two models with an internal MAP sensor instead of a separate can that sticks out the side. Those would have been perfect!

It was the distributor that everyone was waiting for, but I guess timing is everything and the economy hit a rough spot at the wrong time for the company.
There must be some out there though.
I was hoping the Hyper-Spark from Holley would be the ticket, but apparently it's for use with the Sniper and does not look to have it's own vacuum advance.

The sad thing is that one of the car shows I watch had them building an engine with just this type of distributor. They even showed them connecting the vacuum line to a fitting underneath the body, but did not explain anything about it.
Probably an old Mallory left over.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

The Max-Fire and E-Fire distributors were the ones I was thinking of from Mallory.
They absolutely nailed it with the design I thought. Too bad I did not grab one as soon as they were available. Probably came out with Chevy first though, then went under the knife.
Surprised Holley did not retain that design under a different lable.

Paul

 

[Hazegray]

I did a 'lil shaping to the idler pulley to make mine fit

 

[fvb100]

I like the Duraspark I have so i'm trying it with a slimmer canister and grinding the bracket a little.

 

[Teal68]

Clock it one tooth, and run with what you got.

 

[DirtDonk]

For future builds when looking for a distributor that might fit with the Explorer setup, Progression Ignition is making an electronic brain distributor with built-in MAP sensor instead of a vacuum advance.
Tune it from your smart-phone, turn it off completely (kill switch) for leaving your vehicle unattended, and some cool features like that.

I may try one on my next Explorer serp setup assuming I can get one that does not have the big HEI cap on it!
Haven't checked the price yet. Almost afraid to! But been watching YouTube videos about it.

By the way fvb, what brand are the red cap and wires? Looks really nice on that engine!

Paul

 

[fvb100]

The red cap is from Davis:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/dui-32100rd/make/ford

And the wires are Ford Performance Parts:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-12259-r301


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[markw]

That Progressive Ignition setup looks interesting. SBF doesn’t fit 351 though.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Broncobowsher]

Clock it one tooth, and run with what you got.

correct. Vacuum advance can go in any direction, just clock the distributor gear to match. You can skip the clocking of the gear and just line up plug wires, but the #1 marker on the cap will be wrong.

 

[fvb100]

Any suggestions on what ignition and coil to pair the duraspark with?

 

[DirtDonk]

If you can find some NOS parts that would be great!
Otherwise I'm not sure who makes the best modules anymore. I wonder if MSD still makes stock replacements?
For coils, even though MSD has, or used to have, Dura Spark coils with the proper terminals for the factory "horseshoe" connector, my go-to coils anymore are the e-Core coils, or if you still like the old-school look of the standard canister style (and I do), then the Pertronix "epoxy filled" canister coils are a good robust choice.
Stock traditional size and shape, but instead of oil filled, they're potted with epoxy for a higher resistance to vibration and heat damage.

Probably harder and harder to find junkyard originals, as most have been replaced at least once by their owners in the last 40 years or so.

Paul

 

[fvb100]

If you can find some NOS parts that would be great!
Otherwise I'm not sure who makes the best modules anymore. I wonder if MSD still makes stock replacements?
For coils, even though MSD has, or used to have, Dura Spark coils with the proper terminals for the factory "horseshoe" connector, my go-to coils anymore are the e-Core coils, or if you still like the old-school look of the standard canister style (and I do), then the Pertronix "epoxy filled" canister coils are a good robust choice.
Stock traditional size and shape, but instead of oil filled, they're potted with epoxy for a higher resistance to vibration and heat damage.

Probably harder and harder to find junkyard originals, as most have been replaced at least once by their owners in the last 40 years or so.

Paul

Thanks Paul


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Broncobowsher]

For a coil I like the late 80's E-core coil used with the TFI ignition on EFI engines. Good factory coil and bracket from a junkyard.

For a ignition box I have started using the Summit house brand ignition box. The higher output version. Made in America as well. Summit house brand is made by https://www.intellitronix.com/