Mid 2020s what are we using for an ignition system these days with a carb??

[joshua]

In the not to super distant future, I’ll be switching to explorer efi system. But I’m going carbed for probably 1 maybe 2 years. I really want to do Pertronix system. But I’m not hearing a lot in the way of reliability on those. I’m running avs 2 for carb.

I’m looking for reliability not necessarily performance. I wish I could use the distributor that’s on it rn, but there’s no vacuum advance. Not a fan of giant hei either. Is there a way to use the hei brain with a ford distributor and coil? Pic is of the dizzy I used to break in the cam. I did adapt that to Pertronix

 

[Broncobowsher]

Ford Duraspark (you can use a small cap if you like, even a male small cap using off the shelf parts.
Magnetic trigger is completely happy triggering a GM HEI module you can mount on an inner fender, just be sure to get the heat sink right.
Use that to fire a Ford E-core coil (used in EEC-IV appications)
Aftermarket recurve kits exist to make it a performance distributor if you like.
All off the shelf parts. Any parts store can get you anything to fix it. Best of the junkyard parts.

 

[jamesroney]

Pertronix 2 in a factory ford distributor for the win. Do not install any kind of Tachometer, and use their coil with no kind of ballast resistor or resistor wire and they last forever.

The Pertronix 1 really hated the 8V supply voltage thru the resistor wire. So much so, that they made the Ignitor 2.

And be careful which distributor you pick. The later smog ones had slow and minimal advance weights.

 

[joshua]

Pertronix 2 in a factory ford distributor for the win. Do not install any kind of Tachometer, and use their coil with no kind of ballast resistor or resistor wire and they last forever.

The Pertronix 1 really hated the 8V supply voltage thru the resistor wire. So much so, that they made the Ignitor 2.

And be careful which distributor you pick. The later smog ones had slow and minimal advance weights.

So a late 60s 302 is what I should use in the search bar for the Pertronix dizzy ?

 

[jamesroney]

So a late 60s 302 is what I should use in the search bar for the Pertronix dizzy ?

Mid 60’s 289 is a better bet. 68+ did some wierdness with the dual diaphragm retard unit.

Advance curves on the 73-75 duraspark seem to be well calibrated for an everyday Bronco.

Obviously if you can find someone with a distributor machine, you can test and calibrate to your liking.

I never understood why Ford had 30 different “load-o-matic” distributors for every year model…but they did.

 

[joshua]

Ford Duraspark (you can use a small cap if you like, even a male small cap using off the shelf parts.
Magnetic trigger is completely happy triggering a GM HEI module you can mount on an inner fender, just be sure to get the heat sink right.
Use that to fire a Ford E-core coil (used in EEC-IV appications)
Aftermarket recurve kits exist to make it a performance distributor if you like.
All off the shelf parts. Any parts store can get you anything to fix it. Best of the junkyard parts.

My 68 must have come with points, as I do not see any connections that look like these for a duraspark on my harness, or I’m missing some of the harness. But I don’t see a unplugged/cut spot on the engine harness

 

[joshua]

Also why can’t I find a 68 bronco wire diagram? I can for 72 and up. But not below

 

[bronco italiano]

I would contact Wes Adams at Hillside Auto in Klamath falls. He is a distributor master. Does lots of Fords.
https://www.facebook.com/HillsideAuto1/

 

[serial car restorer]

My 68 must have come with points, as I do not see any connections that look like these for a duraspark on my harness, or I’m missing some of the harness. But I don’t see a unplugged/cut spot on the engine harness

Dura Spark was later, '73 and up, as I recall. Your '68 was points. To go Dura Spark you'll need to build your own wiring. Not hard, I did my '69 w/o issues. I used distributor and module from a '74.

 

[Oldtimer]

68 was points ignition.

 

[acropilot]

I've been running the Pertronix III modules and coils in my 69 Bornco (302),67 Ranchero (289), and 32 ford coupe hot rod (383 sbc) for many years with no issues.I do keep an extra module and coil in my tool kit just in case as it will work with all my vehicles.

 

[toddz69]

If you decide to go Duraspark, Painless makes a harness for it:

https://painlessperformance.com/product/duraspark-ii-ignition-harness-part-no-30812/

Todd Z.

 

[ntsqd]

Was it me starting from scratch I'd try to get one of the D-S II dist's that James mentioned, an E-Core coil (what is used on TFI equipped vehicles) or the similar GM coil & connectors, the Performance Distributors HEI module (4 pin or 8 pin will work), and the Painless loom. From experience the Performance Dist HEI module holds a steady dwell angle far past the RPM that you're likely to want to spin a Bronco engine. You'll need the pigtail for the coil so either cut it out of the donor or get it as a repair pigtail.

Locate a copy of the D-S II ignition system wiring schematic and have it handy. Next read this single post thread: https://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15779 It's for Mopar Slant 6's, so some of the details won't apply, but Dan does a good job of explaining how, what, and why.

Once you know what connects to where modify the harness and install it, the coil, and the module on its heat-sink bracket. Know that the thermal grease that comes with the HEI module in not optional. Fail to use it, try to use something else, or do a bad job of using it and you'll let the smoke out of the module. I kilt a parts store module deader than dead learning this.

 

[rydog1130]

mds ready to run ...been great and it fits in stock vehicles w/o having to notch the hood brace

 

[joshua]

mds ready to run ...been great and it fits in stock vehicles w/o having to notch the hood brace

Mds? Or msd? I’m assuming this is typo, or something I’ve never heard of.

 

[nvrstuk]

I never understood why Ford had 30 different “load-o-matic” distributors for every year model…but they did.

...simply because Ford HATED anybody that worked on their vehicles. PERIOD!

That & they don't care at all about Hot Rod or aftermarket users... I mean James could list more examples than I could but there at least a dozen good examples of how they screwed ANY possible chance of interchangeability between one year & the next.


I mean just look at strg column wiring interchangeability... what a joke.

 

[ntsqd]

I see all of those different advance specs as tuning opportunities. Need more or less mechanical advance? Find one of the upper shafts with an advance slot that fits the need. The advance, in Distributor Degrees, is stamped next to each limit slot.
Use a "curve kit" and/or the different OEM springs to change the springs around to get the type of curve needed. Need and aggressive curve? Go with light springs. Need a gentle curve? go with heavier springs.
A distributor machine would make all of this easier, but I've done it in the car.

 

[nvrstuk]

I've said it a hundred times & helped dozens of absolutely DEAD rigs due to them using MSD

M- My
S- Spark
D- Dissappeared

Funny but true!

 

[ntsqd]

I haven't had actual problems with MSD products, I just haven't seen performance that lives up to the hype. Nothing an MSD actually does can't be done by a quality D-S II or HEI module.

Maybe if we were talking about alcohol or Nitro for fuel and lots of blower over-drive it would be different. Since we're not, they're not.

 

[joshua]

I think to move things along I’m just going to order the Pertronix. That way all I have to do is hook up 2 wires. I can’t just hook it up to the wire pictured right? I have to run a new wire from the ignition (I on solenoid) and then just ground the black to the block right.