What distributor? efi to carb

[9cobra4]

My dad is changing his mustang over to carb and wants to know what distributor can he use and does he need a ignition box? If there is anything else you need to know answer the question feel free to ask.

[cmetalbend]

Well there are probably a dozen combo's that would work. Is this a performance car? I'll assume so just for sake. 1)Aftermarket dist, 4 wire hookup, easy. 2)Stock dist out of mid70's-ealy 80's car or truck, you will need the ingnt. box accordingly and wiring schematic. moderate. But has advantages like easy to find parts when chit screws up and I believe they are mag/breaker type. 3) crank trigger/msd type ingition box and aftermarket dist. Expensive and parts are not easy to get in a hurry unless you live in Summit's back yard. I've done all three and the most reliable was number two. But a word of caution. DO NOT USE THE EFI COIL. It will toast earlier ingt boxes, and You will scratch your head trying to figure why you had spark for a min. and now you don't. My suggestion either Salvage hunt for the entire dist W/harness to the ing box or go with option 1. If you decided to do number two I can get you the Wiring Schematic, the ingt boxes are usually color coded where the wires enter. The earlier ones (yellow) also had a wire to get ingtion retard on startup if I remmember correctly. Which could be an advantage. Good luck.

[Rich]

If you are running a "factory" style roller cam, get a dist for an 85 GT. It will have the steel gear.

You will need some type of ignition box, either a factory duraspark or msd, mallory, etc.

I used a factory EFI coli with a MSD-6al box and it worked fine. I'm not sure if it will work with a duraspark box or not.

[cmetalbend]

If you are running a "factory" style roller cam, get a dist for an 85 GT. It will have the steel gear.

You will need some type of ignition box, either a factory duraspark or msd, mallory, etc.

I used a factory EFI coli with a MSD-6al box and it worked fine. I'm not sure if it will work with a duraspark box or not.

That was another good point, about the cam gear.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

That's weird about the EFI coil...as i've always ran a stock EFI coil on my car even with the old Duraspark II.

If you have the cash, i'd highly recommend a Mallory Unilite. I've been using them for a couple years now, first just a Unilite and now a Comp 9000. They have a built in ignition and the hook up is extremely simple. Another extremely cheap but effective method is to use a GM HEI ignition module. I personally have never tried this but i've read up on it and supposedly those modules make like 50k volts and they're only about $17.

Here's the write up on the GM HEI module:
http://www.carbdford.com/tech/HEI/hei.htm

Another great alternative are the HEI conversion distributors that put the coil on the dist. just like GM does. This makes for a very clean wire-free engine bay.

[cmetalbend]

That's weird about the EFI coil...as i've always ran a stock EFI coil on my car even with the old Duraspark II.

If you have the cash, i'd highly recommend a Mallory Unilite. I've been using them for a couple years now, first just a Unilite and now a Comp 9000. They have a built in ignition and the hook up is extremely simple. Another extremely cheap but effective method is to use a GM HEI ignition module. I personally have never tried this but i've read up on it and supposedly those modules make like 50k volts and they're only about $17.

Here's the write up on the GM HEI module:
http://www.carbdford.com/tech/HEI/hei.htm

Another great alternative are the HEI conversion distributors that put the coil on the dist. just like GM does. This makes for a very clean wire-free engine bay.

I'm running the unilite right now W/pertronics conversion. I got tired of replaceing the Photo sensor looking module (it's expensive) I used to work at a speed shop in the late 90's and they were always coming back. Mallory later came out with a surge arrester, whether it worked, I dunno. But we didn't have much trouble with the Mag/breaker type at all. Ya I never could understand the efi coil thing, but it took three shorted boxes to figure it out. I switched to a coil of the same type ing. of the duraspark and presto it's still running today. If you want easy-Pertronics makes conversions for most everything including mallory UL dist's, and only require 2 wire hookup.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Can you give me some more info on what you're talking about with the Unilite conversion? I've only ever burned out one module and it was my fault because i hooked it up wrong. I'm using a simple balast resister that i bought from the 'zone for $11 and it's been working flawless for about 3 years now. I've seen the surge thing that Mallory sells and i've been wanting to get it just for safe measure.

[Timido]

I have had good luck with a MSD distibutor and 7al2. Plug and play.

[cmetalbend]

Can you give me some more info on what you're talking about with the Unilite conversion? I've only ever burned out one module and it was my fault because i hooked it up wrong. I'm using a simple balast resister that i bought from the 'zone for $11 and it's been working flawless for about 3 years now. I've seen the surge thing that Mallory sells and i've been wanting to get it just for safe measure.

I bought it from Summit and they still carry a very extensive line. It's a total drop in conversion to convert to solid state. After burning three modules in two different cars, the last was at the track(oh that so pissed me off) I was going to scrap the dist. I just happen to find it in there catalog. I'm sure their sales people can give you the exact part #'s for your application. They been around for 10years plus. Atleast that's when I noticed em. They can get you a conversion for stuff I couldn't imagin. Points dist's, unilites, old school 50's stuff, and they are resonably priced at 79.99 starting out. I've seen em in classic street rod mags, tractor adds, you name it. I think I saw a kit for my 9nford once. They are simple and any dumazz could install one. I looked em up on the web recently, but found Summit was alot easier to navagate. I seriously think the uni's can't handle the voltage drops and spikes of say a race car that has no alt and gets charged between rounds. If nothing else try to find people who have had problems and ones that didn't. I gaurante there will be a severe ratio of BAD to good.

[9cobra4]

Thanks fellas, I knew I could count on sbz.

[pmneed1]

run a d.u.i davis unified ignition easy to hook up and great for aftermarket apps

[Motorvation]

Hopefully the Mallory dist. for Fords are better than the chevy units. My Dad's race car toasted two of them, Mechanically. The timing tab on the new design is crap. Doesn't work well on a race engine when you try to pull the timing in real quick. The one I had in my 65 Mustang worked very well. The mallory sometimes will need a ballast resistor if there's not enough resistance in the primary ignition wire to keep the photo cell from burning up. Not a problem on the old cars, but I have no idea if the newer cars have lower resistance.

The MSD billet dist. is awesome. It's a solid piece and has beefy mechanical parts that hold up very well.

[cmetalbend]

run a d.u.i davis unified ignition easy to hook up and great for aftermarket apps

I think those are neat and your right about easy. Like what is it one wire to the 12vpos. I'd bet the h.e.i. chevy crap. oh did I say that outloud. would bolt right in. But haven't tried one personaly. :coo1:

[ClevelandMstang]

I have had good luck with a MSD distibutor and 7al2. Plug and play.

easiest to do in my opinion..