distributor modification

[benoit legault]

Hi! Any of you has installed an electronic conversion kit for there 351 ford distributor to replaced the points, Pertronic, Hot Spark?

[bturner]

I did one in my 70 Mach 1 about a month ago. Biggest thing to do is the pre installation check list from Pertronix. The rest was pretty easy.

[benoit legault]

Pre installation check list meaning to be sure that the kit I will order fits my distributor?

[hal2814]

I’ve done it. Make sure to pay attention to the wiring. Your coil probably wants a ballast resistor. The distributor module will almost certainly want full voltage. You’ll also need to find a good ground for the module. (The alternator ground is a good spot.) But I am curious why you’re doing the swap. If you’re doing it to fix an issue you may want to make sure the points are the issue. I did mine and found out the problem wasn’t my points. It was the 30+ year old springs that expand EVERY time the engine was ever revved. They were just worn out and I couldn’t get the timing right at base and advance. The springs were harder to find than a new Mallory so I did that instead after spending $80 on the Pertronix module.

[bturner]

RTFM my friend. Hal has it right. You need to do a ground check between the distributor and the battery. You need to understand your current ignition voltages at the coil and where/how you plan on getting 12 volts to the module. If you go to 12 volts for the coil you'll probably need to get a different coil to get the most out of the conversion. You'll also need to re-gap the plugs wider with the hotter coil. Or just throw it in and see what happens.....

It's a fairly simple conversion but there are ways to screw the pooch if you try hard enough or not at all.

Remember the 5 P's (Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance). Do some research or just call Pertronix support and talk to them.

[Nautiquehunter]

Do yourself a favor install a DUI distributor and never look back

[benoit legault]

Good advises thanks, I have no issues with my distributor, I just wanted to know if it was worth it, I will continue with the points, no problem don't touch it right!!

[hal2814]

Yeah, I’d just leave it as is. Good reasons to go from points to electronic: don’t want to bother setting dwell once per year. Bad reasons to go from points to electronic: anything else.

[Jonny Quest]

DUI (Davis Unified Ignition) at Performance Distributors is the way to go. The HEI style dizzy is a 2-wire hook-up with no ballast resistor. The DUI is the only dizzy I would install in SBC / SBF marine applications requiring a traditional distributor.

JQ

[benoit legault]

thanks guys for the info, I will stay a pointe guy, love tinkering anyway