2.8 Liter Points ?

[johnmw]

Did they ( whoever "they" is ) ever make a points distributor for this little 2.8 in a friends 1984 Bronco 2 ??

 

[RonD]

Yes, I think the 1974 Mustang with Cologne 2.8l used a distributor with mechanical points

There were some European imported Mercury Capri's that also had 2.8l with points, about the same year

A duraspark distributor with an HEI module is by far the most reliable spark system for the Cologne 2.8l, if that is the goal
The original spark system was trouble prone

 

[ford4wd08]

Listen to @RonD that is what I have in my B2 with the 2.8, it runs great!

Took some fine tuning and learning on my part, but it is a very simple and reliable system.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just a plain old Duraspark setup worked well for me in my 2.8 days and continues to work well with my V8.

 

[19Walt93]

I'd prefer a Duraspark system to points and if I had a points distributor I'd put a Pertronix unit in it. It was hard enough to get good quality points 50 years ago, I suspect the off shore repro crap you'll find would be worse.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'd prefer a Duraspark system to points and if I had a points distributor I'd put a Pertronix unit in it. It was hard enough to get good quality points 50 years ago, I suspect the off shore repro crap you'll find would be worse.

Your results may vary, all my tractors are running points. Right now carquest of all places have the best ones (Delco dizzys)

 

[franklin2]

I'd prefer a Duraspark system to points and if I had a points distributor I'd put a Pertronix unit in it. It was hard enough to get good quality points 50 years ago, I suspect the off shore repro crap you'll find would be worse.

I agree. I see it on contactor relays and sticky starter solenoids also. The old equipment usually had silver in the contacts. But silver is pretty expensive, so they cheap out and then the contacts don't last at all.

 

[johnmw]

We are in the process of ordering Duraspark stuff now, I just wish who ever had this thing before it showed up here hadn't chopped everything under the hood up as bad. I am kinda starting this project with no electronics at all. Alternator and starter is about all that is still there. Carb is from a much larger engine, but if it'll start, that is a step in the right direction.

Please tell me there is a choice for a rebuilt distributor besides Cardone ????

Thanks for your input

John

 

[franklin2]

We are in the process of ordering Duraspark stuff now, I just wish who ever had this thing before it showed up here hadn't chopped everything under the hood up as bad. I am kinda starting this project with no electronics at all. Alternator and starter is about all that is still there. Carb is from a much larger engine, but if it'll start, that is a step in the right direction.

Please tell me there is a choice for a rebuilt distributor besides Cardone ????

Thanks for your input

John

I haven't found one. And their idea of "rebuilt" is different from mine. I needed a distributor gear for a 2.9. Lots of listings, but no one had one. I broke a tooth on mine taking it off to replace the ignition pickup. So I went ahead and bought a "rebuilt" from the auto parts store, it was a Cardone. Installed it and ended up with more problems than I started with. So I took the rebuilt distributor back out, and being more careful tore it down. All that old black mucky grime was still inside the distributor bearings. The module hadn't been replaced. They hadn't even taken it apart. All they did was clean it up on the outside and sent it out the door.

I took and cleaned up everything, installed the new module I had purchased for the other distributor, lubed the bearings and put it all back together. Ran like a champ then. I paid close to $80 for that Cardone rebuilt distributor.

I too then bought a BII with the 2.8. It was running pretty bad, so I did the distributor swap to get rid of the computer system. I searched and searched, no matter who you deal with, it's always going to be a Cardone rebuild. So I had to do it and bought a 2.8 distributor for a 1979 Mustang II. It turned out to work fine. I believe we have to thank the parts changers in the world. If you get a distributor that didn;t have anything wrong with it in the first place, then when you buy it "rebuilt" then you will get a good distributor.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Rebuilt is where they take it all apart, test the parts and then reassemble with good used parts.

Remanufactured is where they strip it down and reassemble with new parts as if they are "remanufacturing" it. Parts are probably from Taiwan. Very top shelf if you know what I mean.

Kind of a wash which is better...

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Did they ( whoever "they" is ) ever make a points distributor for this little 2.8 in a friends 1984 Bronco 2 ??

Not that I know of the cologne 2.8 as far as I know has always been duraspark up until they changed to TFI in the ranger In 1983. The earlier Pinto, Capri and mustang II all came stock with the 2.8 and all had the duraspark ignition.

 

[RonD]

Try this part number: D4ZZ-12127-M
2.8l distributor, using mechanical points, 1 wire hook up to coil negative
One "key on" 12volt wire to coil positive and you are done


Duraspark distributor was fine, but the Duraspark module was not that "fine", using a GM HEI module($20) was much much better(more reliable) and cheaper, also very very simple to wire up

Like this: https://www.carbdford.com/tech/HEI/hei2.gif

Duraspark wiring here: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-trucks.com-vbulletin/692x450/durasparkfinal_692x450_c1c6be25a37f594b54d4a792878b855a2c6869db.jpg

 

[franklin2]

Not that I know of the cologne 2.8 as far as I know has always been duraspark up until they changed to TFI in the ranger In 1983. The earlier Pinto, Capri and mustang II all came stock with the 2.8 and all had the duraspark ignition.

Ford didn't put electronic ignition in all their vehicles until around 1974. So there were some very early 2.8's that had points.

 

[19Walt93]

Try this part number: D4ZZ-12127-M
2.8l distributor, using mechanical points, 1 wire hook up to coil negative
One "key on" 12volt wire to coil positive and you are done


Duraspark distributor was fine, but the Duraspark module was not that "fine", using a GM HEI module($20) was much much better(more reliable) and cheaper, also very very simple to wire up

Like this: https://www.carbdford.com/tech/HEI/hei2.gif

Duraspark wiring here: https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-trucks.com-vbulletin/692x450/durasparkfinal_692x450_c1c6be25a37f594b54d4a792878b855a2c6869db.jpg

Points distributors require a resistance wire from the ignition switch to drop the voltage, if you feed them 12 volts the points won't last long. They also require another wire to supply 12 volts during cranking- that's what the "I" terminal on the solenoid was used for. I still own a points file and a tool that holds the points screws to help thread them in, I changed more sets of points than I can count, PLEASE don't use points. I don't hate anyone enough to recommend points ignition to them.

 

[franklin2]

Points distributors require a resistance wire from the ignition switch to drop the voltage, if you feed them 12 volts the points won't last long. They also require another wire to supply 12 volts during cranking- that's what the "I" terminal on the solenoid was used for. I still own a points file and a tool that holds the points screws to help thread them in, I changed more sets of points than I can count, PLEASE don't use points. I don't hate anyone enough to recommend points ignition to them.

Ford's Duraspark II ignition requires the resistor and the resistor bypass also, just like the point system. The GM HEI does not.