2.8L V6 wont stay running. When running it hesitates. It hesitated when I tried to drive it.

[MadMax_636]

So, please give me a list of things with links for the stuff that I should add to my list or swap out for something cheaper.
Also any tools I should get if I dont have them already. EX: Timing light. I dont have one but I know I need one.

 

[franklin2]

Why do you say its weird that im still running the original 2.8L V6? I like. Its simple, does what I need, hasn't given me a single issue until now.
She's a great motor. She's also lightweight and still has a carb. Id take a carb over EFI any day. Since its less to worry about and it works fine for me. haha

What I mean by "weird" (I drive one also) is there isn't hardly any of these things on the road anymore. No one messes with these old engines anymore, and that is why the store never has any parts in stock. They have a limited amount of storage space in the store. They use all their inventory monitoring programs to find out what is being sold the most, and keep that in the store. It's very rare that anyone comes in looking for a part for a 2.8 Ranger or Bronco II. What makes it even more rare, they only used the 2.8 for about 2 years in these applications before they went to the 2.9, which they used for many more years than 2.

Just wait till you get this thing converted over. Taking all that junk off the engine makes it much easier to work on. You can actually see the engine.

 

[franklin2]

So, please give me a list of things with links for the stuff that I should add to my list or swap out for something cheaper.
Also any tools I should get if I dont have them already. EX: Timing light. I dont have one but I know I need one.

The only thing I thought you could get cheaper on your list was the distributor. I feel like I am sticking my neck out a little bit telling you to buy it from a certain store. All I did was put "cardone 302691 " in a google search, and Amazon, OReilly's, Rockauto, and many others came up. You can also search that on ebay and see if anything comes up. I will let you pick who you like to do business with.

If you are going the duraspark II route, I would get the horsehoe connector. I looked at O Reillys, they have in stock at my store, but it's a couple more dollars than Autozone. It's part number S583.

I will go ahead and stick my neck out on this one, go to harbor freight and get your timing light. I would get a circuit testlight there also if you do not have one. Everyone needs testlight. They have the timing light for $30 and the circuit tester for $3.50. The picture below is the circuit tester or more commonly known as a testlight.

 

[MadMax_636]

The only thing I thought you could get cheaper on your list was the distributor. I feel like I am sticking my neck out a little bit telling you to buy it from a certain store. All I did was put "cardone 302691 " in a google search, and Amazon, OReilly's, Rockauto, and many others came up. You can also search that on ebay and see if anything comes up. I will let you pick who you like to do business with.

If you are going the duraspark II route, I would get the horsehoe connector. I looked at O Reillys, they have in stock at my store, but it's a couple more dollars than Autozone. It's part number S583.

I will go ahead and stick my neck out on this one, go to harbor freight and get your timing light. I would get a circuit testlight there also if you do not have one. Everyone needs testlight. They have the timing light for $30 and the circuit tester for $3.50. The picture below is the circuit tester or more commonly known as a testlight.

I cant thank you enough for all of the guy! All of you guys!

UPDATE: Im probably gonna buy my parts off Rockauto. Besides the distributor and things I can find cheaper. Like the distributor and the horseshoe connector.

Im also curious about the GM module since I can keep my factory coil. Id like to know which one to get and also what makes it better. Since Ive heard mixed reviews on it. Im not gonna order anything until I hear about the GM part. Since it might be better price wise for my conversion.

 

[franklin2]

I am really torn right now which ignition system to recommend. I was going to recommend you stick with the Ford duraspark II system, because it will plug right in to the plugs sitting over there on the driver's side inner fender. But I just realized something I have forgot; You will need the short harness that goes between the distributor and the Ford module. Do you have any junkyards local that keep any old stuff around? That is the best place to get this short harness. If you had this short harness, it all would just plug in, no wiring fabrication at all.

If you can't find this harness, then you might as well use the GM and make your own wiring. It does require some fabrication.

 

[RobbieD]

This is the short harness I made for mine (Ford ignition module). I'm trying to remember if I had to come up with any extra Ford plugs that weren't originally on the truck. I did use the pigtail connector (as mentioned in a previous post) for the round can coil that I originally ran.

Mines an '84, too, and this was done 10 years ago (so that's why it's a little hazy to me now). I'm pretty sure I could reconstruct how I did it, and write up a step-by-step.

 

[MadMax_636]

This is the short harness I made for mine (Ford ignition module). I'm trying to remember if I had to come up with any extra Ford plugs that weren't originally on the truck. I did use the pigtail connector (as mentioned in a previous post) for the round can coil that I originally ran.
View attachment 40180
Mines an '84, too, and this was done 10 years ago (so that's why it's a little hazy to me now). I'm pretty sure I could reconstruct how I did it, and write up a step-by-step.

Thanks! That would be helpful! To answer franklin2's question. No. I do have junk yards but its mostly newer stuff. Its really hard to find old stuff since it gets picked early or the yard pulls parts to sell them and they normally hike the prices.

 

[MadMax_636]

I am really torn right now which ignition system to recommend. I was going to recommend you stick with the Ford duraspark II system, because it will plug right in to the plugs sitting over there on the driver's side inner fender. But I just realized something I have forgot; You will need the short harness that goes between the distributor and the Ford module. Do you have any junkyards local that keep any old stuff around? That is the best place to get this short harness. If you had this short harness, it all would just plug in, no wiring fabrication at all.

If you can't find this harness, then you might as well use the GM and make your own wiring. It does require some fabrication.

Yeah, No. I do have junk yards but its all newer stuff. Like mid 80s to 90s at the earliest. I was reading the none are rangers. A lot of the times the chop of the harnesses when they pull the engine. idk why. So I guess its the GM route? Unless I can get a harness online?

 

[RobbieD]

I dunno. I'm afraid that I'd feel unclean, or something worse, if I put a GM part on my Ranger. : )

 

[MadMax_636]

I dunno. I'm afraid that I'd feel unclean, or something worse, if I put a GM part on my Ranger. : )

Same here! I dont wanna taint the Ford with the GM nastyness!

 

[MadMax_636]

I found this thread. Reads F100guys post.

Duraspark II ignition with GM HEI module? - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

Electrical Systems/Wiring - Duraspark II ignition with GM HEI module? - I have been hearing good things about using a GM HEI module with the Ford Duraspark II ignition. Has anyone done this? How reliable is it? Any performance improvement? Any info or tips? Thanks, Clayton

www.ford-trucks.com

A different approach..Duraspark/TFI/HEI

I'm finally getting ready to clean up the engine compartment on this 84 2.8L and have decided to remove the Stock Dizz now. One of the reasons i was putting it off was to make a decision about what coil, "spark box", and locations of all of it along with wiring harness etc. I have been aware...

www.therangerstation.com

 

[franklin2]

I am running the GM module on my 84 conversion.

To get the short harness from the module to the distributor, it doesn't have to be a ranger. It can be any Ford/Lincoln/Mercury car or truck, from the late 70's to the mid 80's, any engine size that had the duraspark II system in it, which is what most of them had.

Painless wiring sells this harness, but I think it's like $80 for it.

 

[RobbieD]

Painless wiring sells this harness, but I think it's like $80 for it.

$80 doesn't sound too "painless" to me.

 

[MadMax_636]

I am running the GM module on my 84 conversion.

To get the short harness from the module to the distributor, it doesn't have to be a ranger. It can be any Ford/Lincoln/Mercury car or truck, from the late 70's to the mid 80's, any engine size that had the duraspark II system in it, which is what most of them had.

Painless wiring sells this harness, but I think it's like $80 for it.

How would I go along with the GM module? Since Ive heard the duraspark clones are junk and people seem to be going through they pretty quick.

 

[franklin2]

Here's the article with the diagram I used to hook the GM module up.

Spark It Up: How to Convert a Ford or Mopar Distributor to GM HEI

Feeding the coil with 14 volts instead of 7 improves spark intensity, improving throttle response, fuel mileage & even adding a bit more power.

www.streetmusclemag.com

I got some wire, crimped on some slide on connectors like these and slid them up into the connector on the distributor, and the connections on the GM module.