ignition set-up

[purplehaze]

HUH? What's the point of having an ignition if it doesn't advance ? You're leaving ALL the power on the table this way.

Like in my post and he stated, he wanted to just get it going and thats why I told him how to run a efi dist. I run my timing locked out and no problems at all, yea I can get better mpg If I had a timing curve. But I'm locked out because of my setup and don't need anymore power LOL

 

[kimcrwbr1]

I believe those had an iron geared duraspark with their throttle body injection. TFI's came out with the port injected EFI setups.

You can tell if it has a cast or steel gear on the dizzy by the steel gear has all the surfaces machined, on the cast gear just the gear itself is machined the flat areas have a rough cast surface.

 

[superdave1984]

Most likely same dizzy but different drive gear, you need a steel gear. Hope you have better luck finding a steel gear than I did, I wound up buying a rebuilt dizzy for an 85 Mustang 5.0L carb manual tranny. I am told it is the only stock application for a steel geared Duraspark dizzy.

On re-read the Marquis may have a TFI dizzy which needs the computer to advance/retard the timing....... easy to tell if it has an ignition module on the side it is a TFI system, no module, vaccum cnister and some wires duraspark.
Clear as mud right

Mine looks like this. So do I need the harness and computer from the donor car? Or is there another alternative with this distributor?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...ne_18630142-P_218_R|GRPTUNEAMS_1582564909____

 

[sparky2eh]

Yes that is a TFI dizzy, used with fuel injection systems, sensors, computers, etc...... I have never heard of it being used with a carb system.... but heck I like to learn something new everyday so if anyone has successfully used it with a carb I would love to see the setup.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Mine looks like this. So do I need the harness and computer from the donor car? Or is there another alternative with this distributor?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...ne_18630142-P_218_R|GRPTUNEAMS_1582564909____

You will need the harness and computer for engine your installing along with all the sensors, solenoids. You will need a wiring diagram for both the engine year and truck year and splice the necessary wires for all the systems. Time consuming but can be done if your good with a volt ohm meter and reading a schematic.

 

[purplehaze]

Yes that is a TFI dizzy, used with fuel injection systems, sensors, computers, etc...... I have never heard of it being used with a carb system.... but heck I like to learn something new everyday so if anyone has successfully used it with a carb I would love to see the setup.

yes, tfi can be ran in a carb engine. But, your timing is locked out and doesn't advance. I'm using it in my 351 blow thru turbo setup and its locked out at 18degrees.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Would you happen to know if that's the same dizzy that would have been in an 85 Merc Grand Marquis 5.0?

Is this engine carbed or FI, carbed go duraspark and FI you will want the computer, you dont want to try and get the feedback system working and you will need to match the gear on the dizzy with the cam iron or steel.

 

[superdave1984]

*BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP*
The donor was a fuel injected car, I'm going carb. Guess I'll get me a new dizzy.

 

[superdave1984]

Found one on CL with new bronze gear for $50 shipped.

 

[sparky2eh]

yes, tfi can be ran in a carb engine. But, your timing is locked out and doesn't advance. I'm using it in my 351 blow thru turbo setup and its locked out at 18degrees.

With that much advance do you have any trouble turning the engine over when it is hot? The reason I ask is the 351W in my 53 F100 does not like to have much more than 10 degrees of intial advance, or it is hard to turn over when it is hot.... of course I think under the hood heat soak could be some of the problem, well until I get off my butt and paint and swap on the louved hood

 

[baddad457]

Found one on CL with new bronze gear for $50 shipped.

You can buy a new reman Duraspark distributor for just a little bit more with a steel cam gear at your local parts house. The bronze gear will wear out far sooner than a steel gear ever will.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You can buy a new reman Duraspark distributor for just a little bit more with a steel cam gear at your local parts house. The bronze gear will wear out far sooner than a steel gear ever will.

I don't remember offhand, but my rebuilt Duraspark dizzy with the other gear was about $50. They had gears but they were $30... figured I might as well set the unknown dizzy up on the shelf and go with a rebuilt one that already had the gear on it for an extra $20.

Edit: looked it up, $55 for the dizzy and $28 for the core.

 

[superdave1984]

You can buy a new reman Duraspark distributor for just a little bit more with a steel cam gear at your local parts house. The bronze gear will wear out far sooner than a steel gear ever will.

Glad I haven't actually agreed to the purchase. For a stock Merc Grand Marquis I would likely need the cast gear, correct?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Glad I haven't actually agreed to the purchase. For a stock Merc Grand Marquis I would likely need the cast gear, correct?

Look at the gear on the stock dizzy if it is totally machined it is steel if it has casting surfaces then it is iron is one way to find out.

 

[baddad457]

Glad I haven't actually agreed to the purchase. For a stock Merc Grand Marquis I would likely need the cast gear, correct?

An 85 Marquis would have a flat tappet cam and iron gear. Just a quick removal of a pushrod will confirm what the cam is. Roller 5.0 pushrods are 6.25" long. Flat tappet rods will be about a full half inch longer.