ignition swap, holley 350 ??what next

[jester77]

I am getting ready to do the "big swap" changing to the duraspark, and holley 350 2 barrel. A couple of questions- will I notice the big of an improvement in performance?

Is the duraspark conversion page pretty detailed enough to get it right the first time? ( I have to drive this thing to work in two days )

What about the EGR system? Do I eliminate the catylitic converter? The air pump of whatever that thing is. the coffee can?? What was Ford thinking?

Do I have to do both swaps in the same weekend? Or can I drive it with the ignition done but not the carb- or vice versa

what is the round thing with the electrical connector just in front of the carburator??

lots of questions- but I am sure there will be plenty of people here that know a bit more than me, and perhaps I can help you all out one day

 

[Tony Raine]

i answered some of those in http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9233

as far as the rest
-coffee can goes bye-bye
-so does air pump
-cat should stay, mine didn't
-see if you have a tube running from the cat to the back of the intake. this needs to be removed and holes plugged/welded.
-i drove mine with stock ignition, stock carb (unplugged), and the smog stuff removed for a year or 2. then drove with duraspark swap and stock carb (unplugged) for awhile. then used a quadrajet carb for awhile (mistake, but free). in all situations it drove just fine, but not the best. adding the holley was the best move.

you might as well swap the carb at the same time. its easy compared to the rest. just some bolts, a fuel line, throttle cable, and choke.

-a backup rig of some kind is preferable. i did mine in a weekend, but you never know what will happen. someone with an '85 will need to chime in on that one

good luck!