Need help and advice

[Ramzilla]

Ok heres the scoop. I acquired an 88 ranger that was a 2.9EFI truck and someone put in a 2.8 carb engine. I don't know what the engine is out of but it is a TFI carb and distributor. Anyway I have no vacuum advance and am planning on going duraspark. Should I still follow the directions and wiring in the tech section? Same parts? Thanks in advance guys!

 

[dangerranger83]

I would look at the wires need to do the duraspark setup that you have under the hood and go from there on which diagram will work for you but the wiring that is need may be the same for the 2.8 and 2.9 comming out of the driverside firewall. I would say the 85 wiring diagram would be the one to look at but not sure on that.

As far as it being vaccum advance, the TFI setup was all contrilled buy the computer and thats how it advanced its timing and whatnot.

As long as your state doesnt do emissions and/or if your vehicle is old enough that it doesnt need emissions (both apply for mine) then yes it is worth doing but will need some fine tuning. I have a duraspark distrubutor in my garage sitting if your interseted in it, PM me, says motorcraft right on it.

 

[Ramzilla]

I know TFI is electronic advance I don't know why I wrote vacuum it it was late! To any extent my advance isn't working.

Thanks for the offer on the distributor but they are only 63 bucks reman w/ lifetime warranty so probably not worth shipping. What about the carb I am headed to the junkyard today. Will any 2150 carb work just need tuning? Any better things or certain vehicles to look for?

 

[dangerranger83]

As long as it has the 1.08 venturi's on it then you should be good. It is stamped on the driverside of the carb by the linkage. I got one out of an 83 cougar that has the emissions stuff on it and that may be effecting my gas mileage a bit due to Im not running any of that. My dad had one off a fairmont that had the 255ci v8 when he had his truck and some guys got them off old mustangs. Im running a manual choke on mine too, didnt want to mess with electric choke.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

For wiring the duraspark just use the tfi coil and find the ignition key on for power to the module and pos on the coil and for the white wire on the module just run a wire from the start solenoid key on start wire to it the other four wires are the same as the duraspark diagrams three to the dizzy and the green to the neg on the coil. It makes it real simple that way if you use a coil that runs on batt voltage you dont need a ballast resistor.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Set the base timing at 10 degrees and hook the advance up to manifold vacuum. Then turn the idle air screws out for highest rpm or vacuum pressure. Preset the idle air screws out three turns from the lightly seated position to set the timing with advance disconnected and plugged.

 

[Ramzilla]

Thanks guys. How terrible will it run if I go ahead and do the duraspark swap without the carb swap? Don't think I'm trying to rig it but I have't had luck finding a carb used yet and don't have the cash to get a new one now.