200 DISTRIBUTOR APPLICATIONS

JOHN G

Well-known member
HI EVERYONE! I WAS HOPING TO FIND SOME INFO ON WHAT I CAN DO WITH MY DIST. ON MY 200. I HAVE 3 WEBERS,264 DUR.W/444 LIFT CAM,2 COLLECTOR HEADER ALL FROM CLIFFORD AND SUMMIT. THE CAR RUNS GREAT AT IDLE AND WHEN FREE-REVED. THE CAR HOWEVER RUNS TERRIBLE UNDER LOAD. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR MAY BE ADVANCING TOO QUICKLY? I AM USING THE FACTORY PIECE AND NOTICED THE SPRING PERCHES FOR THE BREAKER PLATE ARE ADJUSTABLE FOR TENSIONING-ADJUSTING THESE SEEMS TO HAVE SOME EFFECT BUT NOT THE RIGHT ONE.DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE THIS SET-UP?
 
first off...what year of engine is it? and do you have the stock point and ignition system? is it the stock distributor?

lets start there...

and welcome

chaz
 
THANKS FOR THE WELCOME-THE CAR IS A 66 COMET,BUT THE ENGINE HAS A 65 BUILD DATE. YES THE DIST IS STOCK POINTS WITH VACUUM ADVANCE ONLY. THE BREAKER PLATE HAS SPRING ATTACHMENTS THAT ARE ECCENTRICS SO I CAN CHANGE THE TENSION BY ABOUT DOUBLE(6 LBS TO ABOUT 12 LBS OF VACUUM TO OPEN FULLY). I'M SURE THAT AN ELECTRONIC BREAKERLESS SYSTEM IS IN ORDER-CLIFFORD TOLD ME THE DIST. ADVANCES TOO QUICKLY AND I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A MALLORY FROM SUMMIT FOR $490.00!THAT PUTS ME SLIGHTLY OVER BUDGET SAYS MY WIFE!
 
Check the sticky on the Load-o-matic. It sounds like you're in that year range. The dizzy probably won't work properly without the Autolite 1100 with spark control valve.

There's a lot of knowledge here about how to work around that. I'm not sure what solutions exist for a 65-66 motor. I think the dizzy shaft is smaller. Not 100% sure. You should be able to get a working solution for far less than the $490.00 solution.

good luck

--mikey
 
You likely are not getting enough advance. I suspect your engine may make less vacuum with your modifications, and your stock distributor will not work well with your carb setup. As mentioned look at the distributor topic posted at the top of this forum. You can upgrade the ignition with a later points type distributor with a Pertronix or an electronic DSII. Don't bother trying to upgrade the Loadamatic distributor.
 
this post shows that I have learned a lot here...like what questions to ask. I didnt answer because I wasnt SURE but once you guys said what you said...thats what I was thinking, altho I couldnt have explained it

I love this place
 
Just as a side note, increasing the spring tension so that it doubles the amount of vacuum required to open fully would as you suggested retard the timing. However, the Loadamatic only operates on engine vacuum having no centrifugal advance mechanism. Therefore raising the vacuum required to operate the diaphram would limit or confine the advance to a very small operating range that would only be present under conditions of high engine vacuum.
 
OKAY, I SEE WHY THE ENGINE FREE-REVS OKAY,BUT DOESN'T PERFORM UNDER LOAD. WHEN REVVED, IT CAN QUICKLY BUILD THE VACUUM NEEDED TO ADVANCE, BUT UNDER LOAD, IT CAN NOT. SOUND RIGHT? WHAT DIST. SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR THEN? SOMETHING OFF A NEWER SIX AND DOES ANY ONE KNOW THE DIZZY SHAFT SIZES? ALSO, WOULDN'T A MECHANICAL ADVANCE BE THE WAY TO GO IF I CAN'T BUILD ENOUGH VAC? I DID NOTICE THE ADVANCE ONLY COMES UP ABOUT 5 DEGREES WHEN REVVED-DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ENOUGH.
THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYONES INPUT-YOU ARE ALL CLARIFYING SOME RATHER GRAY AREA FOR ME. I WAS GETTING TO THE DROP A MATCH AND RUN POINT!
 
i can arrange it to be stolen fo ryou...I would even pay ya.... :wink:
 
looks cool...but aent 3 carbs a pain. I cant tune the ONE cartb perfectly....
 
The DSII will drop in to a '66 block. The "Better check" year is '64. Prior to '64 the blocks have a smaller hole and drive shaft. It changed during the '64 year.

From David's post in this thread: http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19384

Sounds like if your block is a '65 that a DS2 (Duraspark II) distributor should be a drop in for you.

I read that in your first post you are running webers, so if you're using the original 'load-a-matic' dizzy it won't be compatible. The load-a dizzy was matched to the original Autolite carb as it had a unique vacuum source for the dizzy (read the sticky).

If your dizzy is hooked to ported or manifold vacuum, it won't work properly... that's probably where your problem is stemming from...

You can get a DS2 from your local auto parts store (tell them it's for a '78 Fairmont 200, with the single port vacuum advance). I'm not sure how much this would be, probably $60-80. Then you have the option of triggering it with the DS box, or a GM module... the GM module is a little easier as far as wiring goes...

Here's the FSP page that has the GM module diagram (the other pics are currently missing)... http://www.fordsix.com/duraspark.htm

Here's an alternate page with the stock Duraspark module wiring: http://www.mustangsteve.com/conversion.html

If you go with the DS module, get the one with the 'blue strain relief'...

You could also get a dizzy out of a junkyard, probably for around $20 or less... but I would still get a new module... I wouldn't trust a junkyard mod... there's not much to break in the dizzy... all 3 I've pulled out the j/y have been good...

Hope this helps, it's a lot cheaper solution than $490!
 
DO I HAVE TO USE PERTRONIX? OR WILL THE THING WORK IN STOCK FORM. I WAS TOLD I COULD USE A MALLORY UNIT INSTEAD OF TH GM-OR IS EVERYONE USING THE GM BECAUSE OF COST? I DID CALL THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND THE D-II IS $60.OO INCLUDING CORE CHARGE.THEY CAN HAVE IT OVERNIGHT SO THATS THE ROUTE I WILL GO. ARRANGE TO HAVE IT STOLEN HUH!?WHAT A PAL!!!
 
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