DUI ditributor, anyone put one in a Econoline VAN?

[Ecovanner1963]

Hello All, I have the DUI distributor, and was wondering if anyone else had put one of these in an Econoline van? I have a 63 Falcon, Econoline Van and I REALLY want to put it in, however it doesnt seem to want to fit (without notching out the drivers side of the engine compartment) I will do that if it's the only way, just wanted to see if any of you have done it?

 

[james singleton]

Ecovanner1963, I am not familiar with the DUI distributor, but I am familiar with the old Econoline vans and their doghouse/engine covers. Question: When you talk about notching (cutting out?) the engine cover so the distributor will work, is it because the vaccucm advance/bisquet interferes with the engine cover??? I am pretty sure that you can install any of the distributors in our inline sixes in any position as long as the engine is TDC (top dead center). I know that I could not adjust my timing properly because the vac advance/bisquet was hitting the engine block, so I turned the engine over to TDC removed the distributor and then re-installed the distributor so that the vac advance bisquet was not hitting the block when I rotated it to set the proper timing. When you re-install the distributor just make sure that your rotor inside the distributor is pointing at the #1 spark plug wire in the distributor cap. Hopefully somebody else can comment on installing the DUI in an old Econo! Good Luck! Jim

 

[Ecovanner1963]

Thanks Jim!! Actually the issue is both the Height of the distributor, and the the circumference of the cap/HEI. style coil. There is not enough room between the drivers SIDE panel of the doghouse (Not the hood of the doghouse), and the block. Without the cap on I think I may be able to slide it in, but then can't put the cap on. And actually I haven't even been able to slide it in yet at all, seems like the whole is just a hair to small to pass the wider point on the base of the distributor shaft. This, however could be due to improper angle, as again it is a tight squeeze. Thanks again for the help, some how, some way, that distributor IS going in there. Eco.

 

[61EconoDave]

It being a 63 Econoline, wouldn't he have the problem of having the 1/4" oil pump shaft?

 

[Patrick66]

Hello All, I have the DUI distributor, and was wondering if anyone else had put one of these in an Econoline van? I have a 63 Falcon, Econoline Van and I REALLY want to put it in, however it doesnt seem to want to fit (without notching out the drivers side of the engine compartment) I will do that if it's the only way, just wanted to see if any of you have done it?

BFH? i dont know how visible it would be because im not familiar with econoliines, but you could just bend it a little so it will fit.

 

[shmoozo]

Hello All, I have the DUI distributor, and was wondering if anyone else had put one of these in an Econoline van? I have a 63 Falcon, Econoline Van and I REALLY want to put it in, however it doesnt seem to want to fit (without notching out the drivers side of the engine compartment) I will do that if it's the only way, just wanted to see if any of you have done it?

BFH? i dont know how visible it would be because im not familiar with econoliines, but you could just bend it a little so it will fit.

That might do it, but it might be better to actually cut a hole in the side of the doghouse that allows the distributor to be easily inserted through from the side, and then fabricate a cover for the hole from something like a small stainless steel mixing bowl or something like a metal pie, bread, or cake pan of some sort. You could drill a few holes around the rim of the bowl or pan and use some small sheet metal screws to attach it to the side of the doghouse.

Depending on the size of the pan or bowl used for the cover you might also be able to cut the hole to a size that would improve access to other accessories on that side of the engine -- fuel pump, oil filter, or whatever.

Of course, it might also be necessary to modify the side of the doghouse a little around the hole that has been cut to get a nice flat surface to mount the bowl or pan. My very fuzzy memory on the subject is that the sides may not be perfectly flat.

One problem I see with this is that the bowl/pan cover might interfere with the seat or its mount, and also that it might be necessary to remove the driver's seat to remove the cover for distributor maintenance, though I suppose one of the reasons to make the change to the DUI would be to reduce the amount of distributor maintenance that was necessary to virtually none at all.

Then again, the BFH [big ******* hammer, yes? ] method might be easier, cheaper and just as effective for the purpose intended here. I'm not really sure how easy it would be to apply that hammer to the inside of the doghouse with the engine in place, but it's certainly worth considering.

Just a few stray thoughts to add to the mix.

 

[Ecovanner1963]

Well, BFH worked JUST FINE!!! In the future, if anyone tries to install this distributor in an Econoline (61-67 Van OR Truck) You HAVE to remove the Drivers side of the Engine Compartment. Mark the area that needs removed (about 5 inches by 5 inches) and either cut it out and use a donor panel to make an access door OR find something to support the panel and whip out the BFH!!! The Distributor is in!!!! The panel back on, and the top closes good. Also made up my wires, and routed them. Tomorrow I will need to run the 1 positive wire to the distributor, and the vaccum line. Then just pull the timing cover again and advance the timing 4 degrees. THEN I will get to experience the FULL potential of my improvements!!! Thanks ALL!!!!

 

[Ecovanner1963]

It's in!!! Not completely done yet and haven't driven it yet, but it is already INCREADABLE!!!!! Starts with a slight touch of the key!! This is the BEST OF THE BEST DISTRIBUTOR PERIOD!!!!!

 

[Does10s]

Is that green line your fuel line?

Right on top of the distributor?

I don't usually comment on someones build to much but in this case you're just asking for a fire! The potential is great!

Please reroute that line so you and your van don't get burned!

But it's good to see that the DUI dizzy fits.....even with a BFH!
Will

 

[shmoozo]

Is that green line your fuel line?

Right on top of the distributor?

I don't usually comment on someones build to much but in this case you're just asking for a fire! The potential is great!

Please reroute that line so you and your van don't get burned!

Wow, yeah ... I'd probably see if I could bend up a new hard line that went down low below the spark plugs running either forward under the distributor and then up and over the rear of the water pump and around the front of the valve cover before turning back to the carb. If that didn't work for your application, then an alternative would be to run it back around the rear of the engine (again keeping it below the spark plugs if possible) angling upward as it crosses to the other side of the engine above the bell housing (so that it stays clear of the exhaust heat) and turning forward above the intake and past the carb before making a u-turn to get back to the fuel inlet on the carb.

Here's an image somebody else posted at one point that happens to show the first route I meantioned above. The image has a conventional distributor which sits a lot lower than the DUI, but you can easily see how the line runs forward below the spark plugs and then around the front of the engine just above the water pump.

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The idea is to keep it away from the high voltage portions of the ignition and well away from exhaust heat, and clear of any moving parts that might damage and rupture the line in the event of a collision or mechanical failure. I'd also try to keep it clear of any bits and pieces I might need to remove for normal maintenance procedures.

An alternative route would be the one seen in the image below.

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This routes it over the top of the spark plugs, but keeps it close to the engine by using fuel line mounts that are held securely using the screws that hold the valve cover to the cylinder head. This route would have it running past the DUI distributor rather than being draped directly over the top of it.

 

[Ecovanner1963]

Thanks for the concern from everyone, but as I staited its not done yet. I will DEFINATELY be rerouting the fuel line. I will not be using the above shown method of strapping it to the valve cover however, ever heard of VAPOR LOCK! I agree it needs to stay away from the engine as much as possible, and I will post more pics after its road ready, again THANK YOU to ALL who noticed this and commented.

 

[james singleton]

Just curious here, but is the concern about a fuel line being directly above your spark plug wires, and/or the distributor, about a possible fuel leak that could be ignited by a spark from either the wires or distributor??? Or another way of putting it, "if" there is no fuel leaking you would not have a problem, correct???? Jim

 

[Does10s]

It's more about "if" there's a leak.

If there's no fuel vapor then there won't be a problem....but it only takes one time and then you've lost a vehicle.

It's just way to easy to reroute it and the "potential problem" will never arise.
Will

 

[Patrick66]

i agree with does10's on this one, its not worth the risk, especially when its so easy to fix and avoid any 'potential fire.