what distributer do i have? pics! Also want to upgrade this so need some help

I also plan to upgrade this... is this a motorcraft duraspark?

Also i plan to run this with the 521, with 10.5:1 compression on 93 octane pump gas. HP should be around 600hp. would I be ok with this distributor? I also planned to run a spark box... either the MSD street fire or the summit brand box for alittle better driveability/power.

are there upgrade kits for this? I thought this thing out have single points and i would upgrade it to the pertronix ignitor 2 kit... but it already has a magnetic pickup. what do i have to do to make this thing handle 600hp and maybe a 100shot of NOS?
thanks guys

You have a Duraspark dist. It can be run with an MSD 6AL box. Go to Scotty's website http://reincarnation-automotive.com/ (pay the one-time fee) and learn how to recurve your Duraspark or buy a rebuilt, recurved distributor from Scott that is set up for your specific build.

so theres no way to upgrade what i have? perhaps a aftermarket magnet etc? I looked at this site before but i cant seem to find where they state the one time fee to recurve my stock duraspark... I just see rebuilt ones for 157$ or 80$ to recurve mine if i send them it plus shipping.

i wouldnt run this distributor with the 6AL... i would go cheaper... this is a budget build. what coil do i have to run? the pertronix 40,000v?

also i dnt have a vacume advance which means that this would be mechanical only correct? should I run a vacume advance or just leave it the way it is?

those Durasparks are pretty good units already. Have the GM guys been trying to talk you into that HEI nonesense?

Diggindeeper said:

those Durasparks are pretty good units already. Have the GM guys been trying to talk you into that HEI nonesense?

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haha I am a HEI GM owner... personally id rather just rebuild this thing and throw it on with a pertronix coil and a MSD street fire ignition box and call it a day. but i need to recurve this thing now? Im only used to GM HEIs with remote mount coils and EST (electronic spark timing) with tuned port ECMs. so going to a carb is very low tech to me

No reason to "upgrade" what you have. Duraspark is sufficient. Yours (according to the tag) is 34 years old, with unknown mileage. Probably worn out (play in the shaft, advance mechanism, etc.). I would recommend a rebuilt, recurved distributor. Stock coil is sufficient, but check the recommendations of what ever box you decide to run.

well ive been looking at replacing the parts to the distributer. Upgrading I guess would mean stock replacement but NEW so i dnt want any issues. Ive been pricing the replacement parts like new distributer seal, new reluctor, new pickup coil, and an advance spring kit from Mr. gasket # 925D.

I was told the engine had roughly 80,000 miles when she pulled it. I checked the play in the shaft... seems the shaft has .030" max play in the shaft (up and down). Drive gear barely has any marks at all/ shows really no sign of wear.

the parts i described would be all i would need to rebuild it correct? the springs will bring in max timing between 2000-2800rpms with the Mr gasket springs #925D. I also noticed that the vacume advance was removed... do i need to replace it?

Side to side play is the wear that I meant. Yes, you need a vacuum advance.
It sounds like you have your mind made up to rebuild what you have, good luck.

haha def not looking forward to rebuilding it... but i was just checking out remanufactured ones and looked at autozone they have them for 50$ rebuilt.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/1976-Ford-Thunderbird/Distributor/_/N-invvxZ9n80u

which one do i need? honestly buying a reman one and adding the springs i want would cost the same as rebuilding the one i have. the 2 distributors above, one is a single vacume and the other is a dual vacume... i dnt know which one i have.

i also dnt have any of the wiring for the coil/module that this distributor has coming off the pickup... so how do i splice that into a home made wiring harness. Basically its a engine swap into a 87 firebird so i have to remake my own wiring harness to get this thing to fit. Im also planning on running the MSD or summit ignition box... so i have no idea if i just cut that plug off or what.

You want to run the single port vac advance. The MSD box wires up very easily, there is a MSD harness (MSD 8869) that plugs your dist. to the MSD box, so don't cut the plug off.

customblackbird said:

haha I am a HEI GM owner... personally id rather just rebuild this thing and throw it on with a pertronix coil and a MSD street fire ignition box and call it a day. but i need to recurve this thing now? Im only used to GM HEIs with remote mount coils and EST (electronic spark timing) with tuned port ECMs. so going to a carb is very low tech to me

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very low tech to you . sounds like a very low dollar pro crap kind of dude to me.

BobbyFord said:

You want to run the single port vac advance. The MSD box wires up very easily, there is a MSD harness (MSD 8869) that plugs your dist. to the MSD box, so don't cut the plug off.

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will that work with the MSD street fire box?

2slow said:

very low tech to you . sounds like a very low dollar pro crap kind of dude to me.

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if you have no usefull information to post i would suggest not posting anything at all. carbs are low tech when u consider the complexity of EFI, u have no control over individual cylinders A/F, not to mention increased throttle response, fuel economy, increased power throughout the RPM band. when u consider the fact that it basically SUCKS the fuel through the intake (which creates wet flow CFM numbers compared to a dry flow EFI system) this decreases the overall flow numbers of the intake. Compared the EFI which sprays the back of the intake valve... Carbs are old school, low tech, they work and are cheap but you cant compare that to EFI. If you want to argue fuel delivery then i would suggest a seperate thread.

customblackbird said:

if you have no usefull information to post i would suggest not posting anything at all. carbs are low tech when u consider the complexity of EFI, u have no control over individual cylinders A/F, not to mention increased throttle response, fuel economy, increased power throughout the RPM band. when u consider the fact that it basically SUCKS the fuel through the intake (which creates wet flow CFM numbers compared to a dry flow EFI system) this decreases the overall flow numbers of the intake. Compared the EFI which sprays the back of the intake valve... Carbs are old school, low tech, they work and are cheap but you cant compare that to EFI. If you want to argue fuel delivery then i would suggest a seperate thread.

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who btought it up ? good to know when there is EFI trouble or a system needs to be spec out --- got you to solve the problem.

2slow said:

who btought it up ? good to know when there is EFI trouble or a system needs to be spec out --- got you to solve the problem.

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comments like yours start problems, your post had nothing to do with the thread nor was it constructive by any means. As a dig it was childish to call me a "pro crap kind of dude", i guess calling carbs low tech was an insult to your intelligence... maybe there complex to you? maybe u road the short bus to school? I have no idea... but my experience is with tuned port EFI as I stated before. I have no prob even helping you with a problem but no need for unprovoked personal remarks. back to the thread now shall we!

customblackbird said:

comments like yours start problems, your post had nothing to do with the thread nor was it constructive by any means. As a dig it was childish to call me a "pro crap kind of dude", i guess calling carbs low tech was an insult to your intelligence... maybe there complex to you? maybe u road the short bus to school? I have no idea... but my experience is with tuned port EFI as I stated before. I have no prob even helping you with a problem but no need for unprovoked personal remarks. back to the thread now shall we!

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OK , so your a high tech HEI dude . now did you know the the Ford unit works the same way ? components are just located in a different place . Thats called high skill level .

It's only low tech if you understand it.

crittersf1 said:

It's only low tech if you understand it.

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x2 . that goes for every thing ..