Distributor for a roller block

Falcon79 · Sep 29, 2009

Hi guys,

I need an opinion or two from people that have actually been there. I have a carburated 1991 roller block 302 that I'm trying to get running. I can't decide which way to go with the ignition system. I like the pertronix distributors because they are simple and there's no ignition box to buy. Problem is they don't seem to come with steel gears which is no good with my roller cam. Does anyone have an opinion on which way I could go?

2+2GT · Sep 29, 2009

Falcon79 said:
Hi guys,

I need an opinion or two from people that have actually been there. I have a carburated 1991 roller block 302 that I'm trying to get running. I can't decide which way to go with the ignition system. I like the pertronix distributors because they are simple and there's no ignition box to buy. Problem is they don't seem to come with steel gears which is no good with my roller cam. Does anyone have an opinion on which way I could go?

If you want to use one, stick a steel gear on it and use it.

D.Hearne · Sep 29, 2009

If you can't find a distributor like the Pertronix with a steel gear, next best thing is to use a Duraspark from an 85 Mustang GT with a manual transmission. The parts houses stock these in a reman unit for about $50-60 with a core to exchange. (Doesn't have to be the same exact core either, a points distributor will do) There are wiring diagrams floating about the net, there's basically 3 or 4 wires to hook up. Or do a gear swap, I've done two points distributors using a Ford Racing steel gear, it's not hard to do it, but you DO have to pay close attention when doing it, instructions are included with the gears. Only part in the structions missing is to be sure and not move the retainer collar under the housing (above the gear) You'll need a dial caliper to do it too, or some other tool to precisely measure the distance from the gear to the distributor body. Once the steel gear is in place and pinned, lube the gear liberally with moly grease to break the gear in with the camshaft gear.

65ShelbyClone · Sep 29, 2009

I have an '85 GT 5-speed Duraspark distributor in my '68 with an HEI module to control the coil and I think both cost less than $80 combined with my old points distributor as a core. It's cheap and simple, but the HEI module is ugly and needs to be mounted to a heat sink of some sort.

shoguun · Sep 29, 2009

im doing the same thing with the exact same year motor. I was gonna buy a mallory unilite. I remember you have to make sure you buy the right gear. Do you get a steel gear for a roller motor or something else.

engarom · Sep 29, 2009

Make it easy on yourself

Buy the MSD distributer, control and coil.
Detailed instructions, will work great and will never, ever let you down.
Just make sure what ever you do, on a roller engine use a bronze gear.
The steel one is no good!

65ShelbyClone · Sep 30, 2009

engarom said:
Just make sure what ever you do, on a roller engine use a bronze gear.
The steel one is no good!

You either got that backwards or Ford made a huge mistake by using steel gears with roller cams for the 16 years between 1985 and 2001.

v8only · Sep 30, 2009

I'm cheap. A junkyard duraspark dist and a parts store duraspark box works perfect for me.

D.Hearne · Sep 30, 2009

engarom said:
Buy the MSD distributer, control and coil.
Detailed instructions, will work great and will never, ever let you down.
Just make sure what ever you do, on a roller engine use a bronze gear.
The steel one is no good!

I'll bet you got an iron geared distributor by mistake. That bronze gear's going to let you down too in time.

88gt · Sep 30, 2009

Not trying to hijack the thread...but, which gear for the dizzy? I have a Mallory Unilte and need a gear for ..too many opinions and I haven't really seen anything said yet that confirms which way to go....
I'm using a '90 roller block/cam as well...

v8only · Sep 30, 2009

Dude, it's a steel gear, period. No opinions about it, steel for a roller cam.

that dist should have come with a steel gear already on it

88gt · Sep 30, 2009

Excellent!! Thank you! It may have had the steel gear on it before I got...but, the former tennant in my rental proper didn't leave it behind, just the dizzy and several Boss 302 parts....

2+2GT · Sep 30, 2009

65ShelbyClone said:
You either got that backwards or Ford made a huge mistake by using steel gears with roller cams for the 16 years between 1985 and 2001.

Ford used iron gears with iron cams. I have never use a bronze gear, and I don't want to be the first guy on the block to use a plastic one.

blown65 · Sep 30, 2009

2+2GT said:
Ford used iron gears with iron cams. I have never use a bronze gear, and I don't want to be the first guy on the block to use a plastic one.

Quite a few have used the plastic ones, quite a few have had them break. Wont get me to use one.

Falcon79 · Sep 30, 2009

What I have in my 91 roller right now is the duraspark setup but I only have the dizzy and not the module, I would replace it with a new duraspark setup if i knew where to get it. Anyone know where i can find one?

65ShelbyClone · Sep 30, 2009

2+2GT said:
Ford used iron gears with iron cams.

Right, and they used steel gears with roller cams. Why bronze gears are an option when they are not a long term solution, I don't know. Plastic.....I wouldn't touch one with a 10-foot distributor shaft.

D.Hearne · Sep 30, 2009

65ShelbyClone said:
Right, and they used steel gears with roller cams. Why bronze gears are an option when they are not a long term solution, I don't know. Plastic.....I wouldn't touch one with a 10-foot distributor shaft.

I wouldn't touch one with YOUR distributor shaft

D.Hearne · Sep 30, 2009

Falcon79 said:
What I have in my 91 roller right now is the duraspark setup but I only have the dizzy and not the module, I would replace it with a new duraspark setup if i knew where to get it. Anyone know where i can find one?

Any parts house has what you're looking for. Take your pick. 85 Mustang GT with manual transmission is what you're looking for. That was THE only application for a Duraspark distributor with a steel cam gear.

calpolymustang · Sep 30, 2009

I have a rebuilt '66 distributor in my '88 roller motor.
I use a steel gear (MSD#85833), and it required drilling a new hole for the gear pin.

The bronze gears wont last more than a few thousand miles, and i have NO idea why the mustang parts places sell them for the roller conversions.

D.Hearne · Sep 30, 2009

calpolymustang said:
The bronze gears wont last more than a few thousand miles, and i have NO idea why the mustang parts places sell them for the roller conversions.

They sell a LOT of the bronze gears this way, that's why

Distributor for a roller block

Falcon79

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