Engine Distributor Shaft

Me - "A carb swap doesn't require a distributor change."

AeroCoupe said:

If he had an EFI distributor I am pretty sure he needed to swap it for a regular distributor ....

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Noobz347 said:

This is what I recall:

The EFI distributor gets swapped for a carb distributor
The shaft [length] and [diameter] are different for a carbed distributor and EFI distributor....

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Dammit, I got that one wrong. You guys are absolutely correct.

rotorhead22 said:

..... Old on right. ..... <<MISSING PIC!!>>>

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Fyi, referencing your pic in the quoted post (post #3) (the pic wouldn't copy over in the quote), on my never-installed, remanned, spare Ford distributor, which supposedly is specifically for an '85 carbed 5.0, the length of the shaft below the gear is 1.55". Being a reman though, I have no idea how that actually compares to the stock (still installed) distributor.

AeroCoupe said:

..... but the 85 GT distributors are hard to come by.

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Would this work?

AeroCoupe said:

Another thing I came across is that the longer shaft in the roller motors was to ease the installation of them on the assembly line. The longer distributor shaft engages the oil pump drive before the distributor gear contacts the cam gear so it makes it easier to install. From that I took it that there is no other benefit.

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Ahhh.... I was wondering why they'd be different,,,, that sounds like the dealy there.

That is the LMR Distributor in my Explorer engine using my 83 intake.... I have a DUI on order if it ever comes....

I know this is an older post, but what did you end up using for the distributor and coil?

I did some testing with other units i had from my 74 302 build and i have a Pertonix D130700, which Summit says will only fit 82 and prior engines.. Im wondering if this is because of the shorter shaft. I dry fit it and it goes in, and i get spark. I guess i need to make sure the oil pump shaft engages. Im using a flame thrower coil as well.

I updated the cam on that engine. The D130700 does have a steel gear though, but i cant figure why non of the catalogs say it wont fit an engine after 82. It may be because it says it will not work with a computer controlled vehicle (?).