Engine Distributorless to Distributor ignition on a 302?

93CalypsoConvert · Sep 27, 2024

Considering buying a late 302 with the distributorless ignition. I will be converting to carb and duraspark to retain originality.

What's involved with converting to a standard distributor and mechanical fuel pump?

Thanks

Noobz347 · Sep 27, 2024

93CalypsoConvert said:
Considering buying a late 302 with the distributorless ignition. I will be converting to carb and duraspark to retain originality.

What's involved with converting to a standard distributor and mechanical fuel pump?

Thanks

Will you be using a roller block?

Vacuum advance, I assume?

I'm pretty sure @General karthief knows this portion backwards to front.

If it were me, I'd skip the mechanical fuel pump but I think that's a preference thing.

93CalypsoConvert · Sep 27, 2024

Yes roller block with vac advance.

I could go electric pump but I really want to keep the remainder of the car as factory as possible.

I'm replacing a 255 V8, so timing cover should be swappable, right? All small block stuff

Noobz347 · Sep 27, 2024

Everything should be swappable.

@horse sence - Probably comes across this often.

On the fuel pump thing... I recall something about a block plate on roller blocks and not the specifics. Dudes way smarter about this stuff than me will be along shortly.

Sometimes though, I'll post some BS from memory and get 52 guys on here to correct my errors. I'll try this first.

limp · Sep 28, 2024

Need to make sure your distributor has a steel or composite gear to work with a roller cam
Iron dist gears are for flat tappet cams..
You will probably need to change your front timing cover as your new engine will not have anywhere to mount a mech fuel pump. If it does have a block plate your good.. My Explorer engine timing cover did not....
Need to make sure your cam has a lobe to pump the fuel pump.. Not sure if this is common on Fords.. It is on Small Block Chevys.. The TF stage 1 cam I used does have the fuel pump lobe....

Does your car have all of the existing duraspark system?? It should be a fairly simple swap of all the parts, except for the distributor if your going from a flat tappet to a roller cam due to the cam material.....

I used this distributor from LMR... Seems to work well...

https://lmr.com/item/LRS-12127BK/Mustang-50-Distributor-Steel-Gear-1985-Carb-Only

General karthief · Sep 28, 2024

You may be able to use the Duraspark ignition just make sure the distributor has the correct gear for the roller cam.
The 255ci engine has similar architecture as the 5.0 push rod engine I don't know if the timing cover will swap to a EFI engine. Earlier version should fit, 85 had a carb but I don't know if it had a mechanical fuel pump, and as limp mentioned about the FP eccentric on the front of the cam holding the cam gear, you should see this when you remove the timing cover from the 255, mechanical fuel pumps have come a long way since Noobz dealt with them, you only need 7 PSI to keep the carb happy.
Pay attention to what accessory belt drive you want, standard rotation with serpentine belt drive or reverse rotation, the timing cover should match the water pump direction.
Let us know how you plan to proceed and we'll chime in with help.

AeroCoupe · Sep 28, 2024

Cams don’t have the eccentric on Fords as far as I know. It’s installed when you put the timing gear on. Good thread here on “retrofitting” a roller motor for a mechanical fuel pump:

https://www.vintage-mustang.com/threads/what-fuel-pump-eccentric-to-use-on-302-roller-cam-engine.393871/

limp · Sep 28, 2024

General karthief said:
You may be able to use the Duraspark ignition just make sure the distributor has the correct gear for the roller cam.
The 255ci engine has similar architecture as the 5.0 push rod engine I don't know if the timing cover will swap to a EFI engine. Earlier version should fit, 85 had a carb but I don't know if it had a mechanical fuel pump, and as limp mentioned about the FP eccentric on the front of the cam holding the cam gear, you should see this when you remove the timing cover from the 255,

I missed this one.. Thats correct, Ford has a bolt on eccentric, not a cam lobe like a chevy or Mopar....
There are two different types of eccentrics and they each use a different timing gear set....

93CalypsoConvert · Sep 29, 2024

Excellent info. Yes, I have the complete duraspark system. The 255 is a reverse drive water pump, so I don't expect to see any issues.

Noobz347 · Sep 29, 2024

93CalypsoConvert said:
Excellent info.

Yeah, this is all the knit-noid these dudes keep rolling around in their brain pans.

85GTStangGuy · Oct 2, 2024

General karthief said:
85 had a carb but I don't know if it had a mechanical fuel pump....

Why yes, yes it did.

Engine Distributorless to Distributor ignition on a 302?

93CalypsoConvert

Active Member

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

93CalypsoConvert

Active Member

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

93CalypsoConvert

Active Member

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

85GTStangGuy

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Engine Distributorless to Distributor ignition on a 302?

Active Member

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Active Member

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

Active Member

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

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