HEI for 302

[ratio411]

Huh? The DS has centrifugal weights and a vacuum advance just like a points distributor.

I was thinking the same thing.
You can adjust a Duraspark every-which-way...

I think some folks here are getting Duraspark mixed up with TFI.

TFI came stock as early as 83 on some V8s with VV carbs.
It really came on strong with TBI and EFI though...
That is the one that is non-adjustable and is like HEI in that it has a dist mounted module that is known for being unreliable due to heat exposure.
I had 2 go out on my EFI truck this year. They get hot and start cutting out.

 

[ratio411]

An carbd 85 is not TFI it is Duraspark same as 84.

I have no idea about Stangs and TFI.
It is something I have not seen as important to study, however, I have seen early 80s carb'd Crown Vics with TFI. Especially VV carbs and TBI, but regular carbs have used TFI as well.
Maybe the Stang didn't get it till EFI... ???
Good to know.

 

[pazur]

Advance auto parts sell cardone-brand remanufactured distributors - are these ford durasparks, or some asian imitations?

Found two type of distributors - one with TFI (they call it module)+steel gears and other without TFI with cast iron gears. For 85 gt carb 5.0

 

[pazur]

and also is the duraspark (cast iron gear) magnetic ingition pickup, cap and rotor interchangeable with earlier point-type distributor?

 

[chromedog]

if you are having problems with the ds (or any other dizzy, for that matter) causing problems with rotor rise, you can shim the drive gear up to take the slop out of the shaft. also, when using the ds in a performance application,. opt for the tfi coil, it has a much hotter spark than the typical ds coil...

 

[ratio411]

and also is the duraspark (cast iron gear) magnetic ingition pickup, cap and rotor interchangeable with earlier point-type distributor?

I have never tried to swap out the pickup to a point dist... I would think it would work, but don't know for sure. I know the DS has the same weights and vacuum system as the other. You can use an adjustable canister, or just block it out like any other.

One thing that IS for sure is that the cap and rotor will swap to a point dist or a small cap DS. The cap is 2 parts instead of the usual 1 piece of the small cap.
When the cars were new they came with a nifty rubber boot to go over the cap.
Those are nice to use for a cleaner look.