distributor cap question

[Smokestacklightnin]

Have been working on getting my Carbed HO swap and have a question about the distributor cap. I purchased a distributor speced for a 1985 mustang gt with 4bbl. The cap has female plug wire connections, but I would like to retain my ford racing plug wires from my old engine. I have been told you can get an adapter for this, but i need to see if another cap is available with the male connections. Anyone have any answers?

[gadget73]

The cap for the 85 4bbl ought to be the same as far as I'm aware. If not, then I think the cap adapter from the TFI distributor (the plastic thing that the cap actually sits on) will swap over to the Duraspark dizzy. It should mount with 2 screws.

[import convert]

the newer caps fit but the rotors wont. i got an msd kit and i had to toss the rotor but i could use the cap

[1987cp]

Hang on ... the whosaythewhatnow?

Post up some pictures if you don't mind .... as Thain says, Durasparks use the same cap and cap adapter as a TFI distributor. You can buy each piece separately from your parts counter if you like aluminum terminals.

I've seen points distributors with the weird old socket-style caps, but were they ever even used on Duraspark?



import convert, I'm assuming you just bought a cap-and-rotor kit that came with the wrong style rotor? I do hate cap and rotor kits that are listed by model and year ... the thing one to be certain of is what model distributor the rotor fits. Silly retailers.


I assume CFI distributors used the same cap and cap adapter as Duraspark and TFI (though I could easily be dead wrong), but what rotor did they use?

[Smokestacklightnin]

Went back to oreilly today and asked about getting the male cap or an adapter, since distributor was new and came with the cap, was told it would void the warranty. Apparently was compatible according to specs, but was not correct for what I need. So they ordered another one, I will get it friday. Not trying to sound sexist, but i have had bad luck when it comes to women behind the parts counter. Not saying women dont know about cars, but just bad luck at the parts stores. In fact new a girl when I was in college who rebuilt first gen camaros with her dad. She was fine as hell too LOL. Oh well, the engine swap saga continues.

[gadget73]

I assume CFI distributors used the same cap and cap adapter as Duraspark and TFI (though I could easily be dead wrong), but what rotor did they use?

Same cap, but its one of two different rotors. One looks basically like a Dspark rotor and just pushes onto the shaft, the other is a funky Chevy looking thing with two screws. I seem to remember Duraspark rotors being similar to TFI rotors, but the notch is different or something.

[1987cp]

Interesting, I think the one with two screws is the one I saw on my parents' old '84 compact LTD with the 3.8L CFI. I haven't looked at a TFI rotor lately, but IIRC the lower end is quite different than Duraspark.

[1987cp]

Suggestion: if you continue having trouble, ask for a unit for a '79 through '82 5.0L LTD. Better yet, try to come up with a list of potential specific part numbers. The distributor I specified for a '79 came with the advance limiter installed in the 20-degree position, which seems to be commonly accepted as desirable, while the one I asked for for an '85 Mustang was in the 30-degree position and I ended up going through the (considerable) trouble of flipping it around. Don't worry about the advance springs, since you'll be wanting to swap those out anyway.

AutoZone supplied their rebuilt distributors without cap, rotor, or adapter, for about $95, and even gave me a choice of gear material.

[gadget73]

I haven't looked at a TFI rotor lately, but IIRC the lower end is quite different than Duraspark.

ah right, the Dspark has a big notch on the top of the shaft to locate it, the TFI has a peg that sticks down and locates on the reluctor wheel. I had to dig up a picture to remember what the Duraspark used. Either way, it just pushes on and has no fasteners or anything like that.

[91grandmarquis]

Yeah the funky chevyesque rotor is what comes with the MSD kit, I had to just go buy a normal rotor at autozone, so I am only running the MSD cap.

[1987cp]

Weirdness. Pays to research the specifics of your cap/rotor set, though annoyingly, suppliers don't seem to really enjoy making that information easy to locate.