Distributor cap and rotor

[rcarlisle]

So I didn't notice when we looked at truck and it runs fine.   But this is my cap and rotor.  Try to find this one at your local parts store.  

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This is some sort of electronic distributor that doesn't seem to be Ford.  

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I did find ATeam Performance to look to be a match.  Ordered from SW Performance.  Ordered 2 just in case.  They are like 19.98 each for a cap and button and free shipping.  How they fit.  But dang it, why can't parts be easy to find?

[Gary Lewis]

I don't know what you have.  But I'll bet Bill/85lebaront2 does, so I'm going to tag him.  He ran a carb and ignition shop for decades and has forgotten more than I'll ever know.

[kramttocs]

GM/HEI with external coil?

[ArdWrknTrk]

Randy,  does your 302 have a VV carb and a crank sensor?

[rcarlisle]

Haven't really looked at the carb yet other than it is a 2bbl.   Haven't looked for a crank sensor.  

Only male tower cap we found at O'reilly's was for an International 5 liter.  And the button didn't match.

I found this cap just googling and looking at images.  

[85lebaront2]

Can you get a picture of the distributor? The EEC-III caps and rotors may have a very strange looking cap with a double ended rotor with one arm lower then the other.

In looking at your thread on the brake booster, if that is indeed your engine, I suspect either someone used a non DS-II cap and rotor or that is an aftermarket (Accell maybe) distributor. The carburetor appears to be a Motorcraft 2150. While I am on this subject, what the PO did with the spark plug wires might look neat, it almost guarantees crossfire as Ford had a specific routing for the 221-302 engines, rather than 5678 routing, it was 7568 through the clips on the valve covers (big blocks such as the FE and 460s go 5768).

[rcarlisle]

Try those image links in my first post - not sure what I did wrong so the photos don't show up.   Cap, rotor, down into distributor.  I have found a cap and button that look right - ordered two.   So hopefully they will work and get here before the cap I have fails completely.  Bad crack in tower 3.  

[Gary Lewis]

I just right-clicked your pic links and copied the link.  Then clicked Insert Image and pasted the link in, but wiping out the "http" stuff that is already there.  But your pics are too big, meaning over 1MB, for posting full sized.  So I clicked Big Size.

[85lebaront2]

Ok, Gary's redo of the pictures helped, that is not a Ford distributor, the pickup system looks like a GM HEI unit so it is definitely not original. If it still uses the DS-II box then finding a distributor in a junkyard might solve parts sourcing. Is there any kind of label, stamped or a sticker with a name on it?

[rcarlisle]

Thanks Gary, lesson learned hopefully.   I was doing that on my phone at home last night and it's a little different from the PC.  

[ArdWrknTrk]

This is the problem with out-of-date, unsupported, aftermarket parts....

[rcarlisle]

Maybe?   Looks like a vacuum advance but no hose out of middle.   Every photo I have so far has some sort of obstruction.   If this new cap and button sets I've ordered work, I should be okay for while.  I'm guessing this odd cap is why they didn't replace it with the wres and plugs.  

Soon we'll have to see if we can figure out what this engine came out of.   The bracketry on front looks different from what I've seen of stock 302s.  THe red cylindrical object on left side is the coil.  And it looks like the one that comes with the A-team performance distributor kit.   IT's a cheap electronic setup, so that may be where someone changed it out.   Lots of good on this truck, but lots of questions too.  

[85lebaront2]

Jim, I am trying to remember if there was a small cap V8 GM HEI system, as it looks similar to the ones GM used in the early S10 pickups with the 2.8L V6. There wasn't room for the large cap style as the Citation V6 used, so GM used a divorced coil (E-core) and a tall cap as the advance was still up under the rotor. I see a vacuum advance diaphragm barely showing so it is probably some sort of aftermarket replacement.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Bill, that red coil is definitely cylindrical....

[85lebaront2]

That's a good view of the vacuum advance, hose is on the side, top of the can, which is not Ford, but not abnormal for many others.

[rcarlisle]

This may be an issue for a long time as more parts are made and sold thru Amazon and ebay.   Parts that have no identifiable history.   And then a vehicle sold to another and another owner.  Kinda like hot rodding and chasing parts you have no idea on.  

but I was able to find what appears to be the replacement parts and I'll have it noted on spreadsheet.   IF this cap works, they have 470 more in stock on website.   So that's a good thing for now.   I'm betting SW PErformance is the importer of these units.   The truck runs great, even with the cracked cap.  But I really want to get new cap and try to keep all the lightning in the cap and wires.  

Anybody here watch Vice Grip Garage on Youtube?  This is his kind of project it would seem.  And kinda my inspiration to buy/build on this truck.  Save it and use it.  MAy never be as nice as what you guys have, but has potential to outlast me.

[rcarlisle]

IN this photo on far right bottom are two boxes.  What I've noticed is one is unplugged.  This could be the electronic boxes that need to be identified.   I'll try to get some isolated photos of the ignition components tonight if the weather isn't too bad.   I wish I could get photos of the distributor internals that the cap matches to.  

 

[rcarlisle]

Here is what I think it *Might* be.   I'll need to look more closely.   So long as it works (it does so far), I"m happy with it.  

https://swperformanceparts.com/product/r2r6702bl/

[kramttocs]

Yep - GM/HEI with external coil. Now that you know what it is and how it differs from stock when looking for parts - if it works, it works
That blue box is similar to add on speed control modules

[85lebaront2]

Very likely. Probably not a bad upgrade and now maybe you can find a source for cap and rotor.