Help identifying 78 J10 distributor

[Jklewer]

Just as the title says, I'm trying to figure out what this is. Shop said the vacuum advance is way too far forward and I'm a novice with these things. Any help?

[Jklewer]

Here's what's underneath

[tgreese]

It's at the least got the wrong vacuum advance canister in it.



This is an '82, but it should look like this. The distributor body is different too.

Does this distributor have ignition points? A '78 should have a Motorcraft Duraspark distributor, with electronic ignition. That looks like an ignition condensor under the rotor. If it's a points distributor, it's a Delco from a '74 or earlier. If it's a Delco, that still looks like the wrong advance canister.

[Jklewer]

Well I found delco stamped so there's something. Guess the next step is putting something proper in there. This is a dd, doesn't need to do anything special besides run (preferably well). Any recommendations?

[tgreese]

Well I found delco stamped so there's something. Guess the next step is putting something proper in there. This is a dd, doesn't need to do anything special besides run (preferably well). Any recommendations?

I would change it back to the original equipment Motorcraft Duraspark. Lots of upgrades possible with that.

An aftermarket GM HEI distributor is another popular option.

Search here and at IFSJA for this topic. It has been covered a lot. At Google, "site:ifsja.org <your search terms>".

[FSJunkie]

That's a Delco-Remy V8 points distributor rebuilt by Cardone.

Good distributor, very easy to work on and tune...unfortunately I can tell by looking at it that it has been rebuilt, likely by Cardone, and they do a horrible job. If they swapped parts between it and other model numbers, there is a good chance that it has phase issues and a wacky advance cam profile.

I'm partial to the Delco-Remys, so I'd throw a Pertronix I into it and throw an ignition scope on it to see exactly what's going on. If it is FUBAR, then an aftermarket high performance Delco would replace it.

[Jklewer]

That's a Delco-Remy V8 points distributor rebuilt by Cardone.

Good distributor, very easy to work on and tune...unfortunately I can tell by looking at it that it has been rebuilt, likely by Cardone, and they do a horrible job. If they swapped parts between it and other model numbers, there is a good chance that it has phase issues and a wacky advance cam profile.

I'm partial to the Delco-Remys, so I'd throw a Pertronix I into it and throw an ignition scope on it to see exactly what's going on. If it is FUBAR, then an aftermarket high performance Delco would replace it.

Thanks for the feedback. So I just went and ordered up some things off the 84 F350 writeup, I can be a little impulsive :/ I ordered a rebuilt stock dizzy (by cardone of course) with the ford cap, rotor, Accel 4040 wires, and the EEC coil from an 87 F350 as my local store didn't show anything for the 84s besides the standard can coil.

[Jklewer]

I'm in the middle if installing my new dizzy but I'm tentative. There's a keyway of sorts that slots into the very bottom of the dizzy gear and I want to make sure that the orientation if this is relation to the engine is not critical. What is this?

[tgreese]

I'm in the middle if installing my new dizzy but I'm tentative. There's a keyway of sorts that slots into the very bottom of the dizzy gear and I want to make sure that the orientation if this is relation to the engine is not critical. What is this?

The absolute orientation is not critical as long as the rotor points to the #1 cylinder wire at #1's TDC. This can be any arbitrary position, but some positions are more convenient in terms of location of the vacuum advance. Remember that your engine is a 4-stroke, so there are two revolutions of the crank for every revolution of the rotor. Don't get it 180 degrees out ...

[FSJunkie]

I'm in the middle if installing my new dizzy but I'm tentative. There's a keyway of sorts that slots into the very bottom of the dizzy gear and I want to make sure that the orientation if this is relation to the engine is not critical. What is this?

The absolute orientation is not critical as long as the rotor points to the #1 cylinder wire at #1's TDC. This can be any arbitrary position, but some positions are more convenient in terms of location of the vacuum advance. Remember that your engine is a 4-stroke, so there are two revolutions of the crank for every revolution of the rotor. Don't get it 180 degrees out ...

yea, interesting things happen when you try to start one like that. usually they just won't turn over at all, but if you're really lucky, they'll spit through the carb.

[Jklewer]

Well, she's back together and purring. I've got all (I think) of my vacuum leaks fixed or capped, in the case of the Qtrack, and now it's time to get the carb dialed. Thanks for the help!

[carnuck]

whatcha doin with the points dist?

Enquiring minds need a lobotomy