Prestolite Distributor

[007]

So my 77 has the stock Prestolite distributor. Mine in particular has the cap held on by a brown shoestring because one of the clips on the unit is bad. Nice eh?

Anyway - my Jeep is bone stock, but I obviously need to replaced my distributor and cap and rotor. I've read all about the Team Rush upgrade(s) and I've spoken with JunkYardGenius himself, but he knows so much about ignitions that I'm lost in <30secs.

His page states...

"The Prestolite ignition module was a very weak and poorly designed unit (as most first generation are).

Prestolite built that ignition as a 'Stand Alone', there are no upgrades in later year models, so there are no updated parts we can adapt for use on this particular ignition.

This means no quick change for better parts like there are for GM, Ford & Chrysler Ignitions.

Now, for the bad news... There are NO UPGRADES for the Prestolite ignition in AMC V-8 Engines I'm Aware Of...

Now, for the good news...

The AMC V-8 Engine was used with a variety of ignition systems... and with the Prestolite being a 'Stand Alone' system added as an after thought, it's easy to remove.

That means you can change the entire ignition system over rather easily to one of the other ignitions AMC/Jeep used through the years.

The 'Best' upgrade right now is the '78-'79 Jeep V-8 Motorcraft/ DuraSpark Ignition.

Available at junk yards, swap meets, discount parts stores everywhere.
Uses all stock parts from one sorce or another so parts are available everywhere.

Infinitely Reliable, Upgradeable and Tunable, this ignition system is the workhorse that powers millions of Jeeps (all Jeeps,'78 to '90) and millions more Ford vehicles (all Ford, '76 to '91), so replacment parts aren't going away anytime soon! and billions of quick starts daily can't be wrong!"

So my question is, if I just go that route - who can help me convert over to that? The diagram for the finished product on his page is not there anymore, only how to remove the existing system. Anyone here - or do I just need to find him (he lives in same town as me) and pay him to do it? He's offered to help and was extremely nice on the phone, but he (like I) can be hard to get a hold of.

Or should I just get a new Prestolite from Autozone with a new cap and move on?

 

[DHugg]

007, I just completely rebuilt the Duraspark (out of necessity) in my '80 CJ7 AMC 304 . I think better of this distributor after seeing the guts of the thing. If I were wrestling with your problem, I'd get a junkyard Duraspark, clean it up, drop it in and move on.

The only issue where my tiny bit of experience stumbles is the hardness of the oil pump gear against the softness of the Duraspark drive gear. Someone else will have to step up to the plate there.

 

[007]

Thanks for the info. I think I've read where no matter what distributor you use keep using the same gear you started with if you can.


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[CJim7]

Any chance to get rid of the Prestolite ignition is a chance well worth it. All you need is a post-'78 dizzy and a Duraspark ignition module (the Prestolite ICM will not work with the Motorcraft distributor)

While you're at it, and if you want to keep things simple, a fabulous upgrade to your ignition system would be the utilization of an HEI.
It's basically, the cap, rotor, plug wires, and coil from a stock Ford 460cid engine. It uses a cap adapter for the Motorcraft dizzy and a pigtail from the ICM, but these are found anywhere you source the Ford parts. You can use your OEM plugs regapped to .045.

The results....Hotter spark, no crossfire due to a larger cap, cleaner running, better power. It's win win win

 

[carlos1as]

I just returned from a junkyard with the distributor, module, wires and coil from a Ford Van with a 460. The way I read you, I do not need the entire distributor, just the dizzy, cap, wires, module, etc. I'm going to clean it all up and see what I need to do to adapt the my 360 to this setup. I'm not sure how to connect everything just yet. A schematic from the Ford would be helpful, I think. There are very few carburetors left at the junkyards. No chance of finding an AMC with a V-8 in it, that's for sure.

I currently have the gold box bolted to my fender. A prestolite system. And I have a weak orange spark.

I want to change it over and not spend $700 on a new MSD setup, even though it would look good under my hood. The $100 Ford setup would leave some extra cash for new tires. Do you have any other information at your fingertips that would help me out?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

:ww:
Sorry, I can't help you with this 'dizzy' conversion. Just want'd to say HI is all.
LG

 

[Posi]

007, I'm in the woods of NH wheeling this weekend Internet isn't good, I'll be in touch when I get back.

 

[007]

Oh it's not me. It's an OLD thread someone needs help on. I think I can walk him through it this evening.


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[CJ]

I just returned from a junkyard with the distributor, module, wires and coil from a Ford Van with a 460. The way I read you, I do not need the entire distributor, just the dizzy, cap, wires, module, etc. I'm going to clean it all up and see what I need to do to adapt the my 360 to this setup. I'm not sure how to connect everything just yet. A schematic from the Ford would be helpful, I think. There are very few carburetors left at the junkyards. No chance of finding an AMC with a V-8 in it, that's for sure.

I currently have the gold box bolted to my fender. A prestolite system. And I have a weak orange spark.

I want to change it over and not spend $700 on a new MSD setup, even though it would look good under my hood. The $100 Ford setup would leave some extra cash for new tires. Do you have any other information at your fingertips that would help me out?

:ww:

I put a MSD on my prestolite and didn't go the Ford route but there are many threads that may help you. Here are a few I found when searching for 'ford AND prestolite'

Good write-up here -->> Ignition swaps for '77 older jeeps - JeepForum.com

Great advice here -->> http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f2/304-ignition-23753/?highlight=ford+prestolite

http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f2/teamrush-ignition-upgrade-11416/

http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f2/cutting-out-ignition-upgrade-24959/?highlight=ford+prestolite

http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f2/distributor-coil-advice-needed-24092/?highlight=ford+prestolite

http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f2/77...t-conversion-21556/?highlight=ford+prestolite

There are many more threads in the forums but these should help.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

007, I'm in the woods of NH wheeling this weekend Internet isn't good, I'll be in touch when I get back.

Maybe CJ should change your screen name to 'Bare-Bait' then?