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By Ryan New Mexico - 13 Years Ago
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Hey Guys, hope all is well with you all. Quick scoop. Building a truck and I am close to mounting the engine on the frame. As my baby (272 Y block with only 7,500 orig miles) sits on the engine stand I need to start making some electronic decisions. My problem is I am a mechanical kind of guy, not much in the electronics arena. I want to run the one wire Alt, with J. Mummerts bracket. Other than that I have no idea what I should get. Can any of you gents give me the skinny on a reliable set-up for my engine. MSD, Mallory, Joe Hunt, I am lost. Not sure what should go with what.... Sorry, don't flame me, just being honest and looking for a little expert guidance. Thanks, Ryan
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By slumlord444 - 13 Years Ago
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I would suggest a '57 and up factory distributor with a Pentox electronic conversion. Have the advance curve set up by someone who knows how and use a matching coil. For an alternator you may want to go with a GM 2 wire with an adapter plug. Someone here should have more detai on that. It is my understanding that they work better than the one wire.
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By Rono - 13 Years Ago
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Ryan; You don't mention what year your truck is. If it is a 56 or earlier and you want more performnce, make sure you get a 57 and later dizzy if you go with the Pertronix upgrade.You may also want to upgrade your carb and intake too. Also, I have had good luck with the "Tuff Stuff" brand 100 amp chrome GM 1 wire alternator. You will get many different opinions on this topic, but with the 1 wire alternator you get to eliminate the external voltage regulator. For me, the less wires in the engine compartment the better. Rono
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By Ryan New Mexico - 13 Years Ago
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Thanks for the input guys. A little more. My engine is a 1956, 272. I've went threw the engine and it is about as close to new as one could be. Only 7,500 miles as it was used in a firetruck owned by a small town in northern New Mexico. I went through it, cleaned it up, put in new Gaskets and pressurized the rockers as well as a valve job. I am planning on a 3 x 2 set up, with Lakester Headers. The truck cab is a 1948 F2, Chopped 5 1/2". Z'ed frame made by me. The pictures of the truck with parts set loosely just to give me an idea where I was at. It will sit 4" off ground at the front of the cab and 5" at the back of Cab. Because the Engine will be setting out front for all to see, I would like to minimize the wires. I was thinking about the MSD ready to run with a blaster 2 coil. I can find a shop to set it up for me, I just want to pick my components and want it super reliable. Any experience with the Joe Hunt stuff??? Thanks again, Ryan  
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By Doug T - 13 Years Ago
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No matter how few miles on it the all vacuum advance distributor is not the thing to use, especially if you are changing carbs and intakes. As others have said the '57 to '64 dist with centrifugal and vacuum advance is much more understandable and serviceable. I have used a Pertronix running a MSD box with good results.
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By YellowWing - 13 Years Ago
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Ryan, I run a 1 wire alt on my 56 and it works great. Only difference from a 2 wire is it will not energize untill the rpm is brought above aprox 1200 RPM, once energized it will continue to charge at lower RPMs. I also run a MSD ready to run and coil, love the fact that I can pop the cap off and in a couple minutes adjust timing curves,max advance,etc. Mike
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By rick55 - 13 Years Ago
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The MSD ready to run is in my opinion the ultimate ignition setup. If using a genuine Ford distributor, prefer the late model distributor with an Accell/Mallory points eliminator kit and a matching coil.
Just thought I would put my two cents worth in.
regards
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By Ryan New Mexico - 13 Years Ago
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Thanks guys. Going with the MSD & one wire set up. Thanks again. ~Ryan
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By mctim64 - 13 Years Ago
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I like the stock '57-up dizzy with the Petronix. I've been running Petronix in all my early cars since around '95 and had nothing but good luck. I even run the stock style dizzy in my race truck with a petronix to trigger an MSD 6AL. Hard to beat and the price is easy. 
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By Y block Billy - 13 Years Ago
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Boy Tim, you have been reading too many Aussie post, they got you calling the distributor a dizzy now!
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By Talkwrench - 13 Years Ago
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I think you could be wasting money on the MSD [6AL] for your motor. I read time and time again guys that "race on the weekend" talking about changing to MSD and then find that it makes no difference.. I think they just like the look of the box. Now someone can correct me here but Im sure the multi spark cuts out at 3000rpm anyway. DOnt get me wrong its a good ignition its CDI I believe [good for real high compression] but, I wouldnt go past the 57 onwards dizzy with a pertronix or Accel kit. try the ignitor 3 setup its multi spark all the way through the rev range and a damn sight cheaper than MSD. re-curve your dizzy and your away.
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By mctim64 - 13 Years Ago
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Y block Billy (11/7/2012)
Boy Tim, you have been reading too many Aussie post, they got you calling the distributor a dizzy now!I like that term, it's easy to spell. lol The MSD 6AL sure makes a differance when you start a cold engine with 13.5:1 and a good shot of 110 race fuel.
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By Ryan New Mexico - 13 Years Ago
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Guys thanks for the input. Well, the more I learn, the less I know.... lolol.. Now I am thinking about the 57' (or up) Distributor with the Petronix mod. A few questions: Where are you guys buying the distributors? (new, ebay, ect??) Thanks, Ryan
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By pegleg - 13 Years Ago
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Autozone, NAPA, ETc. they all list them.
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By Talkwrench - 13 Years Ago
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As above or cruise the net dude.. Make sure you get some MR Gasket 925D springs to go in there as well..
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By Y block Billy - 13 Years Ago
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I hear you Tim, whether I realise it or not, I probably use the term also, the stuff just grows on you reading these post, you become foreign whether you are there or not!
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By Granny'56 - 13 Years Ago
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I just put a MSD 8383 direct drop in distributor into my '56 F250 stock 272 . I need to do a bit of tweaking on the timing curve etc, but it started first kick. Seems to be a good unit. That is with a single Edelbrock 94 carb. to get away from the Load-o-matic that came stock. Be aware that to do said "tweaking" you have to take the distributor cap off and change out springs which is kid of a pain considering where the distro sits at the back of the engine. If you want to set it up accurately you will need a tach that goes up to 4000 RPM to check various points along the advance curve. The Ford manual has a little chart showing the advance at various RPMs (note this is distributor RPM, not engine RPM) and the Distributor comes with a set of advance curves based on different spring configurations.
Other things of note...The 8383 is a bit taller than the stock so plug wire length may have to be adjusted, and the connections on the top of the MSD are like a spark plug, not well connections like the stock unit. LMC trucks has the rubber grommets to route the wires behind the block like stock. The holes in the grommets are small so you probably want to use 6.5 or 7 mm wires, not 8's like I did.
Tony
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By Ryan New Mexico - 13 Years Ago
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Can't thank you guys enough. I now have enough info to be dangerous!! hahaha.. Thanks again, RYAN
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