I have an 84' distributor that I want to put in my 79' to replace the points/breaker unit. I'm sure some of you guys have done this. I would appreciate it if someone could explain this conversion for me. Thanks, Jason

 

Yep - lotsa people done it! It's easier if you grab the two connecters that plug in to the ignitors, but you can easy "make" connectors with some female spade connectors. When I do this, after I make sure everything's wired up right, I cover all of the connections with a big ol' blob of silicone to protect it all from the elements. I started doing that after I put a Mallory ignition in my Ford - 3 months later the exposed coil connections were corroded so bad the car wouldn't start. After I cleaned and RTVed it, no more corrosion probs.

Anyway, the links:

http://www.mazspeed.com/ignitionswap.htm (the best one IMO)
http://www.mazspeed.com/ignitionswap..htm

 

what year did they go to the electric dist. 80 or 81?

 

'81-85 has the kind you want with separate ignitors mounted directly on the distributor.

'80 has a one-year-only bastard electronic ignition arrangement where the ignitors are not on the distributor - the pickup coils have a big looong pigtail attached to them, that plugs into the wiring harness, and the ignitors are mounted in a box hanging off of the left side strut tower. Not very fun.

Another couple things to look out for - '79-80 do not fire trailing ignition all the time - sometimes it's shut off. (No i do not know why - possibly so more unburned fuel gets into the thermal reactor to get it lit off faster?) You will be disabling that "feature". Also, because of this, the tach signal comes off of the LEADING ignition on '79-80 models. '81-85 models take the tach signal off of the TRAILING. Just another "gotcha" between SA's and FB's.

 

THANK YOU PEE JAY!!!!!!!!! I think THAT DISABLING OF THE TRAILING is what is flooding/crappyfieing my car!!!! Now haw to disable that? I have th 80 ignition and COMPLETE wiring harness in my 79. So how do I re-wire it to be on FULL time like the leading????????? THANK YOU THANK YOU PEE JAY. I HOPE THIS WORKS
*silent dance* I love this forum along with rotary's LATERZ,
Andrew
oh ya, Any wiring diagram or "home/computer made" images for the wiring is GREATLY APPREICIATED.
Wait I think I forgot something, THANK YOU
JUMP FOR JOY, JUMP FOR JOY. *little happy dance*
off to study my manual AGAIN!!!!!!!

 

It doesn't seem to make a noticeable difference.

The only time I nitced a difference was when I accidentally left the leading coil wire off, and when I started the engine up cold, if would only rev up to about 1500 or something like that and then cut out until the revs got back down again. I think it only happens when the engine is cold.

If you're having a problem that sounds like this, then your leading ignition is malfunctioning somewhere.

 

http://www.wankel.net/~krwright/cars...stributor.html

check this one out!

 

I thought if using a 81 up dizzy, this is a simple match the positive and negative to the appropriate coil?

 

Thanks!! you guys are awesome!
Jason