This is in a 1974 Ford 302 engine. The distributor is an HEI with a clip-on style cap. I can find no markings, or any type of ideaing features. The magnetic pickup looks like an MSD for their Billet series but I cannot tell anything anywhere on this distributor as to what it is. The coil pin in my cap broke and I can't even find a replacement cap without knowing what the distributor is. Please help! Sent from my SM-G920V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I don't think there is one.. its all HEI. But I fully admit I'm fairly distributor ignorant... I cant find any ID marks on any of the internal components - tho I think the magnetic pickup is an MSD.
That rotor looks like cheap junk.... the centre carbon used to be attached to a spring, nearly any would interchange, but by the looks that stuff may not allow that.
Looks like typical 60s 70s ford stuff with the exception of the later tower posts. Small base ford cap and rotor , but later hei style tower posts. I'm sure a standard ford clip on cap would work but you would have to change your dist wire ends..
Now that I stare at it more, the two extra towers on the cap look like MSD-esque hold downs. Original MSD distributors had, in some cases, Duraspark triggers. You might have an early MSD unit. Still, I would see if a Druaspark one fits.
I looked at msd stuff real quick on Summit didn't see an early cap with tower posts, doesn't mean they dont make it , just didn't see it.
DING DING DING!!!!!!! We have a WINNER!!! You are correct. I just found this out this Am after contacting the guy i bought the car from. Ebay - $55.00.... i think its time to get a name brand!
Mid '70s Ford Duraspark distributor with a MSD 6A box is my go-to Ford ignition. Looks just like the early point distributors (as well it should, as the basic casting is the same), lose the big cap and run the OEM Ford '57-73 type cap and rotor and you're period-correct. You can buy these pretty much anywhere.... but have proven to be nearly bulletproof. Pretty much all the aftermarket (both name brand and no-name) distributors use 'proprietary' caps/rotors that can be difficult to find as you now know. The single exception is the 'generic HEI' distributors being sold for non-GM applications but these look butt-ugly on a Ford motor...
base looks like billet china as stated above. I had one, didnt last long but the base / housing was decent quality. I was able to put MSD parts into mine. It has stayed tight since adding the msd components to the cheap billet china crap.
I'd go OEM, with MSD, too. Even an OEM Duraspsrk box is fine. That way, field repairs are an auto parts store away.
The OEM-style Duraspark box has proven to be a reliable piece as long as you stay away from some of the cheaper aftermarket replacements or stick with OEM. But I prefer the MSD for several reasons. One, it doesn't use a plug connection like the Duraspark which can be a bit of a PITA to wire in. Two, there's more than one Duraspark box and they don't all wire the same. And three, the Duraspark does limit your coil choices to a degree as the 'wrong' coil can kill the box. From watching the HAMB now for several years, I've noticed that the majority of electronic ignition issues are with 'everything under the cap' units (or ones cobbled together with parts from these), with ignitions that use separate control boxes rarely having problems. I suppose that's because it's more difficult to fit 'everything' under the cap, with space limitations preventing using larger, more durable components.
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