I was poking around my motor today, trying to decide how much needed done before summer, and I noticed two sets of wires going to the distributer. I know one set is for the internal electronics, whats the other set for. It's right up against the block, and I'm concerned about them wearing through. And I'm not referring to the plug wires.

_________________
'81 D150 2WD shortbed 4spd OD.

is this a slant? and is it in the truck thats in your sig?
im assuming its eltronic ignition? one set will be for the trigger for ther coil, the other might be for the ignition module depending where its located

Electronic ignition distributors come in two varieties as far as the wiring is concerned:

2-wire is the standard electronic distributor with a single pickup. Most of these have vacuum and mechanical advance mechanisms.

4-wire is the kind used with various Lean Burn and Electronic Spark Control systems. It contains 2 pickups (a start pickup and a run pickup) and no vacuum or mechanical advance mechanisms. These are a dead end as far as improving driveability or mileage.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

lean burn? isnt this early tbi wit no crank sensor... sry its been awhile since ive heard that term

I cannot make heads or tails of what you are trying to say or ask here. :shrug:

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Yeah it's on my '81. The lean burn must be what it is. It's two sets of two wires. So my best bet is to get a plain two wire system and eliminate the lean burn? Or can I simply discinnect the lean burn side?
Thanks guys!

_________________
'81 D150 2WD shortbed 4spd OD.

Your distributor has no mechanical advance, so if you decide to 'retrograde' from the ESC you'll need a complete upgrade kit (see e-bay)...or you can put one together yourself by getting the stuff from a junkyard (quality is iffy at best, unless you plan to clean and rebuild things), or you can get a remanf( yipes) or NOS distributor, wiring harness from Mopar Performance, and the module from Standard Motor Parts...

-D.Idiot

So I can't just get a non ESC distributer and use it?
Does the kit upgrade my current distributer?
I guess I'll need a wiring manual to see what needs bypassed.
Whats the best way to do it?
I had planned to do the GM module upgrade, and bypass the oem ignition anyway.
Just checking out my options.
Can I replace the points with my electronics in an older distributer, to gain the advance?

_________________
'81 D150 2WD shortbed 4spd OD.

Yes, correct. You'll want a conventional 2-wire electronic distributor. You'll need to use a carburetor that has a ported vacuum tap to run the vacuum advance. And you can either wire up the distributor with Mopar electronic ignition or upgrade to GM HEI.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

WHat are your plans for the truck as far as use? There are some really created things you could do here with that distributor you have.



Jess

That's what we run on our slant and are very please with how well it runs.

_________________
Linder Tech.com
Bubba's Trailer Park

No, its not TBI.

Its a fuel/spark management system in which a computer controls timing (base timing is set by the distributor's "run" pickup, and the computer then adjusts the actual point at which the coil is pulsed) and fuel mixture trim via a variable-duty-cycle solenoid in the carburetor (think of it as an enrichment valve that the computer can turn on and off many times per second to enrich the mixture a desired amount.) The name "lean burn" came from the fact that the computer always attempted as lean a mixture as possible, the idea being that it would lower HC and CO emissions and EGR would clean up the rise in NOx emissions. It actually worked OK for its time, but like all contemporary systems it was a maze of vacuum hoses and valves. Its biggest weakness was that the harsh under-hood environment is really tough on parts controlled by precision vacuum valves and bleeds and thermostatic vacuum controls. Were the same thing to have been implemented like modern fuel injection- with solenoids that are either "on" or "off," it would have been a lot more rugged.

_________________

When I converted my lean burn I ordered a elec ign conversion kit from summit for a 318.That gave me a new dist for one of my v8s and left me with,ballast.ecm,wire loom and instructions for the slant,all new and clean.Then ordered up a rebuilt dizzy for a mid 70's dart(gotta tell the parts guy something)almost made it a plug and play.Just be careful on your local laws concerning modifying pollution control stuff.Musent make the exhaust cops mad

_________________
83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

The Mopar Performance electronic conversion kits such as the one you ordered from Summit is generally not cost effective, for a few reasons:

1) The distributor comes with an advance curve very badly suited to street use. It comes with just one lightweight spring...all the mechanical advance gets dumped in all at once, which tends to create serious ping problems, forcing you to retard the base timing such that starting, idling, driveability and fuel economy all suffer.

2) The package comes with an orange-box ECU; quality and reliability of these has been inconsistent (ranging to "very poor") for the last six or seven years.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

It's going to be my street rod/good weather driver. I want it to be drivable, for going to work and on cruise nights, get decent mileage, and run pretty good. I'm going to drive it "mostly" as is this year, then the motor will come out next winter for a complete O/H with performance upgrades. While the motor is out I'll be doing the frame and suspension work, and when everything else is ready, body work and a paint job.

What creative things can I do with my dist?

I'm just doing my homework now, and figuring out what I need to get to get it where I want it to be.

I'm not overly concerned with the "exhaust cops". I plan to register it as a classic, and as long as I drive under 6000 miles a year it's exempt, and that darn speedo cable keeps coming undone :shrug:

_________________
'81 D150 2WD shortbed 4spd OD.