PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Drexx on February 22, 2018, 07:06:42 PM

Title: Ford Pinto distributor upgrade question
Post by: Drexx on February 22, 2018, 07:06:42 PM
So here's my question (s). I have a "speedway motors" 2 wire mechanical advance distributor. Car is a 1980 Ford Pinto trunk model with 2.3L. I'm using a stock ignition box or at least that's the plan anyway. My old spark box is leaking something ot of it so I ordered another one. I see my distributor has three wires coming out of it. Black orange and purple i think it is. My questions is these:

(1.)  Can i use a "Heavy Duty" Lx203 ICM Spark box. with Orange, Green, and  Black (with green stripe) It also has a plug with Red and White as does my Pinto.

(2.) Speedway distributor has a Black wire, and a Black with a Purple stripe wire. If I can use the new spark box what wires do i connect to the distributor from the 3 wire pigtail?

(3.) If i can't use the new spark box and have to use a stock "Blue Plug" Spark box from the 80 pinto. What wire combination do i use for the New distributor?

Thanks for the help in advance.
Title: Re: Ford Pinto distributor upgrade question
Post by: dick1172762 on February 23, 2018, 12:37:35 PM
Just look on the inter-net for instruction. Most times black is ground.
Title: Re: Ford Pinto distributor upgrade question
Post by: Drexx on February 23, 2018, 12:52:40 PM
Yeah, Well that's why i'm asking here to be honest. I have yet to find a clear answer to the question of can I use the Heavy Duty ICM or not. I'm sure I could figure out the Distributor with schematics i found on the internet from the stock ICM. They indicate black is ground and that orange and purple are the field wires for the pickup on the new distrib. But the ICM i have isnt the stock one. Has the heavy duty ICM been used in a pinto with success? Can it be used or is it going to cause other issues. Like retarding the timing to much etc. If so i have not found that.

It appears the ICM i picked up is used on F250s and Rangers and Broncos but will it only work on a v6 or v8. I need somebody with intimate  knowledge of these things to assist as I cant locate any clear information on that matter.

Thanks