I have a kit car running a 2.0L pinto motor that I'm replacing the wiring and sprucing up a bit. It currently has the ford breakerless electronic ignition on it, but I am trying to simplify the engine compartment and I want to get rid of the amplifier box. I have no idea what years the motor or distributor are, and it's entirely possible that they are from different years (considering some other surprises I've found going through the car).
The question I need answered is can you use the pertronix setup on the '75-up 2.0L or should I just go to the junkyard and get a distributor from a '74 with points. OR Is there a different company with a similar swap.
The 2.0's used in pintos were only offered up to 74, all 4 cyl after 74 were 2.3's. So to answer your question, no. But in case your engine is a 2.3 then you would need a 74 points dizzy. There is another member currently installing a pertronix on a 2.3 and will be documenting everything for us, so if you're not in a big hurry, just keep an eye out for other pertronix posts.
Thanks for the quick reply dirt track demon.
I'm pretty sure its a 2.0L. Let me start by saying I didn't build the car so most of what I know about it is throught the tune up book and research. You're right, I looked in my chilton's and 74 was the last 2000cc. But the distributor definately has the motorcraft box on the firewall and all the connectors that go with it. The valve cover says its a 2000cc motor. The way I see it there are a few possibilites.
1. The motor is a '75-up 2.3 with a 2.0 valve cover and stock distributor. From what I can tell in the Chilton's manual the 2.0 and 2.3 are basically the same except for cylinder and oil pump size and other minor diffs.
2. The motor is a 2.0 with a '75-up distibutor from a donor car. Which I'm more inclined to believe since it is a kit car.
Do you know if the distributors for the 2 motors are interchangible? Obviously they are if it's case #2. If so, Auto zone lists the 74 2.0 distributor for $58.
No I dont know. Ive never messed with the 2.0's, the only thing I truly know about the 2.0 is it was 74 and earlier ;). Anybody else?
The oil filter on the front of the 2.0 is towards the front of the motor. A 2.3 is towards the rear of the motor on the drivers side. Hope this helps with identification. I have no idea about the distributers. Ive not worked on a 2.0 but they supposedly only have 3 towers for the cam under the valve cover as opposed to the 2.3's 4 towers.
Ok, I'm a moron. Thanks for the help so far guys.
I looked at the emissions sticker again, and rubbed some dirt off, and it says the motor is in the 2.3 family with a 140 cubic inch displacement and breakerless ignition system. I don't know were I came up with the 2.0 figure, I must have been smoking crack to have missed it.
The breakerless and points distibutors for the 2.3 should be interchangeable though, right? I should be able to get a distributor for a `74 2.3l and use the pertronix system. If that sounds wrong please let me know.
Yup. racer walsh also has a mallory unilite conversion kit, that replaces the points with a photo optic eye. it was Around 120 bucks.
heres a site them may or ma ynot help....has diagrams for stock duraspark2, duraspark with msd box,and duraspark dist triggered by gm factory ignition module. pretty cool site. http://home.cfl.rr.com/mustangsix/Engine/duraspark.htm