Couple of Q's re my 72 351C

[roger1197]

Would appreciate any help on a couple of questions....

My charging system is in need of replacement, the charge voltage is at 18+ volts & the regulator does not adjust so I've pulled the charge lead to avoid any damage.

I want to replace the alternator with the integral regulator type and delete the external regulator box, as I'm in the UK & will have to order from the US I obviously need to get the order correct to avoid returns etc, Summit have a vast choice with quite a few stated as suitable for the 351C, any suggestions on which alternator is a direct swap physically would be welcome, (I'm ok with the electrical mod).

Secondly, my ignition system is showing its age so decided to replace with MSD, the replacement billet distributor has the advance/retard vacuum cannister, the following photograph is a shot of my existing original showing a rear vacuum pipe from the cannister to a tee fitting (arrowed) which returns to the manifold, the new MSD dist. does not appear to have this rear of cannister vac. pipe, I dont have the MSD kit here yet, (still in transit with UPS), so unable to physically check if that vac. connection is on the replacement & no info on the MSD website. My question here is if it doesnt exist on the replacement dist. should I just blank this off or is there something else I need to do to compensate.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[Don65Stang]

Roger, did the new distributor arrive? How did it turn out?

 

[roger1197]

Roger, did the new distributor arrive? How did it turn out?

Don, sorry, just noticed your question..............been a little busy

Dist. was good except for stock ram air cleaner clearance, MSD was @ least 60mm taller than original so modified the existing recess in the cleaner can, when fitted now clears the dist. cap/leads by about 3mm

Just need to pull back off & clean off the weld seams & repaint.

The vac mod was easy, just bypassed the therm/vac switch & used ported vac from carb

Lost my tacho but tach adaptor arrived now & will fit up the weekend, looks a straight job, MSD woke the car up nicely, well worth the $.

Thanks to all here who helped with advice, appreciated

 

[vamach1]

Roger, did the new distributor arrive? How did it turn out?

Don, sorry, just noticed your question..............been a little busy

Dist. was good except for stock ram air cleaner clearance, MSD was @ least 60mm taller than original so modified the existing recess in the cleaner can, when fitted now clears the dist. cap/leads by about 3mm

Just need to pull back off & clean off the weld seams & repaint.

Reply: Crikey - don't let the concours crowd know you cut up an original ramair air cleaner. I did not go to a taller electronic for that very reason - it was too tall and I could not bring myself to modify or remove the air cleaner.

 

[roger1197]

Roger, did the new distributor arrive? How did it turn out?

Don, sorry, just noticed your question..............been a little busy

Dist. was good except for stock ram air cleaner clearance, MSD was @ least 60mm taller than original so modified the existing recess in the cleaner can, when fitted now clears the dist. cap/leads by about 3mm

Just need to pull back off & clean off the weld seams & repaint.

Reply: Crikey - don't let the concours crowd know you cut up an original ramair air cleaner. I did not go to a taller electronic for that very reason - it was too tall and I could not bring myself to modify or remove the air cleaner.

lol ..... wait till I get the rest done ...........................

TBH it was a cock up from MSD, I took the trouble to verify with MSD tech. I was ordering the correct dist. as their website pulls up a Windsor compatible dist. & not Cleveland which I queried, the tech guy gave me an alternative which matched the Cleveland (cam & dist gear material match) which I ordered.

The "Cleveland" dist, was too tall as said &

Roger, did the new distributor arrive? How did it turn out?

Don, sorry, just noticed your question..............been a little busy

Dist. was good except for stock ram air cleaner clearance, MSD was @ least 60mm taller than original so modified the existing recess in the cleaner can, when fitted now clears the dist. cap/leads by about 3mm

Just need to pull back off & clean off the weld seams & repaint.

Reply: Crikey - don't let the concours crowd know you cut up an original ramair air cleaner. I did not go to a taller electronic for that very reason - it was too tall and I could not bring myself to modify or remove the air cleaner.

lol ..... wait till I get the rest done ...........................

TBH it was a cock up from MSD, I took the trouble to verify with MSD tech. I was ordering the correct dist. as their website pulls up a Windsor compatible dist. & not Cleveland which I queried, the tech guy gave me an alternative dist. part no, which matched the Cleveland (cam & dist gear material match) which I ordered.

The "Cleveland" dist, was too tall as said & MSD basically walked away from the foul up saying it was compatible but not with stock air cleaner ...... wtf ............. my best option was the air cleaner mod.

 

[rvrtrash]

I'm not a "concours guy" but that's painful to see.

Steve

 

[Tnfastbk]

Not a thing wrong with that::goodjob::

 

[NoLimitssjca]

I've got nothing but a pile of metal on the floor. It looks pretty good from here! LOL

 

[Totalled]

Would appreciate any help on a couple of questions....

My charging system is in need of replacement, the charge voltage is at 18+ volts & the regulator does not adjust so I've pulled the charge lead to avoid any damage.

I want to replace the alternator with the integral regulator type and delete the external regulator box, as I'm in the UK & will have to order from the US I obviously need to get the order correct to avoid returns etc, Summit have a vast choice with quite a few stated as suitable for the 351C, any suggestions on which alternator is a direct swap physically would be welcome, (I'm ok with the electrical mod).

You want what is known as the Ford 3G alternator. They were used on many 90's and earlly 00's ford products. If you ordered an alternator for a 1997 ford taurus with a 3.0L, it would have the correct spacing, and is 130 amps. You can find 3G swap info all over the net.

 

[Mister 4x4]

I've got nothing but a pile of metal on the floor. It looks pretty good from here! LOL

W3rd!

 

[roger1197]

Would appreciate any help on a couple of questions....

My charging system is in need of replacement, the charge voltage is at 18+ volts & the regulator does not adjust so I've pulled the charge lead to avoid any damage.

I want to replace the alternator with the integral regulator type and delete the external regulator box, as I'm in the UK & will have to order from the US I obviously need to get the order correct to avoid returns etc, Summit have a vast choice with quite a few stated as suitable for the 351C, any suggestions on which alternator is a direct swap physically would be welcome, (I'm ok with the electrical mod).

You want what is known as the Ford 3G alternator. They were used on many 90's and earlly 00's ford products. If you ordered an alternator for a 1997 ford taurus with a 3.0L, it would have the correct spacing, and is 130 amps. You can find 3G swap info all over the net.

Thanks for the help on that, I already got & fitted a TuffStuff single wire 3G @ 130A from Summit & trashed the voltage regulator, I feel the purists in a hanging mood breathin down my neck sometime soon!!!!!

I'm not a "concours guy" but that's painful to see.

Steve

Cant see a damn thing, especially with the hood shut!!



I got other Fords that get the purist treatment, I dont intend to spoil or abuse the Mach 1 but I do need it reliable hence the ignition upgrade in addition to the updated charging system and suspension upgrades.

MSD fouled up here as I said, being in the UK & purchasing from the US is PIA with shipping charges, 10% import duty + 20% purchase tax, the air cleaner can mod was the lesser of two evils, the other would have been to trash it & fit an open type, at least this way I attempted to maintain some form of stock appearance & keep the Ram Air functional, I would of course have preferred a dist. that fitted as stock but hey thats life & MSD!!