Distributor: Need suggestions for stock-look

[aj]

Anyone have experience with Petronix line of stock-look:

https://www.summitracing.com/tx/parts/pnx-d7134630/overview/make/ford

I have what I thought was date correct unit built by Tim Oconner.  But turns out I didn't do my homework...70 Shelby GT500's had the distributor swapped to a late '69 date code.  So I'm stuck with a really nice incorrect distributor that I'd rather not stick in the hole.

I'm needing stock-look temporary place holder while I dyno the motor and search for correct date code.  I believe there are dizzy-savy folks around here somewhere.  Thanks

[gdaddy01]

I thought the 70 Shelbys where left over 69s

[Drew Pojedinec]

Duraspark with a small cap is hard to beat. Just hide the plug.

[aj]

Thanks Drew.   Does the Duraspark require an external module of some sort ?  Sorry for the 3rd grade question but I've only messed with points or MSD...but have heard good things about Duraspark.

Just want something that will perform reasonably well while looking relatively stock. 

Gdaddy:  70's are indeed left over 69's.  But when they received new VIN codes and became 70 models (the transformation occurred late 1969)  they received a different distributor (dated late '69) and the carbs were modified from electric choke to manual choke.  I believe the distributor swap was required to meet new emission standards for year model 70 cars.   Thanks to this forum and the shelby forum, I've learned tons of new stuff about this car...even though I've owned it for 39 years.   
 

[aj]

NM. I see how the Duraspark conversion works.

[Drew Pojedinec]

You can use a duraspark box or an msd box. For stock look the box can be hidden.
My daily driver run duraspark box and my galaxie runs the msd.
I haven’t had any major issues and a spare distributor is $45 brand new.

[Heo]

I run a duraspark and trigger a MSD box that i hided behind the speaker
grill in the dash

[Rory428]

Another vote for the Ford Duraspark distributor. In the early 90s, I replaced my Fairmonts 428s old Accel dual point distributor with a recurved junkyard Duraspark distributor from a 75-76 F250 390. I used it in conjuntion with a MSD 6T box, mounted under the dashboard. That same MSD box is still there today. About 20 years ago, I converted my 74 F350s 390 from a point ignition, to a junkyard Duraspark distributor and "blue" ignition module, again from a 75-76 Ford pickup. Its still working fine. I am also installing another used Duraspark distributor & blue module in my 428 powered 59 2 door sedan. I have found the Duraspark setup to be totally reliable, and looks factory, because it was factory Ford. An earlier vacuum advance unit could be swapped if desired, and the large plastic connector can always be replaced with smaller individual connectors, further along the harness , out of sight.

[Heo]

When i scrap a car i usualy save the wireharness as a sourse for conectors
Here i used a two wire conector out of a Volvo 240, from the duraspark
I had a LTD Harness i wanted to use to get Ford Conectors but could not
find it then, Found it today when i was looking for a distributor cap

and a six wire conector also Volvo 240 to the MSD

[427Fastback]

First off...there were no Shelby's built in 1970...The only thing that was swapped on your car was the serial numbers and it was done by Ford..They are all left over 1969's...

And I too vote for Ford Dura spark.Used it on everything since the early 80's...I have zero luck with pertronix.

[aj]

During the serial number swap , they also swapped distributors and converted electric choke on carb to 70-style manual cable.  I'm not sure about the gt350 but gt500 with auto trans got these under hood mods during the 69-to-70 conversion.

I'll likely to with a disguised Duraspark config of some sort.  Thanks all.

[TomP]

If correct numbers are important the Duraspark innards from any 302 or 351M (and any V8 one) fit in the FE point distributor, only the hole for the wires differs and that can be disguised by using two thin wires with a piece of black shrink tube over them to look like a single wire.

[JamesonRacing]

I use Duraspark dizzy's on my FEs with EFI, just lock out the advance.  MSD makes an adapter harness that plugs into the Duraspark connector at one end and the MSD green/violet Mag +/- connector on the other end.

[FrozenMerc]

I am running the Pertronix on the 352 in my '62 Merc Wagon.  Obviously not a race motor, but it works good and I have 0 complaints.  For everything else, I run a Duraspark.  Hard to beat it on the highway.  The only weakpoint of the Durspark is replacement (Standard or similar brands) control modules are very sensitive to electric flux.  Be very careful when jumping the car, charging the battery, or welding on the chassis.  I have found many ways to let the magic smoke out of the darn things.  Good thing they are cheap.

[Joe-JDC]

As the owner of an original '70 GT-500, there was no swapping around of parts from the engine between '69 and '70.  The only change for the '70s was the vin, chin spoiler, and black stripes on hood.  Everything else is exactly the same.  There was a recall on wheels to replace them with wheels that had rivets installed to keep the wheel centers from rolling off the rims.  Joe-JDC