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Topic: The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy (Read 2291 times) previous topic - next topic

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

I had to change the TFI module awhile back, and managed to break one of the mounting bolts. I patched it up with some wire... it did a great job. Until recently, I've been having a few (seemingly, unrelated and all extremley intermittent) issues, from fast idling, overheating, rough idle and what feels like a misfire/hesitation when accelerating under load especially when the engine is cold.
 
So, I realize that before I can begin a proper diagnostic, I need to fix my TFI mounting problem properly. So, I began work today, only to find that I didn't just break one mounting bolt, I broke them both :punchballs: (whether or not I did it on installation the first time, or removal today, I don't know. It came off, broken, so easily as if it was always broken).
 
I figure I can rebore the holes, but that would require a purchase of some tools (it will happen eventually, as this type of problem as plauged me more than once).
 
But , it just so happens, that I have a spare distributer assembly.
 
Here's where my headache begins:
The Part Numbers
 
The first number, is off the assembly from Cougar X:
E7SE-12A332-CA W/MOD
8 A 20 FAN
E6SE-12127-EA
 
I have since concluded that the top part number indicates an 87 Thunderbird, Engine Component, with I assume the TFI module
The second row tells me that it was manufactured Jan 20, 1988 (but I don't know what FAN is).
Then there is the second part number, which indicates an 86 Thunderbird engine component.
 
Here is the second number, off the assembly from a lone TBird in a boneyard:
E6SE-12A332-FA W/MOD
6 J 18 FAN2
E6SE-12127-EA
This one, built on Sept. 18, 1986 (probably for the 87 model year, which is what the loner bird appeared to be).
 
As you can see, the bottom two part numbers are the same.
The top two are so close.... it's just the CA / FA that I can't seem to figure out what they mean.  What do they mean?
 
And what's this about FAN vs FAN2?
 
Bottom line question (and I am leaning towards, yes) is, are these two parts directly interchangeable??
 
But all in all, those three questions might aswell be making me dizzy.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Operation: X Marks the Spot
5.0L SEFI, AOD, 8.8" 3.02 TracLok - All Stock

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #1 –
you broke both mounting bolt heads off?

i tood a 7/32 socket and ran it against the grinder to make it a thin wall socket.  works great. 

if your bolt heads are broken off, you gotta yank it out and swap it.

i would guess your other dizzy will be fine.

do both dizzys have 8 fins passing through the stator assembly inside the dizzy?

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #2 –
If it came out of a '87 5.0, don't worry about the numbers, Ford changes them every few months just to screw us up... As long as the TFI has six pins in the front connector(some trucks have three) it's basically the same whether it's from a 2.3 or 5.0HO...

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #3 –
Quote from: jcassity;232463
you broke both mounting bolt heads off?
Yep.
Quote from: jcassity;232463
i tood a 7/32 socket and ran it against the grinder to make it a thin wall socket. works great.
That's a great idea... wish I had thought of it before hand, but will remember that trick for future jobs... thanks!! :)
Quote from: jcassity;232463
if your bolt heads are broken off, you gotta yank it out and swap it.
It is as I feared, but I could still rebore the holes? No? I Dunno, as I mentioned, I don't have that particular gadget with the right size pieces (heck, I am still vauge on the terminology). But since, I do have another dizzy, my first attempt will be to swap it.
Quote from: jcassity;232463
i would guess your other dizzy will be fine. do both dizzys have 8 fins passing through the stator assembly inside the dizzy?
Both do, but I made a startling discovery whilst out counting the fins... about the second (my spare dizzy).... see below...
 
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;232478
If it came out of a '87 5.0, don't worry about the numbers, Ford changes them every few months just to screw us up... As long as the TFI has six pins in the front connector(some trucks have three) it's basically the same whether it's from a 2.3 or 5.0HO...
'Tis what I figured... I just wish I understood the difference between CA vs FA or FAN vs FAN2. I've decided to install the spare dizzy...
The TFI gadget is identical:


'cept for a difference in brandname :hick:
 
Here is two pictures of the distributors side by side:

The spare is on the left, and Cougar X's on the right (for the first picture).

Cougar X is on the left, and the spare is on the right.
 
 
So, as you can see, they are so close it's not even funny.
But here is where I run into another dilemma:
Whilst cleaning the spare, I noticed the shaft running from the rotor all the way down to the gear... there was far more play in the spare, than on X's.
Observe - The dizzy on the left is CX's, the one on the right, the spare.  Look at the seperation noted with the red ovals.  This was acheived by pressing down on that spot of metal that the plastic rotor sits upon.

 
I can appreciate that I am working on a 20yr old engine, although running strong, still old none-the-less... I do not want to place any unneccesary strain upon the block (or heck, even the timing chain itself).... So I confess, I really don't know what to do.  Unless I am worrying about nothing, and you members may say something like, oh, it's fine, it's within specification... I dunno, I have to ask.
 
Between CA's and FA's, FAN upon FAN2, play in the shaft of the spare, reboring holes..... what do you all think?  :bowdown:
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Operation: X Marks the Spot
5.0L SEFI, AOD, 8.8" 3.02 TracLok - All Stock

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #4 –
You better look for another one,Thats a bit more play than I would want.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #5 –
I went through some stuff I have, I got a dizzy with no tfi and no gear oh yeh no play! It's yours for the shipping.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #6 –
hog wash,, thats not too much play.

stuff it in, you wont notice a thing and neither will your cam drive gear.

lay feeler guages in the gap from your original and compare that to the slack in the spare.

If you have no side to side play, roll with it.

Have fun aligning the hex oil drive shaft up into the base of that dizzy.  Hope you kept track of where the rotor was pointing and the angle at which the dizzy was sittting.  it makes for an easier swap.

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #7 –
also,
inspect the magnet down on the stator.  if there are little fuzzy thngs poking out from it, get a stronger magnet to lure them off and onto your stronger magnet.

you have to remove the metal thing with fins though to get at it.

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #8 –
Great idea Scott!  But you guys do know there is a 'tfi tool' you can get from autozoo, right?  just checking!
1988 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
'89 5.0 w/ ported intakes, Mallory Adjustable FPR, BBK shorties and H with 2.5" Flows, 130 amp 3G, 89 Mustang comp/wiring, Aluminum radiator w/ elec fan, T5 trans, King Cobra clutch, 3.55 gears, 13" Cobra brakes (front), Wilwood prop valve, Mustang A-arms, Front Coil-overs, MM CC plates, Silver 17x9 R's, 03 Cobra IRS, Aluminum DS, 2002 Mustang dash/console etc..., custom leather seats

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #9 –
Quote from: booksix;232638
Great idea Scott!  But you guys do know there is a 'tfi tool' you can get from autozoo, right?  just checking!

that takes all the fun out of it.

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #10 –
Side play is what I mean, in the pic the shaft lookes crooked.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #11 –
holly ,, i didnt notice that.
ITs gotta be a camera thing or something about how it was resized to post here......I hope

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #12 –
I will make sure that its not a camera issue.... I didn't notice that.
I had almost decided to rik it today, but after checking this thread... I'll double check the 'bend'
 
oh and kitzdnm, I'll let you know.  Thanks.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Operation: X Marks the Spot
5.0L SEFI, AOD, 8.8" 3.02 TracLok - All Stock

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #13 –
Side to side is bad, A little up amd down is ok.
I'm talkin about the dizzy to.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

The Distributor is Making Me Dizzy

Reply #14 –
Wow, it's been awhile... life can get busy!
Where were we?
 
Quote from: jcassity;232802
holly ,, i didnt notice that.
ITs gotta be a camera thing or something about how it was resized to post here......I hope
I didn't notice the side to side play, there is at least a 1-2 degree movement in side to side and a good couple of milimeters up and down. It's not a trick of the camera or the light.
I am glad you guys noticed it, I almost didn't.
 
Needless to say, I did not put it in.
 
Quote from: kitzdnm
I went through some stuff I have, I got a dizzy with no tfi and no gear oh yeh no play! It's yours for the shipping.
I may just take you up on that. Pics? Price? Thanks.
 
I'll be looking around the boneyard in the meantime. Thanks all!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Operation: X Marks the Spot
5.0L SEFI, AOD, 8.8" 3.02 TracLok - All Stock