Distributor for 1980 351w
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Engine Repair
Forum Discription: Engine problems and solutions
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49588
Printed Date: April-25-2024 at 5:37am
Topic: Distributor for 1980 351w
Posted By: gmars70970
Subject: Distributor for 1980 351w
Date Posted: January-30-2021 at 6:01pm
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I'm needing a replacement distributor for my 1980 ski nautique with 351w fitted. Long story but the distributor was fried today, smoking and now no spark. The casing is stamped : PRESTOLITE D3JL-J2100-B 9F4 IBM 7008AS 6M MARINE SAE J1171 I'm out my depth with electrics & whats a compatible part. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks Graeme |
Replies:
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-30-2021 at 7:05pm
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Graeme, I know Ken will be along to confirm or not but I think what you need is the Pertronix 91589 to replace the Prestolite. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: January-30-2021 at 7:58pm
| Check EBay. There's been a company for the past couple years that has had NOS Prestolite distributors for sale for $69 shipped. Great item. We''ve bought a few of them. You will have to switch gears if yours is a RH. |
Posted By: Jonny Quest
Date Posted: January-30-2021 at 8:37pm
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As I'm a big fan of DUI (Davis Unified Ignition) distributors, I recommend a reverse-rotation unit for your 1980 application. Outstanding dizzy and easy to install. You won't need an external coil as the DUI has an integrated high energy coil. Don't know if Summit Racing ships to Scotland... https://www.summitracing.com/parts/dui-m35820rrbl JQ ------------- Current 2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited Previous 2001 Ski Nautique Open Bow 1994 Ski Nautique Open Bow Aqua skiing, ergo sum |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: January-31-2021 at 4:17am
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Thanks folks 👍 I'm trying to find the cheapest way to replace this part just now. The engine is in my garage & not in the boat yet so really want to get it fired up before i install it. Due to covid moneys a bit tight right now 😥 Would something like the link below be what im looking for rather than a full distributor? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electronic-Ignition-Conversion-8-Cyl-Chevrolet-Marine-w-Prestolite-Distributor-/323789839006?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292 |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-31-2021 at 6:13am
How about a good picture of what's under the distributor cap? You have a Prestolite clip down cap distributor but a picture would tell if it's got an electronic module and what kind it is, or a set of points. This picture from somewhere else probably looks a whole lot like your engine and your motorcycles too.  Then with the picture, the cheapest easiest route could be taken to at least get the engine running. The distributor is probably fine and doesn't need replacing, just whatever smoked inside of it like an electronic module or maybe a condenser if it has points.  |
gmars70970 wrote:Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-31-2021 at 6:23am
The Hot Spark setup in your link would work if you have the original points plate to mount it too. If you have any other electronic conversion other than a Hot Spark under there, the points plate gets removed (and maybe thrown away) and then replaced by a new plate with the module attached. If you have points under there you'd be all set because the Hot Spark mounts on the original plate using the points mounting post and the hole for the condenser hold down screw So..........a picture would answer lots of questions This other picture of your engine (from that same other place) shows the ballast resistor on the back with all the wires on one post bypassing the resistor meaning you should find an electronic conversion of one brand or another under the cap  |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: January-31-2021 at 7:15am
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Keno you are THE man !! There was km's of wiring not connected to anything at either end, so the previous owner has been a right butcher with the electrics.
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Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-31-2021 at 7:41am
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Well...........it looks like somebody installed a Prestolite electronic setup at some point in time. That little 8 legged reluctor wheel on the advance limiter pretty much limits you to getting either a Pertronix 1589 or 91589 module like Pete mentioned in the quote below
The 1589 is 120 ish US bucks and the 91589 is 150 ish. The extra money among other things for the 91589 gets you circuitry that won't fry the module if you accidentally leave it energized without the engine running probably making it worth the extra money. But this all leads to a situation called WWPD That means "What would Pete do" You could buy the EBAY Prestolite, and a new screwdown cap and rotor for it and swap your gear from your present distributor on to the new one for less than the price of the module http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-OEM-351-Marine-Long-LH-Rotation-Distributor-7024-Prestolite-F1JL-12100-CA/233206042871?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3De3bbdf7160f942a587a3117b561c510a%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D233206042871%26itm%3D233206042871%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DFord&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Ad06ee4cd-63de-11eb-bde0-b2b6558338a4%7Cparentrq%3A593594131770a12b7cb04683fffb52c6%7Ciid%3A1" rel="nofollow - link If the distributor is in good shape, it's easier to get the new module, but it makes me wonder WWPD. You can't use the Hot Spark unit unless you have the original advance limiter with a points cam on it instead of the reluctor wheel and you'd need an original points plate too. The 1589 and 91589 kit has a magnet ring that fits right over the 8 legged wheel so that the conversion is pretty easy, and your present cap and rotor can be used. So Pete, since I know you'll read this WWPD |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-31-2021 at 8:13am
| I'm gonna guess that since he has the same Prestolite module, when that day comes, Pete would rummage around a little bit and whip out his spare advance limiter and points plate and swap back to points and smile. |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-31-2021 at 11:17am
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Here's another idea You could buy the EBAY distributor in the link below and swap the points setup complete with the points plate and the advance limiter with the correct points cam into your present distributor and use your present cap and rotor. Cheap, takes a little work but will all swap in and work just fine The hardest part is removing and installing the little clip that holds the advance plate/points cam in place. You might add a new cuss word or 2 to your vocabulary dealing with that little clip Then after the boat is together and running, you can decide whether you want to go electronic (conversion kit or a whole distributor) or stay with the points http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-OEM-351-Marine-Long-LH-Rotation-Distributor-7024-Prestolite-F1JL-12100-CA/233206042871?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3De3bbdf7160f942a587a3117b561c510a%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D233206042871%26itm%3D233206042871%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DFord&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Ad06ee4cd-63de-11eb-bde0-b2b6558338a4%7Cparentrq%3A593594131770a12b7cb04683fffb52c6%7Ciid%3A1" rel="nofollow - link I don't have a clue what shipping to Scotland would cost.
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Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: January-31-2021 at 10:24pm
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Amazing, thanks guys. Ive e-mailed Pertronix Europe for the cost of part No 91589 Hopefully i can get it delivered this week from a uk warehouse 🤞 I'm going to slowly start to replace the wiring also, starting with the battery leads asap. Thanks again |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 11:29am
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I received this e-mail from PerTronix Europe today. Does this sound about right? works out at approx £344 ( $470) Just checked I can get it from summitracing & shipped for £135 ($186)  |
Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 12:12pm
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Graeme, These guys may have old parts laying around... I see they have mallory conversion kits I don't know if it can be made to work on your Dizzy others may know?... https://http://www.realsteel.co.uk/" rel="nofollow - https://www.realsteel.co.uk copy link can't get it to work. Off the Ford 351 page Replaces the points, converting the distributor to a maintenance free,
breakerless electronic ignition system. Better starting & performance.
BY61002M Ford single point distrib 57-74 £108.02
BY61004M For Mallory non vac, YL/HP 25 & 26 series
dual point distrib, with std, stack style cap £109.49 Good luck with it ------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 12:18pm
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Cheers for that. Bought engine parts from Real Steel previously. Problem here was I didn't have a clue what i was needing
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Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 12:29pm
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Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 12:39pm
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Graeme, give them a call... its pot luck if you get a helpful guy or I need the part number guy. ------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Posted By: ultrarunner
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 4:23pm
Just random...I think when my flying starts back up to the UK and the EU, I'll start posting for those that need parts, fill up my Pelican case, and set you fine chaps up! MS
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Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 5:04pm
You dont realise just how happy you could make so many people ! You bring them over, i'll distribute them. |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 5:08pm
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Neither of the conversions in the quote below will fit your Prestolite distributor. I think I'm speechless on that European Pertronix price unless a whole big part of it is for overnight shipping
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Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 5:39pm
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Thanks Ken looking into the Mallory kit ... Graeme look on Midlands Nautque site parts ... not sure if it will fit/work on yours Ken may know Breakerless Ignition Kit For Prestolite Distributors With Screw Down Cap (1987 On Nautiques With Distributors) £182.42 2 in stock (can be backordered) Breakerless Ignition Kit For Prestolite Distributors With Screw Down Cap (1987 On Nautiques With Distributors) quantity ADD TO BASKET SKU M-36 Categories Engine Parts, Distributor Caps & Distributors Tag breakerless-ignition-kit-for-prestolite-distributors DESCRIPTION ------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Posted By: ultrarunner
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 5:57pm
Sounds good. We primarily do London in the UK. We also have offices in Geneva. I typically would get enough heads-up on a trip to make it work in terms of sourcing the components here. We can discuss off line. Shoot me a PM with your email and we'll go from there. Thanks, Mark
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Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: February-01-2021 at 6:21pm
That won't work either That kit is for a 87 and later Prestolite with a screwdown cap and originally equipped with points, so it has a magnet ring that fits over the points cam. Here's a breakdown that should explain what fits what as far as Pertronix kits Pertronix kit numbers for Prestolite V8 marine distributors 1581 and 91581 these kits fit the clip down cap distributors used up through 1986 that have points. The magnet ring fits over the points cam 1582 and 91582 these kits fit the screw down cap distributors used from 1987 on that have points. The magnet ring fits over the points cam 1589 and 91589 these kits fit the electronic Prestolite distributor (which has a screw down cap) used from about 1993 on and also fit the clip down and screwdown cap distributors from earlier years IF they were previously converted to the Prestolite electronic kit which had the 8 legged reluctor wheel instead of a points cam. The 8 legged reluctor takes a totally different magnetic ring to fit over the 8 legged reluctor.
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Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-02-2021 at 4:52am
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[That won't work either That kit is for a 87 and later Prestolite with a screwdown cap and originally equipped with points, so it has a magnet ring that fits over the points cam. Here's a breakdown that should explain what fits what as far as Pertronix kits Pertronix kit numbers for Prestolite V8 marine distributors 1581 and 91581 these kits fit the clip down cap distributors used up through 1986 that have points. The magnet ring fits over the points cam 1582 and 91582 these kits fit the screw down cap distributors used from 1987 on that have points. The magnet ring fits over the points cam 1589 and 91589 these kits fit the electronic Prestolite distributor (which has a screw down cap) used from about 1993 on and also fit the clip down and screwdown cap distributors from earlier years IF they were previously converted to the Prestolite electronic kit which had the 8 legged reluctor wheel instead of a points cam. The 8 legged reluctor takes a totally different magnetic ring to fit over the 8 legged reluctor. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your Knowledge Ken ------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-03-2021 at 5:35pm
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Graeme ... just scanned uk ebay these popped up https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Windsor-351-Distributor/265036456500?hash=item3db5676234:g:rlIAAOSwn31e9hAz Old school points cost less to fix up Or this old one of your type taking a chance it ok ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Windsor-351-Black-distributor/265036448504?hash=item3db56742f8:g:3JQAAOSwb~Ve9g5g Both are at a midland marine look like take off's ------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-11-2021 at 3:19pm
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I would just like to say a MASSIVE public thank you to Keno !!! Ken has went above & beyond for somebody he doesn't even know by shipping the parts i was looking for all the way from the USA to Scotland ! I received the parts today and hopefully i'll get them built up this weekend. This forum continues to deliver
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Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: February-11-2021 at 6:21pm
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Aw shucks Pete sent me a message by mental telepathy (or maybe it was in a dream) suggesting that I send you the parts. I'd just call it the "Make Pete proud and convert your electronic Prestolite back to points kit" You can get it running on points and then convert to electronic with the Hot Spark kit you mentioned earlier for a lot less money if you decide to go electronic. I think the Hot Spark is pretty readily available over there. By the way, for anybody shipping a small package to the UK, the USPS was just plain awesome. They did lie about one thing though.........they told me it would take 3 weeks to a month from the East Coast sending it First Class which was the best, most reasonable price and it made it through Customs and arrived at Graeme's 9 days after I sent it. Nothing to complain about with their service on this one.
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Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-12-2021 at 5:26am
Super Cool Keno... Thanks for helping Graeme out ------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: February-12-2021 at 7:54am
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You European guys probably know about this , but I figured I'd post it just in case. Probably keeps your shipping costs down Here's the European version of Hot Spark, the 3PRE8U4 kit fits Marine Prestolites that have points in them |
Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-12-2021 at 8:34am
Thanks Keno... I have not seen this before for Prestolites I'm a little better on our quality Lucas stuff... ------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-22-2021 at 12:26pm
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Today was a good day  After getting the points sent over from Keno and fitting a new starter motor this weekend she started up  http://www.dropbox.com/s/18kz3f9mmytswgw/20210222_131248_1.mp4?dl=0" rel="nofollow - http://www.dropbox.com/s/18kz3f9mmytswgw/20210222_131248_1.mp4?dl=0 http://www.dropbox.com/s/qw57gumrdrtv2ts/20210222_131402.mp4?dl=0" rel="nofollow - http://www.dropbox.com/s/qw57gumrdrtv2ts/20210222_131402.mp4?dl=0 |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: February-22-2021 at 1:16pm
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Nothing wrong with a good old fashioned point set! Congratulations ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: Jonny Quest
Date Posted: February-22-2021 at 1:56pm
Quality Lucas stuff... I had an early 1970's Triumph Trident that had a couple electrical gremlins that I couldn't seem to exorcise. Out of frustration, I took the bike to a local British motorcycle shop and asked them to to have a go. The head mechanic looked at it and asked me: "You know why the Brits drink warm beer? That's because Lucas makes refrigerators too." Never could get that bad boy to hold a charge for longer than 24 hours. Like a bonehead, I sold that bike for $700 in 1984. I wonder what it would be worth today? JQ ------------- Current 2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited Previous 2001 Ski Nautique Open Bow 1994 Ski Nautique Open Bow Aqua skiing, ergo sum |
Posted By: ultrarunner
Date Posted: February-22-2021 at 2:07pm
Your '71 is on eBay right now Jonny for 7500 bucks! Your welcome ;-)
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Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-22-2021 at 6:54pm
100% agree, delighted to have it running. Some fine tuning required now |
Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-23-2021 at 4:44am
Good work Graeme with your intercontinental Tech Ken. ------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Posted By: uk1979
Date Posted: February-23-2021 at 5:02am
------------- Lets have a go 56 Starflite 77 SN 78 SN 80 BFN |
Jonny Quest wrote:
