75 Mark IV Ignition Upgrade to Duraspark Blue Grommet

[beaverbikes]

Hello Lincoln Forum: Been able to get my shop up to 50 degrees last couple days, sure feels good.

Freshening up my ignition was already in my plans. But now I've been under the car doing some other things and noticed something weird: The filling (potting?) in the ignition control module has melted some and I found it after noticing some drips down on the frame. I drove her in there, though.

So my question: Using, say, the Rock Auto site as a guide, can I just order a distributor and ICM for a 78 Mark IV and be okay? I have a little dist/coil wiring harness from Painless gotten off ebay a while back. If salvage yards were much of an option around here I might go look for used Ford stuff. Might I be overlooking anything? Any advice is appreciated!!

[beaverbikes]

I should have mentioned that this 75 is not the blue grommet setup, it is the first type called something else.

[beaverbikes]

I don't see an edit button, I meant that I'm looking at parts for a 78 Mark V.

[Dan Szwarc]

The first icon on the left that looks like a pencil is the edit button.

And if you hover over it, it says Edit post.

[beaverbikes]

Well, nobody had an opinion but I got a bunch of work almost done. New Edelbrock 600cfm carburetor, Edelbrock manifold. Bought and installed new ignition, ordered parts for a 78 Mark IV, new distributor and Duraspark box. Duraspark harness from Painless Wiring Co. She is like a whole different car, never run better in the 30 years I've had her.

[Dan Szwarc]

Good work. Sorry no one helped you.

[beaverbikes]

Thanks, Dan. I'm starting to think about a spring road trip now.

[TonyC]

Very nice that you fixed your problem on your own. I too am sorry for not offering input, but I didn't have any to offer. Aside from point ignitions, my only full experience has been with Hall-Effect ignitions, which usually involves replacing the whole distributor.

---Tony

[beaverbikes]

I'm a points guy, too. Here's the biggest challenge I had with this ignition project: nobody told me 70s Fords the distributor rotor turns COUNTER Clockwise. Figured it out late that night after I went home.

[Dan Szwarc]

That's something you could have easily verified, but now you know.
I can't even remember.

[beaverbikes]

I was trying for a little levity, seems like every car distributor I ever worked on, including my Ford flatheads, the rotor goes clockwise. Anyway, the car runs great, it was worth the time and expense.