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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - 96 Explorer 5.0 engine- distributor installation?

I've got a 5.0 engine from a 96 Explorer which has the D.I.S system. I would like to run a traditional distributor and aftermarket ignition with this engine. The engine has a cam position sensor in the hole normally occupied by the distributor. When I removed it and compared it to an old points type distributor I have from a an early Ford small block, the shaft lengths are different. What distributor do I need for this engine? Also, I've been told that the composition of the drive gear must be compatible with the cam that's in the engine. That's great, but what does a '96 5.0 have in it for a cam? Steel gear, cast iron, or? Please help me.

Confused in Colorado
Scott Wooley

Did you mean to ask this on the UK BBS You would be better off asking the question on either

http://forum.britishv8.org/list.php?2

and or.

http://www.mgexperience.net/

Good luck.

Kevin

Kevin Jackson

How early is your old distributor? Somewhere along the way, Ford changed the configuration of their small block distributors and they are not interchangeable. Any distributor (SBF) in the 1990s (probably earlier) would fit. Needs a steel gear (not cast iron) to be compatible with the roller cam. A bronze gear will have reduced life because they are soft.

What you currently have is not only a cam position sensor; it sits on top of the oil pump drive. Any distributor you get needs to match the oil pump drive from the intake manifold down.

Wayne
Wayne Pearson

Ok, well that helps some. I would think that driving the oil pump is a pretty high priority. Wish I knew the year for the distributor length change. I guess I'm off to ebay to take my chances!

Thanks.

Scott
Scott Wooley

I can't seem to find the information that I was looking for, but apparently I was wrong about change in design. The change is actually the type (material) of gear.

So an older distributor from a small block Ford will fit, except the cast iron gear needs to be changed to a steel one.

A distributor from a 351 Windsor has a larger shaft and will not fit.

Wayne
Wayne Pearson

I did some searching on the stangnet.com boards, and did not find a definitive answer for you. Just general references that "it works" and you can just "stick in" an earlier distributor. Possibly of more help, I recall that a former contributor on this board, Larry Embrey, used an explorer motor in his 'b. It looks like he plugged in a distributor from a '95 mustang cobra. http://www.britishv8.org/MG/LarryEmbrey.htm

Ryan Reis

Scott,

Any 289/302 dizzy will fit your application.
As Wayne mentioned above, the only critical issue is the correct drive gear. i.e steel or bronze in your case with the roller cam.

Also, check your hood clearance. Some distributors cause issues on the hood crossmember.

Good luck

Pete
Pete Mantell

This thread was discussed between 21/01/2008 and 26/01/2008

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