[79FordBlake]

How do you go about removing and installing a new distributer pickup in a 79 Bronco. I think I have finally traced down why my 400 runs good sometimes and others it does not. Yesterday I drove it around and it started missing again, it missed all the way home for about 7miles. Cranked it up this morning after putting on new Accel plug wires still missed. I took the cap off and jiggled the pickup around put the cap back on cranked it up and it ran fine. I haven an extra one on a 460 motor I got laying around will it fit? Or should I just buy a new one?

 

[CrazyBRONCOguy]

It will fit, you actually can change it without taking the dist. off too, we did the exact same thing on mine, and the spare was even off of a 460.
I forget exactlly how it came off though,

 

[highhorse78]

Yeah same dizzy for the 460. Try it out.

 

[79FordBlake]

Earlier when I was messing with it I did really look to see how it is mounted in there. How do I go about getting it out? This way before I start to take it out I will already have a heads up on how it comes out.

 

[highhorse78]

Are you just talkin the pickup or the whole dizzy?

 

[79FordBlake]

Are you just talkin the pickup or the whole dizzy?

Just the pickup.

 

[highhorse78]

Two studs and two wires and its out.

 

[79FordBlake]

Two bolts and two wires and its out.

Well, that is easy then, lol. Thanks for the info HighHorse.

 

[highhorse78]

Well, that is easy then, lol. Thanks for the info HighHorse.

No problem. You might also want to pull you're dizzy and inspect the gear. A worn or chiped tooth can also throw off your timing.

 

[79FordBlake]

I went ahead and bought a new pickup at Advance 20 bucks. Ok I think one bolt is in the top of the shaft of the distributer to hold the gear on correct? Is there a key or anything to keep the gear lined up or do I need to mark where it is at before I pull it off? The where is the other bolt at? Sorry for the questions, if I had off took the time to look at it more closley I probably would have seen it.

 

[highhorse78]

I'm a little confused. By gear do you mean the trigger wheel? Or do you actually mean the gear on the bottom of the dizzy?

 

[79FordBlake]

The trigger wheel. I aint seeing how the pickup is supposed to come out, never had to replace one before.

 

[79BlueMule]

i think it will come by that gear...hold on and ill go look. i put a new one in on my ride when i put the new intake on cause the old one's wires were bare. the insulation had cracked off. anyways.. brb

 

[79BlueMule]

ok there a two wires goin in the dizzy. they have an braket up against the inside of the dizzy wall that has a screw holding it down...remove this screw. then pull or carefully pry up the trigger wheel. it is keyd in place. then remove the very small e-clip holding the vacumn advance rod to the pick up. BE VERY CAREFUL not to lose this clip. when i did mine i came very close to losing it. then the pickup should just lift off the shaft. reverse intructions to reinstall.

 

[79FordBlake]

i think it will come by that gear...hold on and ill go look. i put a new one in on my ride when i put the new intake on cause the old one's wires were bare. the insulation had cracked off. anyways.. brb

Ok, thanks, ill be waitin lol, because I don't have a clue. I went out there and starred at mine and came up with the conclusion, I need help, lol.

 

[79FordBlake]

ok there a two wires goin in the dizzy. they have an braket up against the inside of the dizzy wall that has a screw holding it down...remove this screw. then pull or carefully pry up the trigger wheel. it is keyd in place. then remove the very small e-clip holding the vacumn advance rod to the pick up. BE VERY CAREFUL not to lose this clip. when i did mine i came very close to losing it. then the pickup should just lift off the shaft. reverse intructions to reinstall.

So the trigger wheel comes completely off, then only one screw holds the pickup?

 

[79BlueMule]

the trigger wheel comes completely off the shaft. it may take some gentle encoragement with a flat blade, but be gentle. the pickup rotates around the shaft and only the e-clip holds it on. the screw just holds the wires down

 

[79FordBlake]

OK I think I got-er all figured out now. The whole in the center of the new pickup seems to have some sort of grove, I guess this is to seat it on the shaft or bottom of distributer? Hopefully I can get the trigger off without damage, if not I have an extra one, but it is on an engine, may mess it up trying to get it off to. I also have an extra e-clip. I guess it would be best to remove the lower plastic on the distributer as well so it will be easier to pry on the trigger without messing something up.

 

[79BlueMule]

yeah i think i pulled the lower plastic off too to be able to pry easier

 

[BRONKSTER]

Or, you can buy a rebuilt distributor for about $40 at most parts stores.