Fingers 463 Posted October 11, 2018 Gday The 250 in my 89 XF ute is dying (low compression on #2 and heaps of blowby) I have a super fuel XF Fairmont parts car that I am going to swap the engine out of as a stopgap until I get around to building a better engine (compression, cam, 4 barrel, etc.) Am I better off sticking with the EST set up as original in the ute, or change to the electronic distributor with it's built in advance mechanism? All points of view appreciated 1 CHESTNUTXE reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,287 Posted October 11, 2018 if the EST works fine, keep it. because it works fine. the leaded dissy also works fine, if you want to use it just join the 2 wires to the coil as it is now. the engines aren't very different, other than rear main seal, maybe flywheel bolt size and various vacuum hose layout.. 3 Fingers, CHESTNUTXE and matt_lamb_160 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ando76 4,354 Posted October 11, 2018 If the est is working then leave it. If it's not then you could use the xe magnetic dizzy. Just make sure it's in good condition and keep the revs sensible. Dont throw the est dizzy away - you will need it when you do the built motor. 2 CHESTNUTXE and Fingers reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fingers 463 Posted October 11, 2018 Ok, I haven't checked the operation of the EST. 14 hours ago, ando76 said: If the est is working then leave it. If it's not then you could use the xe magnetic dizzy. Just make sure it's in good condition and keep the revs sensible. Dont throw the est dizzy away - you will need it when you do the built motor. The revs will be kept sensible 16 hours ago, deankdx said: if the EST works fine, keep it. because it works fine. the leaded dissy also works fine, if you want to use it just join the 2 wires to the coil as it is now. the engines aren't very different, other than rear main seal, maybe flywheel bolt size and various vacuum hose layout.. However, that is the info I am after if the EST isn't well. That way it will be easy to change back once I get the built engine in. BTW Ando, I never throw anything away Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fingers 463 Posted October 11, 2018 So, further on that. With a 10.0 to 1 comp engine, 230 deg at .050 '530 lift cam, 650 cfm 4 barrel style engine that will probably only be revved to 6000 rpm, would a standard 4.1 manual EST put out a reasonable curve? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matt_lamb_160 252 Posted October 11, 2018 No. Hook it up to a programmable MSD 6AL2 and then you can have any curve you like and to suit any cam. 3 ando76, CHESTNUTXE and Fingers reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fingers 463 Posted October 11, 2018 So that is something to add to the budget for the engine build 1 ando76 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ando76 4,354 Posted October 11, 2018 12 hours ago, matt_lamb_160 said: No. Hook it up to a programmable MSD 6AL2 and then you can have any curve you like and to suit any cam. Smart man speaking here^^^^. Listen. 3 CHESTNUTXE, Fingers and matt_lamb_160 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHESTNUTXE 7,310 Posted October 12, 2018 yeah the digital msd is awsome,there is soooo much you can do with it,im still learning about mine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPArKy_Dave 8,870 Posted October 12, 2018 Somewhere on here, there are some graphs, with the advance/retard curves, of the standard EST ignition modules. 1 CHESTNUTXE reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregHamilton 3 Posted January 25, 2020 if the EST works fine, keep it. because it works fine. the leaded dissy also works fine, if you want to use it just join the 2 wires to the coil as it is now. the engines aren't very different, other than rear main seal, maybe flywheel bolt size and various vacuum hose layout.. What's this do? I removed it along with the pollution gear and the Weber and installed a holley. The car seems to run fine without it. I can't even remember how it was connected. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted January 25, 2020 What's this do? I removed it along with the pollution gear and the Weber and installed a holley. The car seems to run fine without it. I can't even remember how it was connected. Sent from my SM-G930F using TapatalkThat's an ignition module for a Bosch reluctor type distributor. The module is basically a transistor that takes a small, pulsed voltage signal from the reluctor (the pointy wheel inside the dizzy) and turns it into a strong on/off 12v signal to the coil primary to create your sparks. The fact that you removed it says that it wasn't hooked up to start with.Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregHamilton 3 Posted January 25, 2020 That's an ignition module for a Bosch reluctor type distributor. The module is basically a transistor that takes a small, pulsed voltage signal from the reluctor (the pointy wheel inside the dizzy) and turns it into a strong on/off 12v signal to the coil primary to create your sparks. The fact that you removed it says that it wasn't hooked up to start with.Sent from my CPH1903 using TapatalkCheers for info. I thought it may have been running but need that make it better.Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregHamilton 3 Posted January 25, 2020 That's an ignition module for a Bosch reluctor type distributor. The module is basically a transistor that takes a small, pulsed voltage signal from the reluctor (the pointy wheel inside the dizzy) and turns it into a strong on/off 12v signal to the coil primary to create your sparks. The fact that you removed it says that it wasn't hooked up to start with.Sent from my CPH1903 using TapatalkMy est dizzy doesn't have the pointy wheel inside. Does that mean I only need to worry about the est plug?Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk 1 gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,287 Posted January 25, 2020 56 minutes ago, GregHamilton said: My est dizzy doesn't have the pointy wheel inside. Does that mean I only need to worry about the est plug? Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk are you sure you removed THAT part, i'm guessing you may have removed the map sensor? from the firewall? the EST dizzy doesn't have the ign module on the side of it to remove it.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregHamilton 3 Posted January 25, 2020 are you sure you removed THAT part, i'm guessing you may have removed the map sensor? from the firewall? the EST dizzy doesn't have the ign module on the side of it to remove it.. Yeah it could have been that. What does that do? It was on the firewall on the passenger side. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,287 Posted January 25, 2020 3 minutes ago, GregHamilton said: Yeah it could have been that. What does that do? It was on the firewall on the passenger side. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk yeah it's the Map sensor then. i don't know what it does on a carby XF, but it's only on the models with the EST dissy. (not the older ones) i'd assume it has something to do with the ignition timing, as i don't expect it could control anything on a carby otherwise. @gerg might know. i never removed anything if it worked..ford spent millions or more inventing this crap Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregHamilton 3 Posted January 25, 2020 yeah it's the Map sensor then. i don't know what it does on a carby XF, but it's only on the models with the EST dissy. (not the older ones) i'd assume it has something to do with the ignition timing, as i don't expect it could control anything on a carby otherwise.@gerg might know. i never removed anything if it worked..ford spent millions or more inventing this crap I'll go to the wreckers tomorrow and get one and see if I can find where it plugs in to. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,287 Posted January 25, 2020 2 minutes ago, GregHamilton said: I'll go to the wreckers tomorrow and get one and see if I can find where it plugs in to. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk it just has a vacuum hose and a plug.. but no idea where the plug goes into.. assuming it's part of the EST wiring Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregHamilton 3 Posted January 25, 2020 it just has a vacuum hose and a plug.. but no idea where the plug goes into.. assuming it's part of the EST wiringI know where I put it, tucked it away under thereSent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deankxf 20,287 Posted January 25, 2020 1 hour ago, GregHamilton said: I know where I put it, tucked it away under >>>>>there the old .. hidden wiring hunt.. @BGDAV drove me nuts because he hid the wires for the speedo sender lol.. makes it hard to tap into when the plug and the loom are completely GONE from the engine bay lol. 1 BGDAV reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gerg 10,871 Posted January 25, 2020 yeah it's the Map sensor then. i don't know what it does on a carby XF, but it's only on the models with the EST dissy. (not the older ones) i'd assume it has something to do with the ignition timing, as i don't expect it could control anything on a carby otherwise.@gerg might know. i never removed anything if it worked..ford spent millions or more inventing this crap I believe EST on XFs was only on carby models. EFI got a different motorcraft system that ties into the EECIV computer.The XE EFI version had a Jetronic analog computer that may have had EST separately. If so, the Jetronic would be fuel only.@SPArKy_Dave may have the correct answer to thisSent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk 2 SPArKy_Dave and deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPArKy_Dave 8,870 Posted January 26, 2020 EST = XF unleaded Carby TFI = XF EFI (all) Vac advance = XF leaded Carby Different vac advance dizzy - XE Carby and EFI I have a bosch ignition catalogue, which shows the different part numbers, across the years. 1 gerg reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregHamilton 3 Posted January 26, 2020 EST = XF unleaded Carby TFI = XF EFI (all) Vac advance = XF leaded Carby Different vac advance dizzy - XE Carby and EFI I have a bosch ignition catalogue, which shows the different part numbers, across the years.Do I run a vacuum line from the map sensor to the manifold? Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BGDAV 1,873 Posted January 26, 2020 On 1/25/2020 at 9:29 PM, deankdx said: the old .. hidden wiring hunt.. @BGDAV drove me nuts because he hid the wires for the speedo sender lol.. makes it hard to tap into when the plug and the loom are completely GONE from the engine bay lol. To be fair I did leave it for 3 years and forgot what I did 1 deankxf reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites