Fords made from the late-1920s through the mid-1970s used a contact breaker ignition system. This used a set of points installed within the distributor that were operated mechanically by an engine-driven cam. The system was reliable as long as the points were kept in adjustment and replaced every few thousand miles as part of an ignition tuneup. You can make your older Ford run more efficiently and without as many tuneups by converting your contact point ignition to an electronic setup.
Turn off the ignition. Open the hood. Pry off the retaining clips on each side of the distributor cap on top of the engine with a flat head screwdriver. Lift the cap straight up and off of the distributor and set it aside. Leave all of the spark plug wires attached to the cap.
Lift the plastic rotor straight up from the distributor shaft and set it aside. Remove the breaker points and the condenser from the interior of the distributor by removing the retaining screws with the flat head screwdriver. Disconnect the condenser wire with a small adjustable wrench. Remove the wire by pushing it through the hole in the side of the distributor. Clean the interior of the distributor with a shop rag.
Insert the wires from the new electronic ignition module through the hole on the side of the distributor from the inside out. Make sure the grommet on the wires is fully seated into the hole to prevent water intrusion into the distributor. Mount the electronic ignition module to the bottom of the distributor using the original breaker points' mounting holes. Tighten the screws that came with the module finger-tight.
Push the magnetic sleeve that came with the electronic module onto the distributor shaft with the largest opening facing downwards. Twist the sleeve back and forth, while pushing down, to make sure it is fully seated onto the shaft. Line up the tab on the inside of the plastic rotor's shaft you removed in Step 2 with the slot in the distributor shaft. Push down on the rotor until it is fully seated onto the shaft.
Slide the electronic ignition module in the direction needed so that the pickup magnet does not rub against the distributor shaft. Tighten the two retaining screws with the flat head screwdriver.
Connect the black wire from the ignition module to the negative terminal on the ignition coil (mounted just behind the distributor) and tighten the retaining nut with the small adjustable wrench. Connect the red wire from the electronic module to the positive wire on the coil in the same fashion.
Reinstall the distributor cap and close the hood.
