Mustang TFI

[TC Chris]

Tonight's project: installing a remote, heat-sinked location for the Mustang's "TFI" (thick-film ignition) module. The TFI is a known failure point for Fords of that era. Ford saved a couple pennies per car by locating it on the distributor, on top of the engine, a place where its subjected to high heat. And guess what high heat does to the TFI? They designed it to survive the warranty period. My first one failed in about 1995. The engine just stopped as I was driving. Well, last fall, last drive before storage for the winter, the engine stopped as I was driving. That time it restarted but it doesn't do much for confidence in the reliability of the vehicle. I ordered a relocation kit from Jason McCully. So tonight I was out drilling holes in my Mustang to mount the heat sink. Ouch. My 1960s vehicles have enough room under-hood to set up housekeeping or stretch out for a nap, but by 1986 things were getting crowded.

Next is to rotate the distributor to get access to the screws for the old TFI. The video says to mark it before rotating and then set it back to the mark. Seems like maybe it would be wise to check the timing. I've never timed the Mustang. It's electronic and stable. I have a couple good old timing lights from breaker point days, but wonder if they'll handle the higher ignition voltage of newer vehicles? Any experience, good or bad, with that?

I'll need to consult the shop manual for timing conditions. No vacuum advance line to plug on this one, and no mechanical centrifugal advance to worry about. Any experience with timing EEC-IV Fords?

Chris Campbell