Ford FE/FT Heavy-Duty V8 HEI Distributor with 5/16" Shaft

Upgrade your Ford FE/FT heavy-duty truck V8 ignition system with this HEI-style distributor, built around a magnetic trigger and a 65,000-volt coil housed directly in the unit — so there's no external coil or ignition box to wire in separately. The one-wire hookup simplifies installation on F-Series medium-duty, C-Series, N-Series, B-Series, and industrial FE/FT applications.

This distributor is equipped with a 5/16-inch oil pump/distributor shaft for heavy-duty FE/FT truck engines — 330, 361, and 391 CID — and will not fit standard light-duty FE applications that use the smaller 1/4-inch shaft. The housing is machined aluminum with a steel drive gear best matched to cast iron hydraulic or solid flat-tappet camshafts, and rotation is counterclockwise. This distributor requires a 12-volt electrical system with an alternator; it is not compatible with generator-based charging systems or vehicles still running an active ballast resistor in the ignition circuit — the resistor should be removed or bypassed as part of installation. Designed for carbureted applications only.

What Is an HEI Distributor?
HEI (High Energy Ignition) replaces the external coil and breaker points used in factory Ford FE truck ignition systems with a magnetic trigger and a high-output coil built directly into the distributor housing. Without points to wear or require periodic gap adjustment, timing holds more consistently, and this single unit replaces both the original distributor and ignition coil.

Performance Benefits
The 65,000-volt internal coil produces stronger spark output than a factory points-style distributor, supporting more consistent spark delivery across the RPM range on heavy-duty 330/361/391 FT engines. The magnetic trigger holds timing accurately without the point wear and drift common to older ignition systems. Mechanical and vacuum advance are both included, with a vacuum advance adjustment tool in the box so the timing curve can be tuned for medium-duty truck and industrial applications.

COMPATIBLE WITH
FORD FE/FT HEAVY-DUTY V8 (5/16" SHAFT)
• 5.4 L / 330 in³ (FT Heavy-Duty)
• 5.9 L / 361 in³ (FT Heavy-Duty)
• 6.4 L / 391 in³ (FT Heavy-Duty)

NOTES
• Designed specifically for heavy-duty FT truck applications using a 5/16 in. oil pump/distributor shaft.
• Will not fit standard light-duty FE passenger car or pickup truck applications — those use a smaller ¼ in. shaft and require a different distributor.
• The FT 330, 361, and 391 are heavy-duty variants of the FE engine family, used exclusively in medium-duty commercial trucks and buses — not interchangeable with light-duty FE components.
• The FT engines were produced from 1964–1977 in carbureted form.
• Designed for carbureted applications only.
• This distributor is designed for a 12 volt electrical system with an alternator. 
• It is not compatible with a generator and cannot be used with a ballast resistor.
• Distributor gear is most compatible with cast iron hydraulic or solid flat tappet camshafts; consult camshaft manufacturer for recommended gear material before installation.

COMMON VEHICLE APPLICATIONS
Ford F-500 / F-600 / F-700 Medium-Duty Trucks (330/361/391, 1964–1977)
Ford C-Series Cab-Over Trucks (330/361/391, 1964–1977)
Ford N-Series Cab-Over Trucks (330/361/391, 1964–1977)
Ford L-Series / Louisville Trucks (361/391, 1967–1977)
Ford B-Series School Bus Chassis (330/361/391, 1964–1977)

SPECIFICATIONS
Distributor Type: HEI
Engine Platform: Ford FE/FT Heavy-Duty V8
Trigger Type: Magnetic
Rotation Direction: Counterclockwise
Advance Type: Mechanical and Vacuum
Cap Color: Available in Black, Blue, Red, Clear
Terminal Gender: Male
Mechanical Tach Drive: No
Slip Collar: No
Coil Included: Yes
Coil Type: Internal
Coil Output: 65,000 V
Gear Material: Steel
Housing Material: Machined Aluminum
Ignition Box Required: No
Marine Use: No
Cylinders: 8
Voltage Requirement: 12 V electrical system with alternator
Vacuum Advance Adjustment Tool: Included
Installation Instructions: Included