I am having recurring distributor failure. I put a used one in and it worked fine for a day then failed same as the original did.

If this is a conversion from old points style to HEI modern style, the problem may be the resistance wire is still in the circuit, which should have been removed from the power circuit to the distributor.
If the ignition coil reads 12 volts to its 12 volts terminal, then you should replace the ignition module, furthermore, a pickup coil and sprocket can also be replaced from under the rotor but the distributor needs to be removed and disassembled to get to the pickup coil and sprocket. Some Fords don't need to be removed but do need some disassembling to replace all of its electrical components.

It sounds like your ignition coil has failed. Failing this check your leads.

You could have got a motor from a non running vehicle. Did you use the distributor and coil from the donor vehicle, or did you transfer your distributor and coil to the used engine you bought? Check to make sure you have power going to the distributor and coil first. If you have fuel getting to the cylinders, and ignition voltage, going to the coil, you might have a problem with the distributor system. Those engines are notorious for this problem More often or not, the ignition module failed. The pickup coil in the distributor has a high failure rate too.

The number 8 fuse is the courtesy light that is part of the cigarette lighter,the horn,this has nothing for the power management,You have the famous TFI ignition module for its no spark condition,there should be on some year models a ballast resistor, these dont really go out but they were installed to protect the coil for over voltage,it is slim that this is the problem but you still need to make sure voltage goes through it.its just a resistor,then you have the pick up coil which is inside the distributor,so mainly 2 componenet of sometimes start TFI which is on the side of the distributor, and pick up which is in the distributor,Do the most famous failure of them all the TFI module

Hi,

The distributor ignition system supplies two timing inputs to the PCM, a high resolution signal (180 pulses per one crankshaft revolution) and a low resolution signal (4 pulses per one crankshaft revolution). The high resolution and low resolution circuits toggle between 0 and 5 volts as the camshaft turns. The PCM can determine if one of the timing inputs is not being received by comparing the two inputs.
The following malfunctions to the high resolution circuit will cause a DTC P0372 to set:
• An open. • A short to voltage. • A short to ground. • A defective ignition module within the distributor. Conditions for Setting the DTC • The PCM detects low resolution pulses but no high resolution pulses. Action Taken When the DTC Sets • The PCM will illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) when the diagnostic runs and fails. • The PCM will record operating conditions at the time the diagnostic fails. This information will be stored in the Freeze Frame and/or Failure Records. • The injector will be disabled for the entire ignition cycle. Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC • The PCM will turn the MIL OFF after three consecutive drive trips that the diagnostic runs and does not fail. • A last test failed (Current DTC) will clear when the diagnostic runs and does not fail. • A History DTC will clear after forty consecutive warm-up cycles, if no failures are reported by this or any other emission related diagnostic. • PCM battery voltage is interrupted. • Using a Scan tool. Diagnostic Aids • If DTC P1351 and/or DTC P1361 is also set with a DTC P0372, and no external fault can be found, replace the PCM. If only DTC P0372 is set and the distributor connections are OK, replace the distributor. • If distributor components must be replaced, check distributor vent system operation.
Let me know,if needed further assistance.

Hope i helped you.

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no not a fuel filter problem, that just causes a lack of power, u have the symptoms of a failing ignition control module (located on the outside of the distributor) and distributor pickup ( located on the inside of the distributor)

Bad fuel, water in the fuel, dirt in the fuel.

Drain the fuel tank completely.

Pour in a gallon or two of fresh fuel.

See how it goes.

Put some of the old fuel in a glass bottle, hold it up in front of a light and see if you can see any foreign material in it...

I would suspect a timing belt failure.

The distributor cap and rotor will not make the electrical system work. It's a round black thing with pencil size wires running out of it, one goes to each spark plug. You might check the fusible link by the battery, the battery terminals etc. Check to see (when the ignition switch is off) if when you remove a battery cable and retouch it to the post that you get a tiny spark. If so, you have a short somewhere in your electrical system, and that will have to be fixed before you do anything else.