I have a Ford Duraspark II ignition system for my 351W that will be going into my 54 F-100. I am clueless when it comes to ignition systems, never having dealt with them. I have found this schematic to help me get through most of it...But I have some questions.



Where is says ignition switch, what does the R, S, and R mean?

Where that resistor is, I just put a 1.3 ohm resitor on that line? What size? 1/4 watt 1/2 watt?

Also, to make it more neater, can I buy the harness's from somewhere?

 

R=run position. This circuit is complete in the diagram when the key is in the run position.

S=start position. This circuit in the diagram is only made when you spring the switch over to crank it.

For the resistor, go to the auto parts store and get one. They have the big ones that will handle it. You may have to take a meter to measure to get the right value. Some of the books say 1.05 to 1.15 ohms. Mount it away from anything that may catch fire, because they can run warm.

I would go to the junkyard and get any harness stuff you may need. This is a common circuit on cars and trucks of the mid 70's to the early eighties. You could get a Ford module there too. Make sure to get a system that has the blue grommet on the module where the wires go in.

If you want to use a simple ignition switch, or the original old truck switch, both of which may not have the extra "s" contact, you can buy a starter relay that has two small terminals on it. One terminal cranks the starter, but the other one outputs 12 v only in crank mode. So you can hook the white wire, and the coil + to this terminal on the starter relay.

I don't know if you realized it, but you can't hook the coil + and the white wire to the regular start terminal on a normal switch. If you did, when the switch went to the "run" position, 12 volts would backfeed through the wire and keep the starter cranking all the time. That's why you have to have a dual contact switch, or use the starter relay with two small terminals.

 

That last paragraph is to reference paragraph previous to it?

 

Is there any books that would be good that teach you how to wire up an electrical system?

 

Yes, sorry about that. I ramble sometimes.

 

I forgot to add, I'm using a push button ignition....so what will i need.

 

Joners, on the push button starter switch, one side will come from the key switch to give 12v power. On the other side, attach the wire going to the WHITE wire on the ignition module, and the wire to energize the starter (S terminal on the starter relay).

The coil wire will attach to the key switch, on the same side as the pushbutton. A resistor should be in-line on this circuit. The ignition module red wire will also attach at this point.

You will also need a wire going from the I terminal of the starter relay to the coil positive terminal. This gives full battery voltage to the coil when the starter turns.

Like Franklin says, you may need a later model starter relay with the I and S terminals on it, if your original relay dosen't have them.