I'm running msd cap and rotor, msd blaster 2 coil with msd 8.5mm super conductor wires, ngk platinum plugs. But when I did all that I ditched the POS Duraspark ignition and put in the msd 6al control box. Runs way smoother, better power and mpgs, faster startups, ect.... Plus the added bonus of a rev limiter, can't beat it.

 

Thanks for all the good info.

I have been told that the Duraspark II system is just as good or better than any aftermarket distributor.

I know I haven't had any problems with mine.

 

Most people that say the DS-II system is crappy, is because they are using crappy DS-II aftermarket ignition modules and parts.

 

From that statement, I assume you have a highly modified race engine and/or actively drag racing your pickup truck, pengintamer.

Otherwise, you have been misinformed, probably either from a GM guy or from believing all that hype from those so-called "performance" magazines that seem to think if there are flaws with a GM system, the Ford offering must be twice as bad. The truth is, the MSD ignition you are running offers no advantages over the Motorcraft Duraspark for a street driven vehicle, unless you are spending a lot of time over 5,000 rpms.

That "POS Duraspark ignition" you ditched is a fiercely reliable, "high energy ignition" system that was used across the board on almost all Ford vehicles from the mid 1970s until the late 1980s. Even Jeep replaced their own ignition system with the Motorcraft Duraspark. The only advantage I can see the MSD has over the Duraspark ignition is the rev limiter, and even then Ford Motorsports offered a Duraspark ignition module with that feature, if you actually raced your vehicle and needed it. The stock Duraspark ignition has a unique "start retard" function that all other ignition systems - including the MSD - do not have. This unique feature actually retards the timing at startup for faster, smoother starts, and allows you to run higher ignition timing. I am running my own timing at 14 degrees BTDC, and my 1985 F150 will actually start up faster than my 1998 Jeep Wrangler, my wife's 2001 Ford Mustang, or our 2000 Ford Taurus.

How old is your truck, and how long ago did you replace the "POS Duraspark ignition?" I ask you that because what often happens is someone experiences a problem with their stock ignition system and instead of troubleshooting, they decide to get one of those shiny new billet racing distributors and colorful modules and replace the entire system. Then when they get a properly functioning ignition system again, they dismiss the old, worn out one they had as a "POS." When a vehicle has been running on the same parts for 20+ years with hundreds of thousands of miles, it is not unreasonable that parts begin to wear out, and wiring sometimes needs to be replaced.

The other common problem is when someone replaces their stock Motorcraft ignition module for an el cheapo $25 module bought from AutoZone that is completely inferior and notoriously unreliable compared to the Motorcraft module.

The MSD is not a bad ignition system, it is just not an "improvement" over a properly functioning Motorcraft Duraspark igntion system for a normal, street driven vehicle. And not only is the MSD ignition more expensive than replacement Motorcraft components, but it is also inconvenient to get replacement parts. If any part of the Duraspark ignition system happens to fail, you can walk into any parts store in any town and purchase replacement parts right off the shelf. With the other aftermarket systems, including your MSD (which will also eventually fail), you are probably going to have to order and wait for replacement parts. Hopefully you will be close to home when that happens.

 

The Ford Motorsport DS-II system is awesome. A Friend of mine has one in a mustang he races.

 

I like Motorcraft wires, look around you can find decent deals. On the cap and rotor, brand is not all that important, just get ones with brass contacts instead of aluminum.

The true racing "MSD" boxes we use to run on the circle track were actually Ford Motorsports DSII units that were tunable, Aparently they were good enough that MSD could not improve upon the design.

 

Unless i'm not looking hard enough I can't find any sites that sell the high end Duraspark II module. Can you provide a link, or tell me the price to scare me away?

 

The ones we used to run where # M-12199-C301 for the Yellow and Blue grommets DSII units and #M-12199-C302 for the Brown DSIII unit. Both units had a built in tunable rev limiter. I believe they were discontinued in 04, but you may still find a few floating around. It was part of the "SVO Extra Perfomance Ingition System."

 

Rock Auto carries the DS-II modules.