Duraspark ii conversion help
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 19
From: Sheffield, AL
oh ,interesting mine (1985,4.9) came stock with 1 cat. air connected to before it but previous owner removed that ... and straight piped it along with carb. removed and 1980 carter yfa put in it place (ran like crap)
are those trucks( yours and son's) California or Canada models? [Both are 49 state versions]
if not some came with them(49state) some didn't
complicated years the 1980-1986/7 ford trucks they did all sorts of ways to curb emissions ect.
are those trucks( yours and son's) California or Canada models? [Both are 49 state versions]
if not some came with them(49state) some didn't
complicated years the 1980-1986/7 ford trucks they did all sorts of ways to curb emissions ect.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: hole in the wall,nebraska
the computer harness has 10-30 extra wires and NONE of them fit the Duraspark Module here is the 1985 truck wiring diagram
the ECM (engine control module ) and the ignition control module (bolted to the distributor) are way too different connections
the duraspark ii wiring harness is very simple to connect to the existing truck (underdash wiring to under hood plugs you keep)
the ECM (engine control module ) and the ignition control module (bolted to the distributor) are way too different connections
the duraspark ii wiring harness is very simple to connect to the existing truck (underdash wiring to under hood plugs you keep)
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: hole in the wall,nebraska
as you can see the EMC has many more wires and connections that never could be hooked up with the Dura spark module or the distributor
here is the duraspark ii set up
here is the duraspark ii set up
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 0
From: Haysville, KS
That makes my HEI conversion look simple. I know the DUI distributor was more expensive but it made things easy.
One wire hookup to distributor and done. (I actually put in a relay to make sure I had full voltage at the distributor). Easy Easy
I had planned on the DSII conversion but couldn't locate an affordable harness and didn't feel like making one, although the connectors are available.
DUI Distributor, Live Wire plug wires, Carter YFA Carburetor. Converted EVAP and EGR to vacuum control and pulled the computer, all the solenoids, and harness. It runs like a dream with no more misses and gobs of power and torque. Much less cluttered under the hood as well, although I do need to clean up the plug wire routing a bit
One wire hookup to distributor and done. (I actually put in a relay to make sure I had full voltage at the distributor). Easy Easy
I had planned on the DSII conversion but couldn't locate an affordable harness and didn't feel like making one, although the connectors are available.
DUI Distributor, Live Wire plug wires, Carter YFA Carburetor. Converted EVAP and EGR to vacuum control and pulled the computer, all the solenoids, and harness. It runs like a dream with no more misses and gobs of power and torque. Much less cluttered under the hood as well, although I do need to clean up the plug wire routing a bit
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: hole in the wall,nebraska
That makes my HEI conversion look simple. I know the DUI distributor was more expensive but it made things easy.
One wire hookup to distributor and done. (I actually put in a relay to make sure I had full voltage at the distributor). Easy Easy
I had planned on the DSII conversion but couldn't locate an affordable harness and didn't feel like making one, although the connectors are available.
DUI Distributor, Live Wire plug wires, Carter YFA Carburetor. Converted EVAP and EGR to vacuum control and pulled the computer, all the solenoids, and harness. It runs like a dream with no more misses and gobs of power and torque. Much less cluttered under the hood as well, although I do need to clean up the plug wire routing a bit
One wire hookup to distributor and done. (I actually put in a relay to make sure I had full voltage at the distributor). Easy Easy
I had planned on the DSII conversion but couldn't locate an affordable harness and didn't feel like making one, although the connectors are available.
DUI Distributor, Live Wire plug wires, Carter YFA Carburetor. Converted EVAP and EGR to vacuum control and pulled the computer, all the solenoids, and harness. It runs like a dream with no more misses and gobs of power and torque. Much less cluttered under the hood as well, although I do need to clean up the plug wire routing a bit
I can get my hands on at least 5 duraspark ii harnesses here locally
$14 a piece
a few v8s and a couple I6es
I wish that I knew that before I got mine on ebay ( for $30 including used blue grommet module )
all in all my conversion (not including carb.) was about 120 bucks with new distributor and module
but there is a good shape used distributor here locally in a ford 300 i6
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: hole in the wall,nebraska
#1. 2 plug ? blue grommet module
#2. cheapest NEW harness is a 130 buck harness from painless
but you can make one using the pig tails at most parts houses
or I can get as mentioned a least 5 of the things , I should get some and test them and have them as spares or something
I got kinda lucky on the only used harness for 30 bucks plus it came with a good used module on ebay
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Some people don't have the knowledge, time, resources to get it together.
(believe me, I'm all for simplicity and and robustness!
)I like the idea.
But I also like the idea that if my ignition takes a dump in the middle of godforsaken nowhere I could get home on Sunday with a cheap $35 Autozone module that plugs right in.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 0
From: Haysville, KS
Didn't have to use any Ford specific connectors as I just isolated the one from the old harness. This was actually a very simple conversion. What took the time was figuring out the emissions conversions and chasing carburetor issues and my own dodgy wiring the first time around (I tried to NOT use the relay - bad idea that fouled my plugs really badly. - I finally found a perfect use for my spark plug cleaner..)
I suppose if mine decides to go south in the middle of nowhere, the chances of an Autozone or such being in the area are pretty much nil also (hence the middle of nowhere)
LOL
I suppose if mine decides to go south in the middle of nowhere, the chances of an Autozone or such being in the area are pretty much nil also (hence the middle of nowhere)
LOL
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 38
From: EXTREME southwest CT
I'm sorry. 
I guess I didn't read through your post listing all the various pigtails thoroughly enough.
I thought you had sourced them for your conversion.
I DO appreciate the thought and documentation that went into your thread(s).
And can completely understand the reasoning behind the 'all in one' solution.
There's not a lot of 'nowhere' here in the NYC metro.
In fact, I'd imagine there's not a lot of nowhere from D.C. clear to Boston. (except maybe the N.J. pine barrens)
I just keep a spare box under my seat.
I guess I didn't read through your post listing all the various pigtails thoroughly enough.
I thought you had sourced them for your conversion.
I DO appreciate the thought and documentation that went into your thread(s).
And can completely understand the reasoning behind the 'all in one' solution.
There's not a lot of 'nowhere' here in the NYC metro.
In fact, I'd imagine there's not a lot of nowhere from D.C. clear to Boston. (except maybe the N.J. pine barrens)
I just keep a spare box under my seat.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: hole in the wall,nebraska
care about nothing
that once a vehicle stops working or they havn't the time or ....
by by scrap it goes and they get a newish one (chebbie people )
and out there chebbies are in abundance and fords about 30 or so trucks oldies but goodies
very few ford people here and they look at me like
"HAHA he under the hood again its a ford " and I go I'm picking Priuses out of the dang thing I run over them all the time (that an chevy cavilers / sunfires ) man those are dime a dozen