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Ignition box upgrade?

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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 01:08 PM
  #1  
GolemintheGears's Avatar
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Ignition box upgrade?

Hello all, I have a 1979 F-100 W/300 L6
I'm by no means a mechanic but I've been trying to do all the work on this truck myself. What I'd like to know is, what are my options for replacing/upgrading the ignition box? I have gone thru 2 of these cheap china boxes in the last 18months and now this one is starting to act up! So what do you guys recommend? Sorry if this question has been answered in another thread somewhere I did a search and read a lot of post but couldn't find what I was looking for...
 
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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 03:04 PM
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mikeo0o0o0 usually has a lead on the OEM boxes, he should chime in here shortly.

There are other solutions if you are looking to get rid of the DSII setup too.

Are you sure its the boxes though?
 
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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 03:47 PM
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OEM in my '77 still. I might carry a spare AM unit.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 05:00 PM
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Spend the money for a new OE Motorcraft module. Do NOT waste time with the $30 box-store modules.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 06:37 PM
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I replaced the module on my '78 with a MSD 6A, since I was looking for a bit of an upgrade.
If stock will do, do as Mike suggests and install an OEM Motorcraft.

You answered your own question when you said "cheap china boxes".

Roger Carter
 
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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 08:12 PM
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Rockauto sells Motocraft brand boxes. I have one behind my seat in case the original box on my '78 fails...
 
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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 08:28 PM
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MSD Blaster 5900 ignition box with a Blaster 2 coil. That's what I use. If you can't find it, the 6A and 6AL are boxes equivalent to the 5900 box.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by wyckedcombo17
mikeo0o0o0 usually has a lead on the OEM boxes, he should chime in here shortly.

There are other solutions if you are looking to get rid of the DSII setup too.

Are you sure its the boxes though?
I'm pretty sure its the box.. It acts like it running out of gas, sputters and stalls, when I replace the box it fix's the problem.. idk what else it could be? not allot to to this motor? Whats a DSII setup? sorry if I come off ignorant Im new to this, but eager to learn.
Originally Posted by fmc400
Spend the money for a new OE Motorcraft module. Do NOT waste time with the $30 box-store modules.
The motorcraft box is 90$ the guy at the shop told me it would last 5 times longer then the cheap Chinese box? also said I should add a gound wire from the box to the block, said a lot of times the vibration from driving will break the ground connection and shorten the life of the box?
Originally Posted by slashfan7964
MSD Blaster 5900 ignition box with a Blaster 2 coil. That's what I use. If you can't find it, the 6A and 6AL are boxes equivalent to the 5900 box.
Is it worth it to spend the extra cash on the blaster box and coil? are there any other upgrades id have to make if I went with this option? this is my daily driver and I want it to preform well but its no hot rod by any means lol
 
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Old Nov 15, 2013 | 10:40 PM
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It should be a bump up over stock but not much at all. Should work with everything. If you have a points distributor changing it to solid state might help but other than that I leave it. I tried changing a 351W to duraspark 2 and gave up so I installed the blaster system.

Personally I'd trust MSD over even stock.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2013 | 05:14 AM
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The only difference in a DSII is the larger distributor cap/rotor. It consists of a plastic adapter plate and the DSII cap that can be added to the DSI system. Your's, being a 79 should already be a DSII with the blue grommet module. As posted above, get the Motorcraft module. I will even by them used out of a wrecking yard when I come across them. For a stock engine, I have found you can spend more money, but the Duraspark works just fine and readily available.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2013 | 07:14 AM
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Originally Posted by GolemintheGears
The motorcraft box is 90$ the guy at the shop told me it would last 5 times longer then the cheap Chinese box?
That's pretty much the same thing I'm saying. Is this a question? I don't understand.

Originally Posted by GolemintheGears
also said I should add a gound wire from the box to the block, said a lot of times the vibration from driving will break the ground connection and shorten the life of the box?
He doesn't know what he's talking about. The ignition system grounds through the BLACK wire that runs out to the distributor. The ignition module case itself does not serve as a ground.

Originally Posted by GolemintheGears
Is it worth it to spend the extra cash on the blaster box and coil?
Not on a stock motor.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2013 | 01:55 PM
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Originally Posted by slashfan7964
MSD Blaster 5900 ignition box with a Blaster 2 coil. That's what I use. If you can't find it, the 6A and 6AL are boxes equivalent to the 5900 box.
Do you use this with the stock distributor? Can the stock distributor be used with any of the MSD kits?
 
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Old Nov 16, 2013 | 07:49 PM
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go to ww w go fast 4 less dot com and learn to wire a gm 4 pin module. pick up for $10 at junk yard, and throw extra behind the seat. cheap and good. u will fell diff with an msd box, even on a stock engine. but the 4 pin is all u need.

finger is in splint so i cant type well. save ur cash and use the 4 pin. I have used it with the same distributor u have. k

in the future, post to the inline 6 forum, not here with the v8 nuts, ha ha.

yes, u can use an msd with the oem dizzy. I do. check that site and google gm 4 pin install.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2013 | 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by F-250 restorer
go to ww w go fast 4 less dot com and learn to wire a gm 4 pin module. pick up for $10 at junk yard, and throw extra behind the seat. cheap and good. u will fell diff with an msd box, even on a stock engine. but the 4 pin is all u need.

finger is in splint so i cant type well. save ur cash and use the 4 pin. I have used it with the same distributor u have. k

in the future, post to the inline 6 forum, not here with the v8 nuts, ha ha.

yes, u can use an msd with the oem dizzy. I do. check that site and google gm 4 pin install.
Here's an article on how to convert to GM HEI.. very low buck: How To Convert A Ford Or Chrysler Ignition To GM HEI - Car Craft

 
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Old Nov 16, 2013 | 11:47 PM
  #15  
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The OP never said DSI or DSII ....either way....trick it out with MEGA BLASTER COILS AND AWESOME SUPER VOLTAGE WIRES......it will increase HP by 58 ...i think....
 
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