Replacing Entire Ignition
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 49
Likes: 16
From: Soldotna, Alaska
Replacing Entire Ignition
1979 F250 4WD, rebuilding the 351M as a 400 and all the old ignition is in the landfill. Looking for recommendations for complete, dependable HEI setup. MSD? Accel? Other? Thanks.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 63
From: Eastern, Idaho
The original dura spark II ignition system is very reliable. Why would you want to put hei crap on? Unless you are going over 5000 rpm not much reason to upgrade unless you are going to fiddle with timing curves which can be done on original system.
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,058
Likes: 594
I've been running a Summit branded HEI distributor in my truck for several years now. No hiccups at all. And best of all, you no longer need the Ford ICM. Just one 12 volt wire to the distributor!
Most products are a crap shoot these days. Products tend to fail right out of the box. But that Ford ICM box has been a problem since it was first introduced. In the 70's, we learned to keep spare ICM's in all our trucks, and in the tool room at the barn. I remember replacing the ICM in one vehicle, twice in one week.
Most products are a crap shoot these days. Products tend to fail right out of the box. But that Ford ICM box has been a problem since it was first introduced. In the 70's, we learned to keep spare ICM's in all our trucks, and in the tool room at the barn. I remember replacing the ICM in one vehicle, twice in one week.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,028
Likes: 890
From: East Central Ia
Have been happy with Duraspark for years. Yes the module can crap out but usually only when hot. Most of the time it either works or it don't right out of the box. Old cracked up wiring and poor connections can be problems. Some of the MSD models use the Ford pick up coil, AMC bought and used the Duraspark for years also. Only had 1 fail and it gave me 2 warnings before it died. Yes I have a spare module behind the seat and it would be simple plug and play but haven't had to use it in 44 years. Be sure to use genuine Ford parts. Nothing wrong with an HEI either, and they had their failure rates back in the day. I just never thought a distributor should be bigger than a carburetor and keep me from putting on stock air cleaner. JMT
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,842
Likes: 2,350
True, the GM HEI was a very good system. problem is GM never made an HEI for a Ford product , but China does and there lies the problem. plus it looks dumb. .
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Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 344
They sure dont look pretty. A friend recommended giving one a try to swap over to electronic ignition. Ive had it in there for the last six years with no problems in my 70 f250. Im putting the original dizzy back in so I can try out a petronix in it. The HEI, I will throw in my 72 f250. Ive never tried the duraspark or MSD products.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 217
From: Northern VA
I’ve been running red grommet Duraspark I systems since 2017 had yet to have one fail.
It is equal if not better than HEI performance, plus it looks stock.
Only differences from the standard blue module besides reversing two wires, is the coil and no resistor requirement.
MSD is another very good choice as is the Regular DSII.
Ch**y HEI tend to have clearance issues against manifold and air cleaner as well as being of dubious quality since you cannot buy a reman or OEM unit.
It is equal if not better than HEI performance, plus it looks stock.
Only differences from the standard blue module besides reversing two wires, is the coil and no resistor requirement.
MSD is another very good choice as is the Regular DSII.
Ch**y HEI tend to have clearance issues against manifold and air cleaner as well as being of dubious quality since you cannot buy a reman or OEM unit.
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