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Old Jul 19, 2024 | 11:08 AM
  #16  
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I can change the points, condenser and check the timing in 15 minutes. if I ever got to the point I couldn't muster the ambition for that every 10-12k miles I'll buy an EV and hire someone to plug it in for me.

I'm not saying points are better on anything but reliability. but they're just fine if you have them.
 
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Old Jul 19, 2024 | 01:16 PM
  #17  
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I did live with them for years including a 70 440 cuda with a Maallory dual point
 
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Old Jul 19, 2024 | 01:47 PM
  #18  
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Pertronix G3 or just stick with points. I went with Pertronix because I was rewiring the entire truck and I wanted to clean up the engine compartment with a 1-wire alternator, mini-starter, and electronic ignition. If you’re not going that route, stick with the points system. Simply inspect and maintain every other oil change and you’ll be fine.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2024 | 07:27 PM
  #19  
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I did an HEI swap on my 79 with a 400. I didn't have any clearance issues, but you could always add a carb spacer or get a different thermostat housing if needed. Finding a good way to wire it was a bit of a pain to ensure that I had 12v in the start and run position. Eventually I figured out that one of the wires coming out of the voltage regulator supplied those 12v in both positions. The truck would fire right up and run well initially but as said before there were no performance gains and the cheap chinese piece of junk failed pretty quick so I decided to just switch back to the duraspark system.
 
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Old Jul 24, 2024 | 06:51 PM
  #20  
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Lol , I love that . All I want is reliability, this will be an over lander and I will carry an entire spare distributor with for parts
 
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Old Jul 24, 2024 | 09:52 PM
  #21  
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anyone tried one of these?
https://progressionignition.com/

for those who prefer neverspark, i mean durapsark, whats a good brand ICM?
 
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Old Jul 25, 2024 | 09:41 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by ck1984
anyone tried one of these?
https://progressionignition.com/

for those who prefer neverspark, i mean durapsark, whats a good brand ICM?
Thunderhead289 on Youtube has at least one and he seemed to like it. I think I prefer something a little simpler that I only need to check when the seasons change. If your the type that likes to mess with your tune everyday then this should be right up your alley.
 
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Old Jul 25, 2024 | 10:16 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by XSoph
Thunderhead289 on Youtube has at least one and he seemed to like it. I think I prefer something a little simpler that I only need to check when the seasons change. If your the type that likes to mess with your tune everyday then this should be right up your alley.
yeah i seen a few videos of his, he almost seemed like one of the collaborators who invented it, so thats why im seeking other longterm opinions.[Dont wanna spend 600 on it and it fails too 2 yrs later]
My duraspark still seems to be working but ive heard horror neverspark stories.
BUT apparently cheap HEI replacements dont fare much better
SO if i ever HAVE to replace mine i wanna know whats reliable and reasonably priced, MSD-HEI, pertronix, progression etc?
 
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Old Jul 25, 2024 | 10:19 AM
  #24  
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I have seen multiple problems using HEI on Fords.
1. Interference. They almost never fit with a stock air cleaner housing and often hit the intake manifold if you are running an aftemarket aluminum intake. Accessory brackets can also be an issue.

2. Quality issues. No matter whose name is on the box, most are assembled with junk electronics. Module, stator, and coil problems are common.

3. Looks. It may not bother anyone else but that big lump on the front of a Ford engine is just ugly to me. Leave them buried on the back of a Chevy where they belong.

I'll step back off my soap box now.
 
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Old Jul 25, 2024 | 12:13 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by ck1984
yeah i seen a few videos of his, he almost seemed like one of the collaborators who invented it, so thats why im seeking other longterm opinions.[Dont wanna spend 600 on it and it fails too 2 yrs later]
My duraspark still seems to be working but ive heard horror neverspark stories.
BUT apparently cheap HEI replacements dont fare much better
SO if i ever HAVE to replace mine i wanna know whats reliable and reasonably priced, MSD-HEI, pertronix, progression etc?
See post #4 &5 above. If you have a known good original Duraspark ICM, you'll probably be fine for a while. I would run it till it burns up and you can't find a NOS replacement (heat is what kills them). The aftermarket Duraspark ICM replacements are all trash. After that I would replace it with the pertronix ready to run distributor or conversion kit. 3rd gen pertronix, aka Ignitor 3, is known to be reliable. I don't know much about the MSD ready-to-run units, but I've heard good things. I would stay away from HEI style distributors where the coil is built into the cap. The most reliable low cost option would be old school points ignition and learn how to do the maintenance on that.
 
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