Thinking of changing out the OEM distributor and coil to a JEGS electronic version.
Anyone else tried it or thinking about it?

 

Year/ Model/ Engine/ current ignition system?

I’m going to go with “no” but my trucks are TFI so they already have a high energy ignition system.

 

I am with MYFORD...
There is only 1 reason I would swap out the factory IGN and that is if it was TFI / feed back system.
If EFI withTFI then I would check it to make sure it is advancing as it should and keep if it is working.

You do not gain anything and only loose money if you swap out the DSII system as it is no better then any HEI or after market system you can get.
I know of someone that run 11 seconds in the 1/4 mile many times with DSII dist. and box and on spray ran 10's.

The DSII and TFI both have large caps like the HEI everyone wants to run.
The large cap is so you dont get cross fire inside the cap because of the "hot spark".

BTW MSD dist. only come with small caps unless you option / pay more money for a large cap so what dose that tell you.
Dave ----

 

Not really worth it, DSII is pretty good. But, If anything, a red-grommet Duraspark 1 ignition with a recurved distributor would make a noticeable improvement.

 

Jackie, what is the difference between the red and the more common blue that you can get everywhere?
I think I seen where if you have any other color to swap it out for the blue.
Dave ----

 

If you ever hold a DS1 box you'll immediately recognize how much heavier it is as well as the price tag. Both because it's a more capable ignition. The two main benefits I know are its much hotter spark, equivalent or hotter than GM HEI and it's variable dwell.

From what I've read Ford's original intention in the mid 70's was to use this on all vehicles but it suffered from reliability issues early on and also cost Ford quite a bit. Then they found they could meet emissions standards using other means and came out with DSII, which was cheaper and more reliable then.

The larger style distributor caps and adapters were designed for this ignition and probably not really needed for DSII.

However, they brought it back on a limited range of vehicles such as the 77-79 Mustang II sold in California, because only it could ignite the lean mixtures required for CA emissions. DeTomaso also continued to use them for the performance or emissions.

It's hooked up nearly identical to DSII except for no resistor wire and swapping the purple and orange wires to the module (verify that before) and looks the same except for the red grommet.

The main differences are:

It uses 12V to the coil so no resistance/ ballast wire
It uses a low impedance coil like modern ignitions. Coincidentally works very nicely with the square TFI coil (less than 1.0 ohm )
It can benefit from platinum spark plugs

I use them on my Ford and AMC junk and I notice they start just bumping the key and seem to run very well.

More info: https://pantera.infopop.cc/topic/par...vert-duraspark

 

Thanks for the info

BTW is that Ford junk and AMC junk or just AMC
Dave ---- (I have 2 AMC's in my garage and why I ask, sold my AMC drag car months ago)

 

Sure haha, whichever-- It's open to interpretation... Building a 360 right now, Its gonna keep its DS1.

 

It is nice that you are keeping it AMC power as everyone drops in a bow tie
I can live with a FSB in a AMC as not a lot of people do that swap.

One of my cars has had the Prestolite set up that the pickup coil went bad in and needed to move the car so installed a Mallory dist. that was converted to electronic in a 75 factory 304 / auto Gremlin.
The other is running a dual pint Mallory in a 360 / 5sp 70 Javelin that was a 390 / 4sp that I am working on. I got a 401 for either if need be
I was into the AMC's way before this Ford pickup.
Dave ----

 

Hello Chipper! Where did you go?