Nothing wrong with differing opinions, Putt. I was a little surprised to see DF infer that the other posts lacked thoughtfullness, but to each their own. I do fully agree that for the most part, the stock dizzies are fine. I totally agree that spending money on a unilte, mallory, or msd dizzy is a complete waste of money. Now, onto the multiple discharge boxs vs. dui. Granted, for every ounce of possible performance, this type of set up is hard to beat. I run a msd box hooked to a ford dizzy that was custom curved on my race engine in the '73. However, due to much experience with these systems, they are not the ticket for year after year of reliable performance. HEI was one of the things that chevy ever did that was dead on in my book. The davies unified ignition is the best solution for someone who wants an enhanced ignition system AND total reliability AND the availability of cheap parts to get your Ford running even in the outback. I believe the performance differences between the msd and dui to be sleight on everything but a race engine. In fact, a friend of mine dynoed an engine after replacing the msd with a dui and he gained a few hp. Granted, that surely had to do with the custom curved dizzy, perhaps it had a little more advance in (guessing there)...the point is I believe you won't give up any performance on a dui over a multiple spark system on most engines. I junked my second twitchy msd system on my 428cj and went to a dui a couple of years ago and have never been happier. Nope, nobody needs to upgrade to one of these if they have a stock setup in great working order...but for any aftermarket options I'll stick with dui.

 

Can you run a MSD type box with the Davis (DUI) HEI type one wire unit? I am not into working on this part of my project-I change plugs, (and used to replace points-but thankful for noMallory and Pertronix-so I don't have to anumore) but leave the other electronics to a pro.

 

Good questions Cacwby. I was wondering the same thing.

BTW, this has been a good thread. Almost all of my favorite FTE'ers have spoken up!

I've about decided that there are minimal performance gains to be had with any ignition on a street/strip motor. The benefits are in the pricing, simplicity of installation, more or less clutter etc.

I think this DUI setup has a lot to offer, pricing aside. If I'd have seen it before purchasing the 3 piece MSD clutter command center, I'd have gone DUI. I may still go that way.

Thanks guys for all of the ignition education :-)

 

I don't see why you couldn't, I just don't see the need.

 

Yes you can run an MSD type box on an HEI(including the DUI), the advantage is the MULTIPLE SPARK DISCHARGE(did anybody miss that?). The DUI outputs ONE spark, at optimum advance, but it is still only one spark. If that one spark doesn't ignite the fuel mixture you have a misfire, with a MSD or equal box, you get ~20 more tries so it virtually eliminates misfire. The # of sparks drops as RPM's increase so it is less apparent at higher RPM's. Also if you repair the DUI with cheap replacement parts you will have a cheap HEI, not the hi output parts that DUI uses. Just a note, I realize I'm not going to repair my MSD on the road either!! It can easily be bypassed to keep the engine running however. In order to get multiple spark you will need an external box, there are NO dizzys that can do that. Yes my MSD has failed--2 times in 20 years-not bad I think. BTW they repaired it for free the first time and it was ~7 years old. The second time they replaced it with a reconditioned unit, because they said they didn't want me to have any more problems with my original unit. I was impressed with their customer service!!

Putt

PS Kinda long winded!!!

 

MSD does indeed have great customer service. I just got tired of using it every year...

 

I'll second or third that...Their service has been good to me as well. But, pulling that distributor and changing the pickup is not something I want to do routinely.

I also think I roasted the MSD 6AL pretty easily once before.

Too many wires.

 

Just a quick note, the magnetic pickup in my engine, in fact the whole dizzy, came from a junkyard 390. It was a '76 two wheel drive truck. It hasn't failed yet, at 28 yrs old. Why anyone would run anything but a Duraspark distributer in any Ford engine is beyond my understanding. DF

 

Oddly enough, I've never, ever had a duraspark magnetic pickup ever fail on me either. I'm ashamed to say once upon a time I bought the MSD billet dizzy. I think Greg and I are just weak sometimes when it comes to cool bling. Funny how I went through three pickups in the space of just over a year...

I learned my lesson.

 

Well Guys I have got one hell of an education about ignition systems!! I have loved this String!!! LOL!!!

Im going to be in the proces of up dating my 70 F250/390/hedders/C6/dana

with 428 valves and hardend seats...Edlebrock RPM intake..use my 750 holley.. and run a crane 941 cam? I dont know if that to much cam or not? I may have to go to the 901??

I will go with new springs and retainers.. I would like to get a least 375 out of the engine? What do you Guru's think!! Thanks..Russ

 

Bling...

"Whaddaya mean. I can't be out of money, I stilll haves checks left".

 

No kidding. I thought it kinder to say rather than "shiney objects fascinate us"

 

Jeez, Besides the GM (gag) parts of that distributor, it does sound tempting. Let me get this straight, they give you a set of 9mm wires!!!??? That is pretty cheap if you get all that and sounds good. I am running a Pertronix Ignitor, Accel 8mm (Universal... I.E. a pain because the terminals are not bent at a 90 and they don't want to pop into the socket type cap unless you bend and modify them and then they still worry me) Wires, Bosch Platinum Plugs, Mallory high output chrome coil, and a yet to be installed Mallory Hy-Fire VI-A ignition box. When I add the box I guess I will see what I think and may add the new Ignitor II (heard they give more spark below 3000 Rpm but more expensive) but when I think about the money, Ignitor= $74.00
Mallory "box"= $167
Mallory coil= $34.00
Accel Wires= $48.00
Distributor was already rebuilt so that didn't cost me (It had low miles) I took it apart last week and cleaned it all up and lubed it. I also bought a Crane Adjustable Vac. Advance kit and it was like $34.00. I didn't change the centri. springs but did use their vac. advance unit and I took it off pretty quick. My factory one was shot but was adjustable so I found a used factory type adjustable unit that was good and am using it, allthough I am trying to get a new factory adjustable one. The thing with the Crane I didn't like was it changed the initial timing when you went to mess with the vac. advance curve, The only thing I can think is maybe it was misdesigned and the rod that connects to the diaphragm was to short, bent, or rubbing on the plate. If I had it to do over again I would just find a factory type adjustable unit and use it and if you need to change the springs just buy some.........Cheaper.