Duraspark VS MSD?
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Harrisburg, SD
Duraspark VS MSD?
I hear alot of good things about the Duraspark Conversion, but has anyone installed a MSD setup on an 2.8 BII? I hear so many things on how well MSD ignition systems work. Does any one know which would be better? Pros/Cons? Im sure the MSD setup is more expencive but It might free up a few horses/MPG's. Anyone??
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
The duraspark II is a perfectly good ignition system.
MSD stand for multiple spark discharge. It fires the plugs a number of times instead of just once. For average driving with a stock engine, duraspark is all you need. High performance, high rpm motors benefit from the MSD because it increases the chances of burning all the fuel. Some people claim performance and economy gains from using MSD units on daily drivers too.
MSD stand for multiple spark discharge. It fires the plugs a number of times instead of just once. For average driving with a stock engine, duraspark is all you need. High performance, high rpm motors benefit from the MSD because it increases the chances of burning all the fuel. Some people claim performance and economy gains from using MSD units on daily drivers too.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Harrisburg, SD
"blue"? I guess I could be little confused on the duraspark conversion. Would it be too much to type if I asked what exactly it is and what parts it consists of? Is it like changing points and condencer to an electric module? Or is it more complex than that? Thanks!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
It's easy. The "blue" simply refers to the color of the grommet on the recommended ignition control box. You need that, a duraspark distributor that fits your truck, the correct coil and the harness. You can probably get the whole setup from a salvage yard. And maybe from ebay.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Harrisburg, SD
Now when you say a different harness, as in just to the distributor and you wire it in the the factory wiring? or an complete wiring harness for the ign. system. im kind of having a hard time getting a good grasp on this. I do know that the duraspark distributors are on late 70's ford 2.8 engines, correct? how can you tell the difference between an duraspark and a regular dist.?
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Regina,Saskatchewan
A Duraspark distributor will have 3 wires coming out of it, they should be orange, purple and black and will come together at a connector about 6-8 inches from the distributor and on the side of the distributor will be a vacuum advance cannister.A TFI distributor will have the ignition module attached to the distributor and no vacuum advance cannister.I am not sure if they ever used a points style distributor on a 2.8 but if you find a distibutor with a vacuum cannister and a single wire coming out the side then pop the cap to make sure it doesn't have points.I took a different route on my 2.8, I used a Duraspark distributor and a GM HEI module.That way I could keep the stock TFI style coil and the wiring was a bit easier as you don't need to run a ballast resistor.A couple of tips, the Duraspark distributor I grabbed from the wreckers had the old style cap with the female ends.I figured out that the cap adapter from a 200" 6 cyl worked on the 2.8 Duraspark distributor which allowed me to use the newer style cap with the male connectors.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Yokosuka, Honshu, Japan
My personal opinion of MSD... well, I have a MSD 6A on my '95 Nissan, and I not only got more power from my 2.4 4-cyl, but I also gained a few mpg (of course, I also put a better exhaust - header, hi-flow cat, v-force muffler, 2 1/2" piping - and a K&N filter on the thing, too).
If you seriously want to get rid of carbon buildup and actually have a cleaner, better-running engine, MSD is a good way to go. It's one of the cheaper ways, not to mention, they sell the plug-in harness so you don't have to cut and splice any wiring (at least not on a TFI Ford)
If you seriously want to get rid of carbon buildup and actually have a cleaner, better-running engine, MSD is a good way to go. It's one of the cheaper ways, not to mention, they sell the plug-in harness so you don't have to cut and splice any wiring (at least not on a TFI Ford)
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Harrisburg, SD
thats what I thought, id Much rather spend the money and get a new ( not junkyard parts) and the added bonus of Multiple spark, which would actually improve performance, mileage and reliability. Good thinkin
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 51
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From: Memphis, TN
Now that you've decided to do this, do you have the part numbers needed for the MSD? I'm thinking of doing the same thing since I'm at altitude and want to get as much power out of the engine as possible.
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