Distributor help
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 849
Likes: 14
From: Fayetteville, NC
Distributor help
Or should I say ignition help. Right now I have a 70 model 302 with a points style distributor. I recently purchased a late 70's early 80's with the duraspark set up to replace the old tired 302. My question is can I make the duraspark ignition setup work with my truck? Also...FYI...I have a brand new MSD 6AL setup I could also install. Guess my question is can I make the newer distributor work in my truck or would I have to switch it to the points style??
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
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From: "Islander"
Now ya did it Numbers, having been working with Ford over the years and you state their system is crap which I agree. There are followers being a step up from points but then a system with failures.
To me with over a million trouble free miles from Allison and now owned by Crane I haven't had a problem with Crane's point replacement system. I'll match an inductive XR3000 system by Crane against any "must have CD" system, look at the specs on spark duration, say no more.
To me with over a million trouble free miles from Allison and now owned by Crane I haven't had a problem with Crane's point replacement system. I'll match an inductive XR3000 system by Crane against any "must have CD" system, look at the specs on spark duration, say no more.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 849
Likes: 14
From: Fayetteville, NC
I know some people talk crap about the Duraspark system. Personally I've never had a problem with it but that's not my point. My question was if it's possible to hook up a Duraspark system or even an MSD box in place of the points system that's currently in the truck?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,302
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From: Madison, SD
Yes it is. You could use a Petronix electronic conversion in the distributor. The MSD box is not designed to replace the points, it still requires a signal from the distributor to know when to fire... Or you could install the entire Duraspark system, and hope your good luck with them continues.....
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
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Originally Posted by 1ole4d
Or should I say ignition help. Right now I have a 70 model 302 with a points style distributor. I recently purchased a late 70's early 80's with the duraspark set up to replace the old tired 302. My question is can I make the duraspark ignition setup work with my truck? Also...FYI...I have a brand new MSD 6AL setup I could also install. Guess my question is can I make the newer distributor work in my truck or would I have to switch it to the points style??
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
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Senior User
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Madison, SD
The Durasparks are good with some mods, I personally prefer an HEI type with the adjustable features on the mechanical and vacuum advance. I've found that with a bit of tweaking an tuning, there are some performance gains to be had...
Nothing against the Durasparks, but I've had a couple go south on me in some very out of the way places. But hey, anything can break, even the high dollar parts.....
Nothing against the Durasparks, but I've had a couple go south on me in some very out of the way places. But hey, anything can break, even the high dollar parts.....
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 224
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From: texas,earth
funny thing...had DII units in both trucks & the hot rod for years....never had a problem. Painless offers a harness, # 30812 that will allow you to drop the duraspark in with no problem. One thing, get a Quality module, not the cheapo AZ replacement. Napa tp40, in the applications i have. No worries
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
At what country is this AZ module made in? China parts again.
Little off topic but purchased brass Dorman, same
company that makes metal and brass freeze plugs
a couple brass threaded manifold plugs. Yup Dorman
made in China. Check Home Depot's products, Irwin
tools made in China. This is just the beginning wait
5 years.
Little off topic but purchased brass Dorman, same
company that makes metal and brass freeze plugs
a couple brass threaded manifold plugs. Yup Dorman
made in China. Check Home Depot's products, Irwin
tools made in China. This is just the beginning wait
5 years.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: texas,earth
Originally Posted by Beemer Nut
At what country is this AZ module made in? China parts again.
Little off topic but purchased brass Dorman, same
company that makes metal and brass freeze plugs
a couple brass threaded manifold plugs. Yup Dorman
made in China. Check Home Depot's products, Irwin
tools made in China. This is just the beginning wait
5 years.
Little off topic but purchased brass Dorman, same
company that makes metal and brass freeze plugs
a couple brass threaded manifold plugs. Yup Dorman
made in China. Check Home Depot's products, Irwin
tools made in China. This is just the beginning wait
5 years.
yep, another 5 years or so, it'll be all over but the crying. China will have won without ever firing a shot
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Okay, but as for the Duraspark question...
The simple answer is yes, it's not only possible but easy to do. I run the Duraspark with a late model EFI coil on my '68. You can fairly easily convert your points distributor to the Duraspark pickup but since 302s with Duraspark were so common it's even easier to simply swap out the whole distributor (being careful of that pesky oil pump driveshaft in the process, of course!) And since you'll be running the newer motor with the Duraspark distributor already in place, it's even easier.
Then you need a Duraspark control box with a blue grommet where the wires come out of it and the ignition wiring harness off of dang near anything from the mid-'70s to early '80s with a Duraspark ignition. Or you should be able to use that MSD box, but I've never messed with one so I'm unsure how to wire it up without seeing a wiring diagram for it.
Here's how to wire it all up with the Duraspark box:
And stand by for Carl's advice on running a resistor in your ignition as shown in the above diagram (or not running one...
)
The simple answer is yes, it's not only possible but easy to do. I run the Duraspark with a late model EFI coil on my '68. You can fairly easily convert your points distributor to the Duraspark pickup but since 302s with Duraspark were so common it's even easier to simply swap out the whole distributor (being careful of that pesky oil pump driveshaft in the process, of course!) And since you'll be running the newer motor with the Duraspark distributor already in place, it's even easier.
Then you need a Duraspark control box with a blue grommet where the wires come out of it and the ignition wiring harness off of dang near anything from the mid-'70s to early '80s with a Duraspark ignition. Or you should be able to use that MSD box, but I've never messed with one so I'm unsure how to wire it up without seeing a wiring diagram for it.
Here's how to wire it all up with the Duraspark box:
And stand by for Carl's advice on running a resistor in your ignition as shown in the above diagram (or not running one...
)
Last edited by TigerDan; Mar 9, 2007 at 07:28 PM.