ATTN: NumberDummy
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Cargo Master
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From: W (BY GOD) V
ATTN: NumberDummy
This quote is from another thread.
I see you were a Parts Dept. Manager in CA so you would know. Why do you say the DURASPARK I module was a POS? Did it have a performance problem(s) and/or a high failure rate?
Wondering in W (By GOD) V-
I see you were a Parts Dept. Manager in CA so you would know. Why do you say the DURASPARK I module was a POS? Did it have a performance problem(s) and/or a high failure rate?
Wondering in W (By GOD) V-
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Kansas
I'm not NumberDummy, but I was turning wrenches back then, and from what I remember, they all had a high failure rate. Not only that, but they used to be really high priced. I also remember that if you saved money and bought some of the cheaper aftermarket modules, some of the circuitry was missing, like the retard spark during startup part of the circuitry. I remember Ford was trying to justify the customers buying their modules and they showed cutaway pictures of the competitors. There were lots of parts missing. California must have been the modules with the "white" plastic tabs on them, as I remember changing lots of yellow and blue ones, but I don't remember seeing too many white ones.
Before you think I'm picking on Ford, the early GM HEI modules had a high failure rate also.
Before you think I'm picking on Ford, the early GM HEI modules had a high failure rate also.
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Cargo Master
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From: W (BY GOD) V
HEY! THANX FOR THE COMEBACK...
DURASPARK I was used exclusively in CA as it provided a hotter spark for emissions. It had a RED Strain Relief. As I am on the East Coast, I never came across one of the systems. This is the one I am interested in as some HI-PO circles say to use it and I just want to know what the failure rate was. NumberDummy mentioned they had trouble with them.
Is he still active here?
DURASPARK I was used exclusively in CA as it provided a hotter spark for emissions. It had a RED Strain Relief. As I am on the East Coast, I never came across one of the systems. This is the one I am interested in as some HI-PO circles say to use it and I just want to know what the failure rate was. NumberDummy mentioned they had trouble with them.
Is he still active here?
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HEY! THANX FOR THE COMEBACK...
DURASPARK I was used exclusively in CA as it provided a hotter spark for emissions. It had a RED Strain Relief. As I am on the East Coast, I never came across one of the systems. This is the one I am interested in as some HI-PO circles say to use it and I just want to know what the failure rate was. NumberDummy mentioned they had trouble with them.
Is he still active here?
DURASPARK I was used exclusively in CA as it provided a hotter spark for emissions. It had a RED Strain Relief. As I am on the East Coast, I never came across one of the systems. This is the one I am interested in as some HI-PO circles say to use it and I just want to know what the failure rate was. NumberDummy mentioned they had trouble with them.
Is he still active here?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Kansas
IMO, there are better alternatives for a modern day ignition, but I'd still like to hear the details on the red module.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Frequently frozen MN
some of the circuitry was missing, like the retard spark during startup part of the circuitry
hj
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
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From: Kansas
I'm going by memory here (and my kids DO say that I have CRS....
) but at one time the Motorsport catalog offered their high performance version of the Duraspark module. I can't remember the color of the tabs on the strain relief, but I'm sure it was the blue or the yellow one. Supposedly this was the module to use for high performance. I will freely admit that I never bought one, I've never seen one in person and I have no idea exactly what features it had that made it high performance. Once again, I feel there are better alternatives.
FWIW, I have a '78 Mercury Zephyr Z7 with a 302 that still gets driven intermittently and it still has the original module. (This car will by my 460 project next year)
) but at one time the Motorsport catalog offered their high performance version of the Duraspark module. I can't remember the color of the tabs on the strain relief, but I'm sure it was the blue or the yellow one. Supposedly this was the module to use for high performance. I will freely admit that I never bought one, I've never seen one in person and I have no idea exactly what features it had that made it high performance. Once again, I feel there are better alternatives.FWIW, I have a '78 Mercury Zephyr Z7 with a 302 that still gets driven intermittently and it still has the original module. (This car will by my 460 project next year)
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Cargo Master
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From: W (BY GOD) V
. What it consisted of was a MSD module in the shape of a DURASPARK MODULE. It had provision(s) for a tach drive (electrical) and a RPM control. It could not be used in any OEM harness.The kit also included an accessory DURASPARK II IGN harness. Some applications had to use a jumper wire. Had I known before buying, I would simply have hit a salvage yard for a correct DURASPARK II take-off.
The replacement module was discontinued years ago. I might have the instruction sheet hidden under mounds of crap somewhere.
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Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Originally Posted by NumberDummy
Three possible modules were used 1976/79. One was CA only, was a POS from day one!
Originally Posted by KULTULZ
Is he still active here?
You've typed 75 posts since 3/26/2002 / I've typed 44,138 posts since 11/04/2006. So it took me, as Ed said in post 4, awhile to spot this thread.Late 1977, early 1978: The modules installed on new vehicles were defective. 1000's of customers vehicles were parked on dealers service lots because the POS was on D99 backorder-Detroit. FoMoCo had none.
And FoMoCo didn't have any available for THREE MONTHS! When they finally arrived, were no better than before.
Took another month to get modules that actually worked.When this problem arose, I called a wrecker pal, had him put the POS on the wreckers hotline, bought every user I could find, installed them on customers vehicles.
Back then, all DuraSpark ignition modules were so prone to failing, that Ford techs referred to them as NeverSpark!
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Cargo Master
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From: W (BY GOD) V
I'm in the Midwest and I never ran into a red one either. IIRC, there was one that was for high altitudes. Was it brown? Anyway, to get a hotter spark, did it increase the dwell angle or what?
IMO, there are better alternatives for a modern day ignition, but I'd still like to hear the details on the red module.
DURASPARK I (CA ONLY - 302 ENGINE)
Introduced in 1977, this system provides much higher secondary voltage to the spark plugs than does the basic solid state system. This is accomplished primarily by three changes in the system.
A special coil is used in which the internal windings have a much lower resistance than the coil used with the basic solid state ignition system. The core of the special coil is designed to accept a much higher magnetic charge from the increased current which flows through the low-resistance windings. The produces a substantially higher voltage to the spark plugs and allows the coil to reach "full charge" much more rapidly than previous systems. This coil has a unique alignment lug on the blue coil tower which prevents attachment of this coil into a basic solid state ignition system harness.
Spark intensity is greatly increased - especially at higher engine RPM. If this coil were allowed to run with the same dwell control (maximum charging time) as the basic solid state systems, the coil would, at low engine RPM, overcharge and overheat. For this reason, a "current-control" circuit is needed with this system.
-Sourced From FORD Training Material
Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
POS from day one, were installed in all 1977's with I-6's & V8's, 302's in 1978/79's only.
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Cargo Master
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From: W (BY GOD) V
Further Info On MOTORSPORT MSD DURASPARK CONVERSION-
FORD RACING DURASPARK II
M-12199-C301 EXTRA PERFORMANCE IGNITION MODULE
1st Connector-
Orange to Dist Stator +
Violet to Dist Stator -
Green to Coil -
Black to Ground (Dist)
2nd Connector
Red Ignition 12 volts
White is used for tach output.
M-12029-A302 IGNITION COIL
M-12071-A301 Ignition Wiring Harness
NOTE: M-12199-A301 Blue Strain Relief Module
M-12199-A302 Brown Strain Relief Module
The module has two externally small loops of wire, one blue the other red.
If you have an 8 cylinder, do not cut any loops. If you have a 6 cylinder, cut the red loop. If you have a 4 cylinder, cut both the red and blue loops.
M-12199-C301 EXTRA PERFORMANCE IGNITION MODULE
1st Connector-
Orange to Dist Stator +
Violet to Dist Stator -
Green to Coil -
Black to Ground (Dist)
2nd Connector
Red Ignition 12 volts
White is used for tach output.
M-12029-A302 IGNITION COIL
M-12071-A301 Ignition Wiring Harness
NOTE: M-12199-A301 Blue Strain Relief Module
M-12199-A302 Brown Strain Relief Module
The module has two externally small loops of wire, one blue the other red.
If you have an 8 cylinder, do not cut any loops. If you have a 6 cylinder, cut the red loop. If you have a 4 cylinder, cut both the red and blue loops.
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Cargo Master
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From: W (BY GOD) V
Were the later replacement modules (RED) reliable at all or did the failures continue?
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