Crank No Start

[BBMK790]

I'd actually convert it back to Duraspark but thats just me. Not because I'm a purist, I just think that cap is big and chunky looking.

gear material depends on the cam. If its flat tappet, you want an iron gear. if its a roller cam, you need a steel gear.for a 302, 86+ are factory roller, 85- are flat tappet. 351's before 1994 or so are flat tappet. 351 and 302 distributors are not the same if you didn't already know that.

Im still not sure how to do this. When I first joined I wanted to go back to the original set up, but didnt know if there was things missing and how to rewire it in. At this point if its wired for HEI and I can buy a new one, stab it in, and it work, then that seems alot eaiser then cleaning up someones mess for now. I knew about the 302 and 351w distributors being different but didnt know about it being flat tappet.

[1987cp]

Not sure how to do what? The only hard part about installing a complete DSII system is obtaining the wiring harness if you're afraid of making your own. Though now that I think of it, I think Autozone sells Duraspark pigtails - if so, you could construct a presentable harness at home rather than having to use generic spade connectors for everything.

BTW, being "wired for HEI" just means there's a switched +12 wire going to the distributor and maybe a tach lead coming away from it. On my '81, I hooked a wire to the factory harness with a normal male bullet connector and used that to switch an aftermarket relay with an inline fuse. Very easy to use that to power something else instead.

[86VickyLX]

If you have access to a junkyard with cars with duraspark ignitions, The wiring is pretty much self contained. Even Variable venturi duraspark wiring can be used. It involves splicing some wires together to bypass computer changes.

[gadget73]

http://webpages.charter.net/1bad6t/duraspark.html may be of some help. The Dspark stuff is actually pretty simple if you can get ahold of a wiring harness that has the distributor to module and module to coil wiring. All you need at that point is a ground, a key-on hot, and a wire over to the starter relay. Functionally, a Duraspark setup is the same as an MSD. It doesn't do the fancy multiple spark and all that, but its the same combination of distributor pickup, module, and coil. In fact its quite easy to replace a stock Duraspark box with an MSD box using the stock Ford distributor.

[P72Ford]

I believe that would be the simplest ticket, Thain.

My car has a roller cam 302, the '85 GT distributor, and an MSD box. The are two wires from the MSD box to the distributor. I have a schematic that I got from a google search, just to make sure it was wired correctly. No harness is necessary (MSD box comes with a box to dist harness; no plug, just spades), and the remaining MSD wiring is about as simple as it gets.

If you don't need a rev limiter, save a few bucks and get the 6A box. The 6AL is the cheapest re limiter equipped MSD box. I prefer MSD, but Crane, Pertronix, Mallory, etc also make csimilar products, which may be cheaper, and just as simple to install.

[BBMK790]

So I would need the distributor itself, the connector and wiring that runs from the distributor to the control module, a control module and a coil? Ill take pictures of the mess thats in there.

Is there anyway someone can post some pictures of a complete stock setup? Where all the wiring runs and where the module is mounted.

Last week I walked through one of the local junkyards and there was a 80's Vic. This car should have the set-up correct?

[91waggin]

Depends on the year and if it was carbed or what. If it's an 86-up vic with a 302, it definitely won't have dspark, it'll have EECIV and SEFI, which is a completely different animal.

If it's a 351, it probably will have dspark.

If it's an 85-down, it might have CFI, depending on if you're in Canadia or not.

[BBMK790]

So Im looking for anything 80-85 with a carb?

I think I need a coil bracket. So if I find a car with one what needs to be taken off for me to get to it?

[1987cp]

Any year carb'd Panther might have what you need. Some trucks, Mustangs, and other stuff from I think the mid-'70s on might also have what you need, so have a peek in those if you can't find what you want in a Panther.


You can use an E-core coil with a Duraspark system, FWIW.

I recall Duraspark coil brackets being accessible even with everything in place. Basically one inconveniently-placed bolt to the front of the d/s cylinder head. Easier to get to with the alternator and bracket out, of course. Come to think of it, I wonder if I still have my old '79 coil bracket ...

Oh yes, one really annoying thing about the little cylindrical coils is the stupid female socket on top. I had a lousy time finding coil wire with the right style plug, and ended up buying a sacrifical spark plug wire and used its male plug to modify a coil wire I already had.

So yes, the short of it is, I'd definitely use an E-core coil no matter what ignition box you use.



Garbage you'll want for your complete DSII system is pretty straightforward:

- Distributor
- Module
- Wiring harness in between them
- Coil and bracket (if you want this style)

If stealing from a model with one of those stupid emissions computers like my '81 came with, you can ignore all that. If it looks like a wide computer plug with a bolt in the middle, you don't need it. There's also a weird variation that has a thingy that's supposed to sample atmospheric pressure and adjust for driving at different elevations (my '79 had this). Pretty sure you don't need the sensor thing in that case, but I'd probably take it anyway.


If you don't have an E-core coil, see if you can't steal one with a nice fender-mount bracket from a newer car. I got a fender-mount bracket from a '90ish Vic a few years ago, and I really like it.

[BBMK790]

Well I just came back from the yard and got nothing. The places I walked throught had nothing close to the years I needed and when I asked about parts for a 80's Ford/Lincoln/Mecury they just laughed.

I think the control module is still on the fender with the plugs not connect to anything. So could I just buy a distributor and coil, and just wire somthing up without the plugs?

[gadget73]

yeah, you don't need the plugs, they just make it convenient. I'd actually bet that someone sells those connectors new.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRF-30812/ if you want to spend 120 bucks for it, or you can make the equivalent for about $10 in wire and connectors.

[1987cp]

Oh, so someone does make a Duraspark harness! Unlikely to be worth the price to many of us, but with luck it'll sell well enough that the price will come down. Well, not that the price will ever come down, because Painless really is excessively proud of their products.

Hm.... on second thought ... looks like picking through the pigtails available at AutoZone will still end up costing maybe $70 for the pigtails plus another $11 if you want that style coil connector ... so maybe the Painless kit isn't so out of line after all. Though more likely, Duralast is just out of line charging $20 for a stupid connector. Definitely be money ahead by using individual spade connectors.


The short of it seems to be that there's really no supercheap way to do an external-module ignition system with new parts. The Hi-6 box-and-coil kit, for example, is $225 from Summit, and you'll still need to spend the $95 on a distributor unless you can get a good used one cheap. The Summit ignition box is on sale for $135, but you'll still need a coil. Really puts the $130-$170 prices of the Summit and Proform HEIs in perspective!

[BBMK790]

yeah, you don't need the plugs, they just make it convenient. I'd actually bet that someone sells those connectors new.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PRF-30812/ if you want to spend 120 bucks for it, or you can make the equivalent for about $10 in wire and connectors.

This sounds alot better to me. I rather just buy the connectors and wire.
What gauge wire?

If I bought that wiring kit is that everything I need as far as wiring goes? Its far from cheap but its the whole package then Im tempted to get it. If theres more wiring I would have to do after I purchase that then I rather just do it all myself and save the money.

[BBMK790]

Oh, so someone does make a Duraspark harness! Unlikely to be worth the price to many of us, but with luck it'll sell well enough that the price will come down. Well, not that the price will ever come down, because Painless really is excessively proud of their products.

Hm.... on second thought ... looks like picking through the pigtails available at AutoZone will still end up costing maybe $70 for the pigtails plus another $11 if you want that style coil connector ... so maybe the Painless kit isn't so out of line after all. Though more likely, Duralast is just out of line charging $20 for a stupid connector. Definitely be money ahead by using individual spade connectors.


The short of it seems to be that there's really no supercheap way to do an external-module ignition system with new parts. The Hi-6 box-and-coil kit, for example, is $225 from Summit, and you'll still need to spend the $95 on a distributor unless you can get a good used one cheap. Really puts the $130-$170 prices of the Summit and Proform HEIs in perspective!

I need the MSD box/coil? Cant I just use the factory external control module and coil? Is it $11 for one connector or a pair?

[1987cp]

You can use pretty much any ignition box (module) you like. If you do still have the factory DSII module for some reason, I'd go ahead and use it, as it'll save some expense and headache.

$11 appears to be for one coil connector. Pic should be self-explanatory ... clips right to a stock DSII coil, though I *think* most aftermarket canister coils require ring terminals. Link for the DSII-style coil plug: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...er=258522_0_0_



But like I said, I'd use an E-core coil (stock for SEFI cars) instead. That can hook up easily with spade terminals, or get this connector: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...19_31724_8391_ Coil's about the same price, connector's about the same price, no headaches with the funky style terminal ... yep.