Dizzy's making me dizzy

[sm3570]

I never really considered the Duraspark before. Has anyone heard of these guys? http://www.performancedistributors.com/fordduraspark.htm

 

[Chris Womack]

Chris, any particular reason on the Duraspark?

There are a couple of reasons why I chose Duraspark II, think I saw some listed in other responses below:

* it is a fraction of the cost of any aftermarket distributor

* very easy to setup

* readily available at any auto parts store, (I am using one listed for

76' Mustang but need to swap out gear to match camshaft

-- don't have to wait for replacement)

* reliable, (mine has been in the car since I rebuilt the engine

in 1990 -- no problems). I am fairly confident that Duraspark II has

a better failure rate than after market distributors.

* easy to maintain (I found maintenance documenation in local library

on how to use multimeter to test -- remember this was before

internet was invented. This type of information may be available

from MSD or Pertronix too.)

* The large distributor cap should avoid cross-fire better than

smaller caps

* can easily be upgraded to MSD 6AL module

Chris

 

[Wolverine]

I never really considered the Duraspark before. Has anyone heard of these guys? http://www.performancedistributors.com/fordduraspark.htm

The good:

Heard of them. Considered them. They have good reviews from end users. It is an HEI solution. They use a factory Duraspark distributor that was built to fit your motor(but maybe not your car...see below)

They will tune the vacuum advance and centrifugal advance for your application.

The bad:

The price for the coil and module at $200 is about double what it should be. At $465 + ship/tax you are at $500.

With the large diameter cap, you have to worry about clearance. The cap is also taller, so you have to worry about that as well. RAM AIR systems will have an issue. But, I think you can take their cap and cap adapter off an run a smaller cap. I haven't seen a photo of their work with the cap off. Maybe you can ask someone to send you a photo.

Factory tach WILL NOT WORK. Why don't you call them and ask them to provide a wiring diagram for your factory tach....even if you don't have a factory tach. I am still looking for someone who provides an aftermarket HEI distributor for OUR Mustangs that is also able to provide a signal for our tachs.(MSD has a separate module ($60)for their capacitive discharge ignitions, but this module does not work with HEI). Don't fall for the it should work line, because it won't work. (Over the course of 4 weeks I have emailed them twice and not had a response to this question)

You can get your factory tach to work by gutting it yourself or having someone else do the dirty work($200). Some people don't care about that...I do. I hope to have a solution for this issue in 3 or 4 weeks, only because I am so irritated about my own HEI distributor choice.

Good Luck!!! Keep us posted. We LOVE distributors.

 

[sm3570]

One of the guys in my car club told me to contact some little company out in Chico, CA. I think it's called Distributor Dynamics. Apparently they rebuild your dizzy, and put in electronic guts or something? As Wolverine said, it would be an inexpensive solution. So many choices.

 

[sm3570]

Okay, all the talk has been about Duraspark, Pertronix, and MSD. What about Mallory? I haven't heard anything bad about them and they can be a more inexpensive solution than MSD. Opinions?

 

[Tnfastbk]

Okay, all the talk has been about Duraspark, Pertronix, and MSD. What about Mallory? I haven't heard anything bad about them and they can be a more inexpensive solution than MSD. Opinions?

Really? Thats what I am running

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-8656701/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-6853M/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-29219/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-35383/

 

[sm3570]

Okay, all the talk has been about Duraspark, Pertronix, and MSD. What about Mallory? I haven't heard anything bad about them and they can be a more inexpensive solution than MSD. Opinions?

Really? Thats what I am running

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-8656701/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-6853M/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-29219/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-35383/

Yeah, from what I've seen. The 6EZ comes with a coil, and you have to buy the coil separately with MSD. Also I've seen Mallory prices being a little lower. Are they good to go? I don't care about originality (obviously). And, since it's just going to be a cruiser I'm still looking at Pertronix and the Duraspark. I don't mind spending a little more $$ for easy installation and reliability. And I just don't know about ripping electronics out of a hulk at the junkyard (duraspark).

 

[Tnfastbk]

Okay, all the talk has been about Duraspark, Pertronix, and MSD. What about Mallory? I haven't heard anything bad about them and they can be a more inexpensive solution than MSD. Opinions?

Really? Thats what I am running

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-8656701/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-6853M/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-29219/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-35383/

Yeah, from what I've seen. The 6EZ comes with a coil, and you have to buy the coil separately with MSD. Also I've seen Mallory prices being a little lower. Are they good to go? I don't care about originality (obviously). And, since it's just going to be a cruiser I'm still looking at Pertronix and the Duraspark. I don't mind spending a little more $$ for easy installation and reliability. And I just don't know about ripping electronics out of a hulk at the junkyard (duraspark).

I did blow the module which was not cheap, but it was my fault so cant blame that on quality.

 

[Wolverine]

When choosing an ignition system that is NOT Duraspark distributor and NOT HEI, you are choosing a PROPRIETARY solution for your distributor.

I drive my car every day, and travel hundreds of miles from home. By biggest concern is if something breaks, and I need a part, I need an immmediate replacement at the local auto parts store.

However, if your PERTRONIX ignitor fails, you have to find a store that carries it or your car is dead for a week. Solution, buy a spare unit and keep that $100 device hidden in the glove baox.

If you MSD/MALLORY system fails, and now there are several proprietary components places that can fail, you may not find the part you need at Pep Boys. Maybe it is there today, but within a coupe of years MDS/MAllory change their system and your parts get dumped for the new systems. That actually happened to me on an $800 Mallory distributor/ignition system. Dumped after 10 years, had to buy a new one...I said screw that and went to a regular distributor and Pertronix.

Solution, buy $300 in replacement parts and keep them in your glove box.

OR, stick with a Duraspark distributor and an HEI module to control the spark. All components are availabe at any local parts store. And and HEI is $35 and fits in the glove box.

If you are driving below 7000RPM, HEI will do just fine.

 

[c9zx]

In my experience, Mallory has been as good as anyone else's product. They do recommend "noise and surge " protectors with some products (extra cost). They have updated and released several new products in the last few years. A friend and I are using all Mallory ignition products on a Ford 427 build right now. Pick what you want. Just make sure all the components are compatible. Chuck

 

[Tnfastbk]

In my experience, Mallory has been as good as anyone else's product. They do recommend "noise and surge " protectors with some products (extra cost). They have updated and released several new products in the last few years. A friend and I are using all Mallory ignition products on a Ford 427 build right now. Pick what you want. Just make sure all the components are compatible. Chuck

The surge protector would not have helped in my case. I shorted a wire in the dizzy itself.

 

[sm3570]

Alright, I've only seen reman Duraspark distributors at the usual places. Are the reman ones any good? Like I said, I'm leary about ripping stuff like that out of a junkyard since I don't know the history of that particular piece of equipment.

 

[shellbuyer]

I put an HEI system from summit on my car and here is my thoughts on that install. Firstly, it hits my rad hose so I have to modify that which really is no big deal I suppose. I think I can cut maybe 1.5 inches off the hose to allow it to sit down farther which should clear the dizzy. Secondly I am going to have to very gently grind a wee bit off the Edelbrock intake because it hits on that as well. Other than that it truly was a plug and play after I ran a 12 volt wire which I knew I needed to do anyway. I dont know if this helps or complicates, but it was experience!

 

[sm3570]

Thread resurrection! IF someone gets the Summit Racing HEI distributor here: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-850025/, what else needs to be bought to get it to work? The coil is part of the distributor, so is anything else required such as an ignition module? Not much info on the Summit Racing website.

 

[sm3570]

Thread resurrection! IF someone gets the Summit Racing HEI distributor here: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-850025/, what else needs to be bought to get it to work? The coil is part of the distributor, so is anything else required such as an ignition module? Not much info on the Summit Racing website.

Nothing? I'll probably end up calling Summit but I'm not too impressed with their technical wizards based on past experience. Any info on using this distributor is appreciated.

 

[Tnfastbk]

Thread resurrection! IF someone gets the Summit Racing HEI distributor here: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-850025/, what else needs to be bought to get it to work? The coil is part of the distributor, so is anything else required such as an ignition module? Not much info on the Summit Racing website.

Nothing? I'll probably end up calling Summit but I'm not too impressed with their technical wizards based on past experience. Any info on using this distributor is appreciated.

Sorry all mallory stuff here

 

[woodsnake]

I have a complete MSD set up in my 69/351W cougar. Expensive. I have a Stock Ford duraspark in my 67, Electronic upgrade, dirt cheap. The best bet, is duraspark distributor, MSD box, which is in my 68. As I understand the difference, the MSD and Duraspark work off on an electro magnetic pulse, where as the Mallory works off of a "light window".(Drawing on blank on the technical term). For a street driven car, the duraspark is tough to beat with the Ford box, and the MSD box is just an upgrade from there....If you have a performance cam and heads, it is worth the money to get your distributor "curved" to match your cam shaft profile.

 

[sm3570]

thanks woodsnake. Just exploring all options. I'll probably go with the Cardone duraspark dizzy w/ the setup you're describing.