Timing frustrations

[Canted 393]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8869

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tay-401001

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tay-718222

Here is an option that i run on a few cars. Taylor has a better box and is US made, their coils work well too.

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8869

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tay-401001

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tay-718222

Here is an option that i run on a few cars. Taylor has a better box and is US made, their coils work well too.

Did you have to get a smaller bracket for their coil? 

 

[Canted 393]

I would say no , but i use this https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sdk-c4dz-12043-s, if i do use stock ones and there loose i just cut some smaller diameter vacuum hose and use that fill the gap in the coil mount.

 

[Hemikiller]

I've run MSD 6AL boxes for many years with good success. Be aware that any of the CD boxes that power the coil directly (MSD, Taylor etc) will require the use of an MSD 8920 Tach Adapter to maintain functionality of the factory tachometer.

The Duraspark uses the factory circuit to power the coil, so there are no issues. 

If you decide to go Duraspark, I recommend the Duraspark 1 Red grommet unit which was used in 302 V8 application in CA 77-78.

George Pence explains it well here, about halfway down :  https://pantera.infopop.cc/topic/parts-needed-to-convert-duraspark

I installed the setup in a friend's 72 F150 and it starts and runs like an MSD equipped vehicle. The built in start-spark ****** function is really nice. You will have to bypass the resistance wire, but that's pretty easy. You must run the matching coil for the D1 box. 

Control Module

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=49690&cc=1134818&jsn=2819

Coil

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=47258&cc=1134818&jsn=2830

 

[Canted 393]

Msd boxes were the cats meow, but recently they are all made in china.

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Appreciate all of the suggestions and options guys. I think I'm going to go with Hemikiller's suggestion on the Duraspark setup through Rock Auto. 

 

[Don C]

Good choice, the red grommet is the best one, I didn't know they were available aftermarket.

 

[Carolina_Mountain_Mustangs]

Everybody keeps putting China down. Look on your computer and phone and see who made them. The U.S. it to lazy to do the difficult jobs they just keep the easy stuff here. 
It amazed me when I ordered a new computer order on a Monday and delivered on Saturday made to order in China and shipped to the U.S. in one week. I am lucky to get an in stock mustang part in a week here. If the company buying from china has proper quality control in place there is not an issue. When you let them do what they want of course they are going the cheapest way just like here in U.S..

I am all for buy US but there is not much out there and some not so good. I have worked with Roybi here in the U.S. in S.C.. They made lots of Craftsman tools and of course Roybi. They have area in the plant that looks just like Home Depot they have to design and build the displays also. They told me the design life for their tools was 10 hours of use. They said most home owners never use one that much. But most home owners do not have a rust mustang to work on either.

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Sadly, I agree. Chinese product across a broad spectrum of industries have seen a huge upgrade in their quality the last couple of years. The mainstream marketplace was finally starting to see Chinese product for what it was... cheap, but crap. With the improvements in quality that many of their plants are starting to put out now, the Chinese are actually becoming a bigger thereat than they ever were. 

Having said that I still try to buy Made in USA whenever it makes sense. 

 

[Canted 393]

David the msd boxes were all usa made , at a premium price the only reason their made in cornaville is for larger profits not a better or cheaper product.

 

[Canted 393]

Big Red mach thats a solid plan, best bang for your buck you can do. If you need a rev limiter or multiple spark at idle you can always upgrade to a cd box later.

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Big Red mach thats a solid plan, best bang for your buck you can do. If you need a rev limiter or multiple spark at idle you can always upgrade to a cd box later.

We'll see how this setup does as far as easier starting, smoother idle an less raw fuel smell at idle goes. If I'm not satisfied, I'll jump up to the Taylor or MSD setup. This was pretty inexpensive, so it won't kill me to abandon it if I have to. 

 

[SteveO_71]

Msd boxes were the cats meow, but recently they are all made in china.

I also recall reading in Hot Rod mag or one of them about fake MSD boxes. Make sure you get the real thing.

This article is from a while ago so dont know if its still an issue.  It must have been a while ago because it was in my long term memory. If it was recent, I wouldnt have recalled it!

https://www.thecounterfeitreport.com/product/244/MSD-6AL-Ignitions.html

 

[Canted 393]

Man i hope not, but bought thru summit, so you hope its the real deal. Damm counterfeiters'. Thanks for the link.

 

[Hemikiller]

David the msd boxes were all usa made , at a premium price the only reason their made in cornaville is for larger profits not a better or cheaper product.

Exactly. When MSD was bought by Holley, much of their product line went straight to China. The change was so quick that they were shipping Chinese-built distributors in "Made in USA" labelled boxes with a "Made in China" sticker over the country of origin. 

 

[mjlan]

I just finished a Duraspark 1 conversion on my 429, used a box and coil from Rockauto and a new custom-curved distributor from Scotty J http://reincarnation-automotive.com/services

Seems to run great but only got it done yesterday so not many miles yet.

I attached below the wiring schematic that I used that I stole from George P. I converted to a 3G alternator at the same time, so I used the old 'I' wire from the original external VR that is eliminated to trigger the relay. If you are still running the old charging system you can use the original resistor wire that powered the coil to trigger the DS box relay (as in George's schematic). For the realy info, I don't think polarity on the relay coil is a big deal (George and the Internet have them opposite).

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Every coil I've ever used has had screw in terminals. I've never seen a connector type like this. What's the proper connector to these posts? 

 

[mjlan]

Duraspark coils use the below connector usually called a 'horseshoe' connector



The female box and dizzy harness connectors are available aftermarket as well. Depending on which DS system (1 or 2) you decide to go with I found the below chart somewhere that details compatability



Check out those plug gaps!

 

[Big Red Mach 1]

Thanks for the info on the connector. I have never seen one of those before. I have the red box. OMG!!! That .60 is the grand canyon of spark plug gaps!!!!  :classic_laugh:

 

[Hemikiller]

The D1 is no joke, but I wouldn't run the .060" gap specified, .035"~.045" is plenty especially if you're using a stock type small diameter cap.