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Author
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Topic: Duraspark Ign.
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John Holloway
Gearhead Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 07-27-2001 08:48 PM
   
I am having problems with Duraspark BrainBoxs,What would make them go bad,This last one was installed and only lasted mabey 1 hour running time,I only drove it around the block 1 time and when driving it was running crappy Can anyone Help and Shed some Light?
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clevelandstyle
Gearhead Posts: 614
From: Connersville, IN
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 07-27-2001 09:53 PM
Those boxes don't last long on a performance engine. You should step up to an MSD. They are easy to install and they will last.
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6352
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 07-27-2001 10:39 PM
Yeah,Go with an MSD or Crane box and you'll be "happening".  SteveW
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Rustang
Gearhead Posts: 452
From: Clarion PA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 07-28-2001 12:34 AM
Make sure the white lead is 12 volt and only energized when your starter's engaged. The red lead should be ran thru the existing resistance wire to reduce the voltage. I think you can get away running full 12 volts, but it might be shortening the life. I ran the stock boxes for a long time. The car was in the twelves at the time and shifted at around 6800. I ran it with a Blaster 2 coil but also ran a stock one for awhile. The only problem I ever had was with one box that was making my car die about 60 foot out. I replaced the box with another junkyard unit and it took care of the problem. Lesson: try to find factory original boxes, I think aftermarket replacements like you'd buy in the parts store are junk! ------------------
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Mark
Journeyman Posts: 1
From: N.E. Ohio
Registered: Apr 2002
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posted 07-28-2001 09:27 PM
I don't have a whole lot of experience with high performance engines, but I do have way too much experience with Ford wiring and dura spark in industrial trucks. 1) Wife color should be determined at the box, not the wire harness. I dont know how cars are but the trucks .... 2) There are a bunch of levels of quality in aftermarket boxes. Off site 'mechanics' would replace a box with a cheap unit (most of the time the problem was something else). These cheap units would last a while then overheat and pop. Then I would get the truck, install a quality unit and start looking for the real problem. Usually it was a 'mechanic' wiring a bunch of crap into the ignition switch. If you have the improper box (not all durasparks are the same), and it's a cheap one, and you have the improper voltage running to it, It isn't going to last long. It may not be necessasary to get an expensive ignitor box (MSD, whatever) But it is important to have a quality one.
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davids68
Gearhead Posts: 251
From: Louisville, KY, United States M&M # 351
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 07-28-2001 10:48 PM
I'm not sure offhand which years but there were a couple of different color (grommet) boxes that would plug into the same harness but were wired differently. Make sure your using the correct color of box for your application.I've used them for quite a few years on my car (stock 289) and if you can get the wiring diagrams for them they can be rewired to go to their proper places and used. FWIW
David PS
I agree the genuine ford products do work the best and last the longest.
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John Holloway
Gearhead Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 07-29-2001 01:13 AM
David they were all Blue chip boxs,And from Carquest,I had to replace the battery,It wouldn't hold a charge,The old battery was on the charger a lot,Ether on charge or 200amp boost.Could that be part of the problem? Thanks to all for your input...John
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John Holloway
Gearhead Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 07-29-2001 01:21 AM
O'YA I am using underdrive pulleys, would that be part of the problem with charging?? these are Just put on the car and the car really haven't been driven.
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John Holloway
Gearhead Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 08-02-2001 05:26 PM
Steve66,Do I Hook up the MSDbox up to the Dura brainbox or hook up the MSD and elimate the duraspark box all together.
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6352
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-02-2001 05:38 PM
John,Eliminate the duraspark box completely. Just use the distributor to trigger the MSD. I'll find a link to the wiring diagram & be back. SteveW
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John Holloway
Gearhead Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000
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posted 08-02-2001 06:09 PM
Thanks Steve,I have the instruction book it shows both ways with or without the box,I didn't know witch way to go,ThankYou
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 6352
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 08-02-2001 06:13 PM
OK John,But here it is anyway,
http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/pdf17.pdf
SteveW
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