Brought to you in part by:

.

Shop Eastwood for your Auto Restoration Needs!


  Mustangsandmore Forums
  Ford Racing
  Duraspark Ign.

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Duraspark Ign.
John Holloway
Gearhead

Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 07-27-2001 08:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for John Holloway   Click Here to Email John Holloway     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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?

IP: Logged

clevelandstyle
Gearhead

Posts: 614
From: Connersville, IN
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 07-27-2001 09:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for clevelandstyle     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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.

IP: Logged

steve'66
Gearhead

Posts: 6352
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 07-27-2001 10:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for steve'66   Click Here to Email steve'66     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yeah,

Go with an MSD or Crane box and you'll be "happening".

SteveW

IP: Logged

Rustang
Gearhead

Posts: 452
From: Clarion PA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 07-28-2001 12:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rustang   Click Here to Email Rustang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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!

------------------

IP: Logged

Mark
Journeyman

Posts: 1
From: N.E. Ohio
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 07-28-2001 09:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mark   Click Here to Email Mark     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

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.

IP: Logged

davids68
Gearhead

Posts: 251
From: Louisville, KY, United States M&M # 351
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 07-28-2001 10:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for davids68     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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.

IP: Logged

John Holloway
Gearhead

Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 07-29-2001 01:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for John Holloway   Click Here to Email John Holloway     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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

IP: Logged

John Holloway
Gearhead

Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 07-29-2001 01:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for John Holloway   Click Here to Email John Holloway     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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.

IP: Logged

John Holloway
Gearhead

Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 08-02-2001 05:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for John Holloway   Click Here to Email John Holloway     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Steve66,Do I Hook up the MSDbox up to the Dura brainbox or hook up the MSD and elimate the duraspark box all together.

IP: Logged

steve'66
Gearhead

Posts: 6352
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 08-02-2001 05:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for steve'66   Click Here to Email steve'66     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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

IP: Logged

John Holloway
Gearhead

Posts: 685
From: Romeoville Illinois
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 08-02-2001 06:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for John Holloway   Click Here to Email John Holloway     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
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

IP: Logged

steve'66
Gearhead

Posts: 6352
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 08-02-2001 06:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for steve'66   Click Here to Email steve'66     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
OK John,

But here it is anyway,
http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/pdf17.pdf


SteveW

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | Mustangsandmore Front Page

Copyright 2003, Steve LaRiviere. All Rights Reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47d

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More

[Acronyms][Calendar][Chat][Classifieds] [Links] [Members' Pics] [Tech] [ Mustangsandmore.com Bookstore] [Advertise on Mustangsandmore.com] [Mustangsandmore.com T-Shirts]