Im starting to build up my 66 coupe now and i am now going for a new electrical ignition. I only have like 300 or so bucks to spend on this, and i realized that even used msd parts would cost more than that. I found an ignition kit with a new coil, distributor, 6al box, and msd wires for 240 dollars on ebay, and i just need some advice. I know there are going to be some on here thats just going to say its chinese crap, and it probably is, but its either buying msd parts that i dont even know the condition of or this kit. Id just like to know some of your opinions or real expirences on the product before i buy. Thanks in advance.
Procomp Ignition Kits
- Thread starter FordGtMan
- Start date
golf4283
Active Member
dude for cheaper than that you can have a pretty sweet setup.
Just get:
Ford Duraspark Distributor
MSD Blaster II coil
MSD 5520 ignition.
This ignition is great. Have it in my '66 and fires up perfectly every time. Will cost less than that Chinese Procomp stuff too.
Check out this thread.
http://forums.stangnet.com/767277-best-ignition-money.html
Just get:
Ford Duraspark Distributor
MSD Blaster II coil
MSD 5520 ignition.
This ignition is great. Have it in my '66 and fires up perfectly every time. Will cost less than that Chinese Procomp stuff too.
Check out this thread.
http://forums.stangnet.com/767277-best-ignition-money.html
golf4283
Active Member
Summit Racing – High Performance Car and Truck Parts l 800-230-3030 sells them all. Pretty inexpensive too and great shipping. I live in Illinois and get stuff next day if I can get the order in by noon. and that's with ground shipping!
MSD Ignition 5520 - MSD Street Fire CD Ignitions – SummitRacing.com - MSD Ignition Box
MSD Ignition 8202 - MSD Blaster 2 Ignition Coils – SummitRacing.com - MSD Coil
And the distributor you can just get at a local parts house. Just get a distributor from a 1985 Mustang and that's a Duraspark.
Ok I looked up at Advanced website cuase that's where I got my dizzy. Depending on what year the engine is you'll need to choose the cast iron or steel gear. Hopefully someone can Chime in with which to use with which cuase I have a roller block and can't remember which one I got. Here's the links to both though.
Distributor by Cardone - Part 5630576 - Advance Auto Parts
Distributor by Cardone - Part 18630007 - Advance Auto Parts
So with this setup you're right around $210-$220. Add in a distributor cap/rotor and a nice set of spark plug wires and you're around $250. This system will blow that Chinese junk out of the water too.
MSD Ignition 5520 - MSD Street Fire CD Ignitions – SummitRacing.com - MSD Ignition Box
MSD Ignition 8202 - MSD Blaster 2 Ignition Coils – SummitRacing.com - MSD Coil
And the distributor you can just get at a local parts house. Just get a distributor from a 1985 Mustang and that's a Duraspark.
Ok I looked up at Advanced website cuase that's where I got my dizzy. Depending on what year the engine is you'll need to choose the cast iron or steel gear. Hopefully someone can Chime in with which to use with which cuase I have a roller block and can't remember which one I got. Here's the links to both though.
Distributor by Cardone - Part 5630576 - Advance Auto Parts
Distributor by Cardone - Part 18630007 - Advance Auto Parts
So with this setup you're right around $210-$220. Add in a distributor cap/rotor and a nice set of spark plug wires and you're around $250. This system will blow that Chinese junk out of the water too.
jcode68
Active Member
+1 on buying from Summit, I have bought a ton of stuff from them and they will are a great company. As for which distributor - iron gear for non hydraulic camshaft, steel for hydraulic is what I understand. Tell us more about your motor...
So i just went to my autozone just now and they told me there was no such thing as a "duraspark" distributor. I told them its the regular dizzy on 1985 mustangs, and i would just need the iron tooth gear. They told me it wouldn't work because i had a classic mustang with an early motor. I told them i just needed the iron gear not the steel gear for my flat tappet cam and it would work and they just ignored me and tried to sell me a 300 dollar msd dizzy anyway. i finally had a look at the computer at the store when the guy was gone, found it, and showed it to him and he said it wouldn't work also. I mean, it was even equipped to run on an ignition box. Am i missing something here because it sure does seem simple to me but i could be wrong. My overall setup was to run that duraspark distributor, a msd 5520 box, hotter coil, and that would pretty much be it, which seems exactly the same as all you guys mentioned. Also the dizzy i found was 160 bucks..
so internet deals for me. Also, the bottom end of my motor is a mid 70's block and i dont know what all the top end consists of but probably from the same era.
so internet deals for me. Also, the bottom end of my motor is a mid 70's block and i dont know what all the top end consists of but probably from the same era.
woodsnake
15 Year Member
Ford started using an electronic ignition in the late 70's. A 302 is a 5.0 for 99% of your needs. The only difference is the motor imbalance when you get a new balancer, and the firing order IF! you have an H.O. that uses the 351 firing order.
Just go to the nearest junk yard/ u-pul-it and get everything you need. You can rebuild a duraspark for like 50.00. A new ignition mudule is the most expensive part.
I have the complete MSD in my 69 Cougar, and the durapsark in my 67 /8 cougars.
For the money, you can't beat the Ford set up.
You can read up on it all here:
Duraspark Upgrade
As far as your parts purchase experience goes, find a new parts store. The guy you talked to either:
A. only tried to 'up sell' you for the money, or
B. Honestly doesn't understand what you are trying to do. A lot of people that sell parts only do that, sell parts. They don't have any actual automotive knowledge.
Unless that is the ONLY parts house around, go check out the other places, and find somebody you can relate with and understands cars made before 1980.
It's worth it to them for the repeat business to help you get what you want!
Google is your friend....
Just go to the nearest junk yard/ u-pul-it and get everything you need. You can rebuild a duraspark for like 50.00. A new ignition mudule is the most expensive part.
I have the complete MSD in my 69 Cougar, and the durapsark in my 67 /8 cougars.
For the money, you can't beat the Ford set up.
You can read up on it all here:
Duraspark Upgrade
As far as your parts purchase experience goes, find a new parts store. The guy you talked to either:
A. only tried to 'up sell' you for the money, or
B. Honestly doesn't understand what you are trying to do. A lot of people that sell parts only do that, sell parts. They don't have any actual automotive knowledge.
Unless that is the ONLY parts house around, go check out the other places, and find somebody you can relate with and understands cars made before 1980.
It's worth it to them for the repeat business to help you get what you want!
Google is your friend....
Alright, the dude at the autoparts store told me that i need a distributor with a module inside to run an ignition box. The link that shows the duraspark distributor at advanced auto says it doesn't have a module, and i thought i just read that the module is for HEI distributors, which i dont want. Please someone clarify, im just an extremely confused 16 year old kid that wants to learn. I truly feel like that guy had no idea what i was talking about.
woodsnake
15 Year Member
Here's another link for you to study.
Duraspark II Conversion Basics
It sounds like that parts store worker may have an opinion about GM products.
You are converting a points type ignition to an electronic ignition.
All you need is a Ford distributor, and ignition module, and a few pieces of wire.
Don't be afraid to call the other parts houses and tell them you are doing this swap, and see what they say.
Duraspark II Conversion Basics
It sounds like that parts store worker may have an opinion about GM products.
You are converting a points type ignition to an electronic ignition.
All you need is a Ford distributor, and ignition module, and a few pieces of wire.
Don't be afraid to call the other parts houses and tell them you are doing this swap, and see what they say.
yup any 78-84 dist will work and get the blue strain module OR most ignition boxes (msd,accell,mallory,summit(same as mallory) will work in place of the module, dont forget to get the cap,rotor and cap adapter if you want to use the big cap, otherwise use the 74-75 small style cap,rotor and wires. Any CD ignition comatible coil should work.
EP429
Member
I was looking for a dizzy for my roller engine not long ago. Instead of a full Duraspark 2 setup, I did the same swap shown here
Duraspark- HEI hybrid Ignition - FFCobra.com - Factory Five Racing Discussion Forum
My setup is mildly different, being that I didn't use a regulator. My B+ is hooked straight to the hot side of the ignition coil
Uses the Duraspark 2 dizzy and an HEI module, instead of the Duraspark box. Less wires and easily hidden, you wouldn't see it unless I were to point it out. Works great too.
If I were on a flat tappet like you and didn't need a steel gear, I would have gone with my old Petronix unit or the similar unit Crane makes. I'm not sure if the iron cam and steel gear would agree anyway, it doesn't work if the two are reversed
Duraspark- HEI hybrid Ignition - FFCobra.com - Factory Five Racing Discussion Forum
My setup is mildly different, being that I didn't use a regulator. My B+ is hooked straight to the hot side of the ignition coil
Uses the Duraspark 2 dizzy and an HEI module, instead of the Duraspark box. Less wires and easily hidden, you wouldn't see it unless I were to point it out. Works great too.
If I were on a flat tappet like you and didn't need a steel gear, I would have gone with my old Petronix unit or the similar unit Crane makes. I'm not sure if the iron cam and steel gear would agree anyway, it doesn't work if the two are reversed
golf4283
Active Member
here's what to do about getting the Dizzy. Print out the page with the proper gear and go in and say "I want this" nothing else. That'll shut that R-Tard up. Luckily for me my local Advance Auto guys are cool and understand that you can mismatch parts.
You definitely don't want the HEI unit for what you're doing.
You definitely don't want the HEI unit for what you're doing.
golf4283
Active Member
Also if you're planning on running this setup with the MSD box I would get this pigtail adapter
MSD Ignition 8869 - MSD Wire Adapters – SummitRacing.com
It will make it so you don't have to splice the ignition box into the Distributor. Used it on mine and it looks nice and stock.
MSD Ignition 8869 - MSD Wire Adapters – SummitRacing.com
It will make it so you don't have to splice the ignition box into the Distributor. Used it on mine and it looks nice and stock.
I've ran ford, gm hei and chrysler modules with a duraspark dist, msd's and accel ignitions in their place as well. Some of those "pig tails" are expensive for what you get. I just used trailer plugs that you buy at any autoparts and made my own "plugs". You can order any 76-84 dist for a 302 and it will have the right gear.
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