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Post by eflow on Mar 29, 2005 13:54:01 GMT -5
I'm looking at either a Mallory Unilite dist. and Hyfire ingnition or an MSD pro-billet dist with a series six ingnition. Either will have vacuum advance. Any thoughts on these or any other options?
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Post by w2zero on Mar 29, 2005 18:22:07 GMT -5
The Unilite has a checkered history. The Crane Cams optical pickup replacement module looks like it will fit the Mallory which would bring the price down 40 bucks in a pinch. I use a Mallory magnetic mechanical dist because it came with the steel gear and was available when I had to have one. It had problems too and I replaced the module in it. The Ford electronic or a converted Ford with a GM module would be my first choice with the MSD next. I am looking at parts availability broke down on the side of the freeway and of course, cheap.
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Post by eflow on Mar 29, 2005 18:31:07 GMT -5
I'm still pretty green at most of this so I want to avoid mixing and matching parts at this stage. It might be easier to stick with matched parts first then try other combinations later. When you say Ford electronic are you saying a stock Ford distrib or the Ford Mallory model without the optical?
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Post by CustomMerk on Mar 30, 2005 0:00:18 GMT -5
I have been eyeing the HEI for Fords in Jeg's lately. I honestly think both of the two systems you mentioned sound a little like overkill. Any properly functioning solid-state ignition will work great in a mild street motor.
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Post by ca on Mar 30, 2005 1:58:21 GMT -5
hey eflow,i think the ease of getting parts outweighs the koolness of other parts.when yur broke down on the side of the freeway you can go to almost any parts house and get a ford ignition module for about 30bucks. some parts places dont carry mallory parts in stock but can get them in 2 or 3 days,if you are willin to leave yur merc on the side of the road that long or have it towed to a safer place. you are not going to be twistin that engine of yours enough to tax the duraspark2,so its THE best choice.
as soon as you say vacuum advance anybody who has turned a serious wrench knows it aint for racin
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Post by eflow on Mar 30, 2005 13:39:07 GMT -5
Hmmm... Good advice guys thanks.
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Post by eflow on Mar 30, 2005 14:55:40 GMT -5
Ca, I did a little more research on one of the mustang club boards and the response was overwhelming, MSD way over the Duraspark. If I'm spending good money on a Ford distrb that is getting low reviews why not spend the same or a little more on a higher performance part from an aftermarket company? As for being stuck on the side of the road, are you implying that the Ford parts are better and that the aftermarket ones are inferior? I'm not trying to be rude but you hardly see cars on the strip just running stock. I'm not completely niave. Stock parts are built to fit a range of performance but at the end they are really there for middle of the road performance and decent gas milage, both of which I don't think have a real place in this board, that is more of a topic for the tech section. Plus I was reading more of the opposite stories, guys being stranded because of a crappy Duraspark and they were all going to the MSD systems. (it sounded like these guys did quite a bit of touring in their cars too)
As for overkill, this is the "hotrod & performance" section. True I'm new to doing all the work myself but that hardly means I'm looking to build a cruiser. I really want to put together a car that moves from light to light not go down the freeway, that's what I have a big Chevy truck for. If you look at the shots of my 62 in the readers rides section you'll see it is far from a stock Meteor. And that is why I bought it! I wanted a car I wouldn't feel bad really changing.
The funny thing is I'm looking to tax this motor quite a bit! ;D
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Post by ca on Mar 30, 2005 18:11:40 GMT -5
ok,lets do it this way i have had one duraspark module fail,that was in 1976 on a brand new granada i bought.right now in my 74 capri i am usin a module that came in my 1979 mustang that i bought new. that same module was on the engine that would toast most 99.9 percent of small blocks.over 350 HP and seein about 8500 Rs,22 lbs of boost n alcohol injection thru the carb=never missed a beat what i was referrin to was the fact that you buy parts IF you need them almost anywhere for the ford unit ;D
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Post by eflow on Mar 30, 2005 18:49:23 GMT -5
I did take a look for a Duraspark distrib and module and all I could find was what appears to be after market products (ie. Performance Distributors). I checked the Ford Racing parts site and my searches were only turning up individual parts (ie. gears, caps, etc.) for the system, not a full drop in distributor. My big problem with my motor is that so many of the parts on it are the junkyard kind of shite and corroded or mismatched (the current distrib is a mess with lots of corroded wiring, etc). For example these hacks put an '83 intake manifold with EGR on it and then an old rusty Holly four barrel. The best solution was to cut a piece of pepsi can and cover up the EGR port. Who cares if it runs like crap and you burn through gaskets every other week. See what I mean? I know I'm getting bad spark. Most of the motor is junk. Now the block is in great shape (it was professionaly rebuilt) and I don't want to go back to square one or do things twice if I can help it. Check these dudes out www.performancedistributors.com/forddui.htmIs this what you are talking about (I'm sure that it's not but it seems interesting all the same) I really like the all in one "GM style" unit.
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Post by ca on Mar 30, 2005 21:20:46 GMT -5
dont get me wrong on this stuff. i think some of the newer tech is fantastic and good lookin too albeit a little bit pricey. my concern for my own stuff is when i'm drivin down thru Norco on the way to see my daughter n sumpthin just stops workin.i gotta get it runnin again like now or have it towed home(80 miles from anywhere) and ruining my day in the process.so if it were me(ASSuming i had the money) i'd get the 429 dollar one and keep the old points type distributor in the trunk just in case ;D BUT i wouldnt put it on unless the heads were ported,polished,CC'd etc. with stainless valves and hipo valve springs and i wouldnt put those on a block with cast pistons n stock rod bolts.
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Post by eflow on Mar 30, 2005 21:52:34 GMT -5
I see your point. Hey Stu?! Where are ya, I was hoping that you'd join in on this one.
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Post by ca on Mar 30, 2005 21:56:18 GMT -5
yeah n W2 too
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Post by eflow on Mar 31, 2005 15:14:47 GMT -5
I think they might be ignoring us or me. Did I do something wrong? I'm going to give these cats at Performance Distrib a call. I like the fact that its a single unit like the GM style HEIs and from what I read the HEI stuff can be used so any replacement parts are easy to come by. I did a little reading and most of the major hot rod mags have spoken favorably of this product and I guess that they have been around for a little while so it's not completely untested. A good friend of mine makes high performance sand cars and I know he's beeen really happy with the HEI stuff on his Chevy powered buggies. I think he's going to order one of these for his latest VW powered project.
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Post by w2zero on Mar 31, 2005 17:21:28 GMT -5
I'm only speaking from my own experience and monetary (mental) limitations. I do use a MSD 6A box. Had I more cash at the time it would have been a 6AL.
Prior to that, I had no distributor except the one that came with the crate motor. ln the interest of having fewer moving parts and a distributor with a steel gear I purchased the Mallory magnetic mechanical advance. Why? Caffiene overload? Drunk with power? Nope, just did it, no reason whatsoever other than maybe lack-o-education.
If I was to do it over again I would probably use the 85 Mustang GT 5sp vacuum advance distributor converted to the GM module. The GM module is tiny, unobtrusive, cheap and universally available. For a few bucks more it can be had with a rev limiter.
The use of a high power ignition is a major plus on cold starts and a good idle. If that was all it did then it would still be worth the money spent.
All that I do on the car focuses on keeping it simple, keeping it easy to service by me, and keeping it inexpensive or at least somewhat cost effective over time.
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Post by STU on Mar 31, 2005 19:10:52 GMT -5
Ya wan't my input eh? ;D......Personally, I'd skip the high dollar dizzy's and go for the 85 Mustang GT 5-spd vacuum advance distributor with a stock duraspark-II box or an MSD/Crane box. I have this setup on my 5.0 and it works great, easy starts, decent fuel mileage and good power. My system is stock except for the MSD-5 piggy-back box. I got my entire setup used for less than $90US including the MSD box. I'm going with this setup again on the 351W I'm building for my Thunderbird drag car. The only difference will be the Crane HI-6S box that I got on ebay for it, $59cdn to my door and it's new... ;D . I already have a duraspark-II dizzy for my 351W, the stock box and the Crane box.....Don't fix what isn't broke.....that's what I say. ....I chose the Crane box because it has a 2 stage rev-limiter and boost timing retard capabilities if I end up turbocharging it.
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