get rid of dura spark?

[Travis Greever]

I'm wanting to upgrade my ign, is there a way to get rid of the Dura Spark that my 77 302 has in it? I want something simple and affordable.

 

[ugly74]

Simple and affordable...hmmm, maybe a duraspark?;D
Why do you wanna upgrade? You could put a hotter coil on, and that would let you open up the plug gap a bit

 

[Wyo4x4er]

i put an hei on mine and love it

 

[demesauce]

Duraspark distributors are great, is there something specific that you don't like about it?

 

[70_Steve]

I'm wanting to upgrade my ign, is there a way to get rid of the Dura Spark that my 77 302 has in it? I want something simple and affordable.

There isn't much that's more simple and affordable! And it works very well! If you want an upgrade, replace the stock Duraspark coil with a Ford EFI (TFI) coil. You can get the connectors at most auto parts stores and will give you a bit hotter spark. The nice thing about the Duraspark system is that you can get replacement parts anywhere.

Google " Duraspark Upgrade " for more info about using the TFI coil.

 

[jckkys]

Maybe you could sell it to someone who knows better than run to the after market for cheesy "upgrades".

 

[englewoodcowboy]

I wouldn't exactly call duraspark dependable. I have had quite a few fail on me that I used to keep spare modules for those off road vehicles that had them. They are susceptible to heat and when they fail, without a replacement module you are dead in the water. I know there is far less maintenance in them and with all of the cheap Chinese made components today, even great systems are prone to a high rate of failure due to piss poor quality control. If you want reliability, ease of repair etc. you have to go old school and go to a dual points and condenser system. Sure their is maintenance involved but they are EMP proof (had to throw that in for the preppers) and unless your housing or cap just desintigrates, you can pretty much be sure you will get home. There is no one size fits all here.

 

[Bluebolt]

I am planning on hiding a HEI module inside the Duraspark box! http://www.fordmuscleforums.com/ign...y-trick-hei-module-inside-duraspark-case.html

 

[Broncobowsher]

Upgrade a Duraspark...
Get a set of motorsports plug wires http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fms-m-12259-c301/overview/ (also available in yellow, red, or black if you prefer)
Get a nice coil (I like stock 80's E-core off an EFI engine)
If you want to dial it in a bit more (providing the distributor isn't actually wore out itself) http://www.summitracing.com/parts/crn-99607-1/overview/make/ford

In the end if you ever have any issues with any of the stock parts, they can be found at any parts store on a Saturday afternoon in any part of the country. That's if someone traveling with doesn't happen to already have that spare part. When your fancy HEI conversion distributor breaks a shaft 200 miles from home, you will be at the parts store buying everything to make an original ignition system as that special fancy aftermarket part can't be found at a parts store, it would have to be ordered in, if it can even be found.

 

[broncnaz]

For the most part there is no upgrade over the duraspark setup if your engine is stock or even mildly built aftermarket ignitions are not needed. There are some that are simple, few are cheap and most tend to be less reliable than the duraspark.
While there are minor upgrades that can be done to the duraspark for pretty cheap and improve performance. The duraspark will handle more than mild built engines will ever require.
Even suppoedly hi perfromance coils are really not a upgrade as the stock coil puts out plenty of power look at most specs and the stock coil is only slightly lower on volts but tends to have a longer lasting spark. Where the hipo coils may be capible of more volts there spark is for less time.
Any coil no matter how powerful will only put out the amount of spark required to jump the plug gap.
None of this means that you shouldnt "upgrade" some parts. But you really have to consider that some so called upgrades dont improve anything well they may make your wallet thinner. But we all have to spend money on something. So I digress

 

[savage]

I've had good luck with the duraspark in my 74.I know if they are mounted where the heat gets to them, they can be a pain. I've mounted mine in the cab were its out of the elements and have never had any issues with it failing. For upgrades,motorsports plug wires, and msd coil, plus I had the old style Dist cap, so I up graded to the bigger cap.

 

[SteveL]

I run the hei on both broncos. Less wiring and no crappy module to burn out.

 

[ransil]

I run the hei on both broncos. Less wiring and no crappy module to burn out.

How does it run??

 

[SHX669]

HEI definitely has less wiring - but depending on what websites/chat rooms you visit ; Mustang forums ,Ford Muscle Cars, Ford Trucks , Camaro , Corvette, Chevelle -- etc. HEI may or may not be an upgrade in performance or reliability .
SHX

 

[jckkys]

The transistor module made by Motorcraft is extremely reliable. I've had the same one on my driver side wheel well, inside a very hot engine compartment, for at least 30yrs. I can't imagine buying the Chinese version from OReilly's or Autozone. If the Motorcraft costs more per unit, it is less $ over time. The '77s came with the large diameter distributor cap. I had one OE coil leak the oil out about 25yrs. ago. The Motorcraft replacement works great since then. Of course you can buy pink plug wires if you call that an upgrade.

 

[70_Steve]

The transistor module made by Motorcraft is extremely reliable. I've had the same one on my driver side wheel well, inside a very hot engine compartment, for at least 30yrs.

I ran Duraspark for 5-6 years until I switched to EFI. I had two Motorcraft modules mounted on the drivers fenderwell so if one failed I could swap immediately to the other. Never had to.

 

[bbow]

HEI all the way.

 

[blubuckaroo]

We bought our '77 new and the Duraspark has been the most reliable part of the car. Sure I had one module go out when the car was only 5 months old but it was replaced under warranty. I understand they had some problems with the first ones.
One thing to keep in mind is the distributor's mechanical and vacuum advance should be set up for your particular cam. It's sort of like buying a new carb. It might run "out of the box" but you'll never get its full potential without some tuning. Here's a link to Reincarnation's instructions. They will also build one for you for a reasonable price. They ask for your cam card, vehicle weight, tranny type, and gear ratio for their calculations. They even send you their suggested initial timing setting range. I've had one for a few years now and it dropped in and ran perfect.
http://www.reincarnation-automotive.com/Duraspark_distributor_recurve_instructions_index.html

 

[jw0747]

Whatever you decide don't upgrade to MSD from Duraspark. MSD is not dependable and ask me how I know. Before EFI I ran Duraspark after two failed MSD modules and never had a problem. And you can get Duraspark parts from almost any auto parts store or your local pick-n-pull.

 

[Rustytruck]

I got my 74 Bronco over 35 years ago it had 10,000 miles on it. One of the first thing I did was buy a new module and mag pick-up assy. at that time the module was about $170.00 and the pick-up was about $35.00 from Ford. I put them under the back seat for just in case sake. Still there after all these years. Back then $200.00 was a hell of alot of money for a working 18 year old. Still running the same origional pick-up, module and coil all these years. Who knows if the new old stock parts banging around in my truck are still good all these years. I had a 1979 Ford F250 that went through 2 factory mag pick-ups in 5 years after the truck was 10 years old. The Ford truck had no issues with the factory module in 15 years until I sold it, but it is also a different module than my 74 Bronco. The only people I know that had Module issues were people swapping out the module when the problem was the mag pick-up and the inferior import modules back in the day were junk and failed early.