Points to Electronic ignition?

[Tram]

Ok, so I've got a '73 with what looks like an Accel points distributor that has a broken distributor cap clip, so I've started down the road to replace the clip.

Well, we all know how that goes. Might as well just move on past the points and go electronic.

So.. Duraspark II or Pertronix or HEI... Or.. Or.. Or..

Now I turn to you guys..

If you were sitting in my garage, looking at a busted dizzy cap and were contemplating electronic ignition, what would you do?

 

[Bronco Junkie]

I have Pertronix distributors and coils in both of my Bronco's. You will need to add a relay if you use the Pertronix coil.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, use some cable ties to keep the cap in place until you decide what to do. Good lick

 

[blubuckaroo]

Your Accel distributor is probably a dual point. That was an what we used back in the day to increase the point dwell and improve the spark.

Just from my own experience, I'd recommend switching to a Duraspark system. There are a number of articles online showing how to do it.

You can use wrecking yard parts, however, those components and wiring are going to be old. The distributor might not even be appropriate for your engine because of the gear type and advance curve. Better to get the components from a parts store.
Also, complete replacement Duraspark wire harnesses are available as new.

http://www.americanautowire.com/shop/ford-duraspark-ignition-harness

 

[jckkys]

The Duraspark II automatically maximizes the dwell and provides cranking spark retard. This eases the cranking effort needed to overcome kick back from advanced timing that the engine wants. No other system provides this. The wire harness is much less expensive at delconick's. He has a thread on the " for sale 66-77 Bronco parts" forum. A rebuild Duraspark distributor can come from any real parts store, ie not a speed shop. The module needs to be a US made Motorcraft part, not a Chinese copy. DY-683 or DY-893 are the later incarnations by Motorcraft and are good part numbers to look for on Ebey, Amazon, or RockAuto. The total price of these parts is less than after market systems, and far better. Any component can be found as stock '76-'77 Bronco parts. That also means that it all fits as OE EB parts.

 

[Tram]

The Duraspark II automatically maximizes the dwell and provides cranking spark retard. This eases the cranking effort needed to overcome kick back from advanced timing that the engine wants. No other system provides this. The wire harness is much less expensive at delconick's. He has a thread on the " for sale 66-77 Bronco parts" forum. A rebuild Duraspark distributor can come from any real parts store, ie not a speed shop. The module needs to be a US made Motorcraft part, not a Chinese copy. DY-683 or DY-893 are the later incarnations by Motorcraft and are good part numbers to look for on Ebey, Amazon, or RockAuto. The total price of these parts is less than after market systems, and far better. Any component can be found as stock '76-'77 Bronco parts. That also means that it all fits as OE EB parts.

Excellent information here. Thank you very much.

I'll get with delconick on a harness.

 

[DirtDonk]

Yep, Duraspark here too.
The HEI is the simplest to wire, with it's basically single wire hookup and in-cap coil. But it's the biggest and ugliest, and due to that usually hits something that needs to be modified.
The Pertronix ignitor is next in simplicity and works well.
The Duraspark is initially a little more work with the harness and has an external control module. But well worth it and should be just as reliable as anything else.

I'm not a total purist at heart, but I do still like that it's all Ford parts too.

Paul

 

[SteveL]

Had a pertronix module in the 66 when we bought it. Would constantly crossfire in traffic if the motor got warm. Bought another truck with a new pertronix flame thrower dizzy. There was too mush endplay in the shaft making it run like crap at different rpms. Now I run hei dizzys in everything. Dui's in both broncos and a summit brand in my 72 suburban. Work great and less wiring.

 

[FordBronc]

Duraspark II here, I got a complete distributor and EMC for $30 at a swap meet. My wiring guru (because I am NOT one) had the whole thing swapped out and wired up by the time I found a spare ECM in the parts shed. That we ended up not needing.

5 min later it was running.

 

[Tram]

I think I'll be headed the Duraspark II direction.. Just need to source the bits now..

So, as best I understand it, all I really need is:

Duraspark harness
Duraspark distributor
Ignition module - Motocraft DY-683 or DY-893

What is the difference in a 683 and a 893 with regard to the module? 893's seem to be much cheaper.

 

[FordBronc]

Ignition modules, 74 (black grommet) and 75 (green grommet) are year specific and will not interchange.
76 to 79 (blue grommet) are interchangeable.
Ignition modules: 1974 is 1974 ONLY / 1975 is 1975 ONLY.
Blue module introduced in 1976 was used well into the 1990's.
D4AZ-12A199-C 1974 only
DuraSpark ignition modules identified by a colored plastic insert located above where the wires feed out.
2 others: One has a red plastic insert, the other has a yellow or brown plastic insert.
Red module is D7AZ-12A199-A used in some CA vehicles ONLY.
D9AZ-12A199-C (replaced D8AZ-12A199-A). One of these modules is yellow, one is brown Since the part number was replaced, I cannot recall which module was which color.
These modules were used in 1978/79 302 & 351M/W vehicles sold in high altitudes only. 351W: Passenger Cars & Econolines only.
1U2Z-12A199-AA (replaced D6AZ-12A199-B - D7AZ-12A199-B - D8VZ-12A199-A -
D9VZ-12A199-A) .. Ignition Module - blue insert (Motorcraft DY-893) / Available from Ford.
Myriad 1976/90's FoMoCo vehicles.
Green Sales in OH.
Collectors Auto Supply in WA.
Haven Ford in KS.
Klimesh Motor Sales in IA.
Bob Allen Ford in KS.
Freese Motor Inc in IA.
Wesley Obsolete Parts in KY.
Dennis Carpenter Ford in NC.

All this is from a great info source funny enough named "Number Dummy"....

 

[jckkys]

The DY-893 is the last iteration of the Duraspark II module. Heavy trucks with 429s through '97 got them. The DY-683 preceded them and the DY-184 preceded the DY-683. I run a DY-184 from the early '80s that has run flawlessly since then. These are all Motorcraft Duraspark II modules made in the US. The only meaningful difference is availability. They all work well. I like the DURASPARK tested tough white label, and the DY-893 doesn't have one. You can find any of them, but the DY-893 is the most common and they're usually less expensive as a result. RockAuto has them for less than 34 bucks under 1995 F700 with a 429 listing. Many sources list all 3 as the same part.

 

[spap]

You just can't beat the money that ford put into research and development of their duraspark. never had trouble with Petronix ignitions but for durability you can't beat the original

 

[metal1]

I went the gm hei route and have never looked back one wire hook up ,and if need be parts are everywhere from parts houses junk yards and back yards from baja to Alaska

 

[Tram]

I went the gm hei route and have never looked back one wire hook up ,and if need be parts are everywhere from parts houses junk yards and back yards from baja to Alaska

I was leaning this way until body lifts and hood trimming came into play..

 

[jckkys]

When you consider the GM HEI, also consider the info in this comparison; http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=19440

 

[bteutsch]

The pertronix stuff is nice, I ran a pertronix iii distributor for a couple of years with no problems. I just got to worrying about, what if this thing just stops working one day. You either keep a spare module with you, or wait till a new one comes in. For a pertronix iii replacement module cost was about $130.00. To me the Duraspark conversion made sense. I spent $20 at the junkyard for a harness, $70 at Napa for a reman Duraspark distributor, and about $40 for a motorcraft module. So for the same $130.00, I have an all ford system, that if I do have a problem with, I can get parts for at 8:00 on a Sunday evening. There are cheaper modules available also. It's up to you. The pertronix was nice and easy to hook up. The Duraspark was plug and play, just followed a diagram from viperwolf


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[Tram]

Picked up a harness from Delconick.. Just need to source the rest of the bits.

Thanks for all your help guys..

 

[gr8scott]

Assuming your engine is stock (flat tappet cam), you'll need one with a cast iron gear:
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NRD482899

 

[blubuckaroo]

http://www.reincarnation-automotive.com/Duraspark_distributor_recurve_instructions_index.html

You'll need a distributor.
Here's the best deal ever...
They need a copy of your cam card, engine specs, gear ratio, tranny type, vehicle weight and use.
What you get back, is a distributor that really is ready to run along with a recommended initial timing setting.
It is as close to plug-n-play as you'll get.