a couple things....

[Anonymous]

Howdy,
I have a broken valve cover bolt in my head. Can I drill it out? Also, with a duraspark do I have to have an ignition box (such as MSD)?
Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi generalfonz,

A valve cover bolt should not have been installed so tight that it would break while removing. So go with caution. There is a tool called an ez-out. One drills a hole in the fastener, smaller than the fastener diameter (as small as posible). The ez-out is then inserted into the whole and turned out. This tool works quite well on fasteners a little larger than the one you are trying to remove, but the fastener you are dealing with should not be very tight.

Duraspark. Units can be installed with the stock FORD box, a GM 4 pin box (very simple / cheap), or an MSD (very expensive). Another option is to use a 68 - 73 dual advance dizzy and install a Pertronix II. There is a DSII install section in the TECH section at the home page for this forum. Several discussions have taken place regarding the pros and cons of the DSII vs. Pertronix II. A copy of one I posted in February follows.
____________________________________________________________

..."You have asked a question that could set off quite a debate, DuraSpark vs. Pertronix. I favor the Pertronix II because the technology is newer, the performance is excellent, and reliability is better (I'm it trouble now).

Reliability. While this comment is second hand, I will say that I have not met a Ford machanic who hasn't said that the DSII "box" is unreliable. As a matter of fact, I had one tell me they made it a policy ..."back then"... to keep several on hand because they had to switch them out so often. As for Pertronix, they DO NOT perform well without a 12 volt hook-up. So, there a are lot of Ford owners out there who did not have a good experience with the Pertronix system. Why? Based on a response to an MCA letter, which response was published by MCA on their sight, Pertronix determined that there installation instructions were not clear. As a result, many of the users reporting poor performance had powered the unit via direct hook up to the distriubtor, which is NOT a 12 volt switched source. This problem was solved with the Pertronix II.

Technology. The Pertronix and the DSII are more than 25 years old. In the case of the DSII, it has not been used since the advent of fuel injection (mid 80's). The original Pertronix unit is more than 25 years old. This not to say that they don't work, or that you will not have good luck with them.

Pertronix II with Flamethrower 2. About two years old. Upgrade 1 - converts coil to 12 volt by eliminating the ballast resistor in the coil circuit (this is a good thing). Upgrade 2 - the system has built in dwell control. This helps to insure maximum spark signal throughout the RPM range (one would have to add MSD to the DSII, at a cost of $150+, to get this function). Upgrade 3 - the system has a built in circuit protector to prevent burning up the module if the key is left on while the engine is not running, i.e., if you set and listen to your sound system.

Bottom line, for $115 you get a 12 volt system with a 45,000 volt spark and dwell control. As a side benefit, this unit can be installed in about 20 minutes (easier than replacing points).

As a final note, the fact that you want to upgrage your dual vac distributor begs another question / comment. What are your long range plans for the car? Specifically, do you plan to add a performance carburetor? This is an important consideration because (and I learned this lesson the hard way), NONE of the typical / popular performance carbs (Holley or Weber) support the dual vac dizzy, and the Pertronix unit that fits the dual vac probably will not fit the single vac dizzy required with these carbs. So, if you invision a carb change somewhere down the road you may want to upgrade the the dizzy when you do the Pertronix II. This way you'll be ready for any carb change you may want to make, including one that would require a mechanical only set up as the single vac unit is easily converted."...

The total cost of the PII with Flamethrower II is $115 at Mustangs Unlimited. A rebuilt dual advance dizzy is $65 same place.

For some more insight into the distributor issue take a look at "distrbutor help" on this same forum page.
____________________________________________________________

Hope this is useful info - Steve

 

[Falcon62]

Valve covers: Just remember the torque spec for valve covers is 3 - 5ft lbs. If you snapped one off, you were way over torque spec. I tighten mine using a 1/4" extension with a screwdriver handle, and probably still over torque them.

Here's a pretty good tip for removing a broken bolt - try a reverse twist drill bit. You have to drill a hole for the easy out anyway, and many times the bolt will come out while using the reverse twist bit.

Ignition: I've got to add some counter points on the D-II module failures. My understanding is the early versions of the modules were prone to failure, not so with later versions, but as Steve points out, my info is also second hand. However, I also have first hand experience with D-II in my 72 F-250. I'm running a D-II module in my truck that's almost 20 years old, and it's never missed a beat.

Key point is to mount the module away from heat sources - the one in my Falcon is mounted on the fender apron, as is the one in my truck.

Another point is cost - my complete D-II setup (distributor, wires, cap adapter, cap, wiring harnesses, coil, and module) from a pull and save place cost me about $25. Originality wasn't an issue to me, and that's the one thing I think the Pertronix has going for it. You can retain a stock looking igintion system with the benefit of electronic ignition and no one's the wiser.

The Pertronix is a good product, as are GM, MOPAR, and MSD units, but based on my success with readily available junkyard parts I can't justify the expense. It really amounts to what you expect, and how much you are willing to spend. For me, there was greater bang for my buck than going the route of MSD, Pertronix, etc.

Just offering another view...

 

[Greywolf]

I've owned 200K to 350K mile Fairmonts and Zephyrs since 1990 and never had a DII/dizzy dump on me.
The Holley 1946 on the other hand has driven me to distraction!
Ben
(Let it be noted that while my X-Flow was always going to be EFI, I had considered a DII with it until I got a deal on an Electromotive DIS system)

 

[rbohm]

8) i also have owned a number of vehicles equiped with the Dll system, and also never had one break. including an 80 pinto that had an engine fire on the po. the connectors were burned pretty badly but the unit worked perfectly. i have a crane xr700 in my falcon and it too has never missed a beat in the 2 years it has been in.