Duraspark upgrade worth doing?

[Anonymous]

Hi im obviousely knew to this site and i think its great because i didnt know there was such a great communitee on peeople hopping up straight six's. But i have a 65 mercury comet with a 200 six and i was curious if you guys would suggest doing this upgrade to it or not? and if u could suggest other things i could do to it that arent overly expensive.

 

[addo]

The swap is probably worth doing. There is a small chance the motor is an early type that will not accept a Duraspark without modification.

You need to tell us what level of tools and car experience you have.

Then, positively identify the motor capacity and year made, by casting code and other identifiers. Next would be some basic diagnostics, and reporting back with the results.

From there, it's possible to target your spending to extract maximum value.

Regards, Adam.

 

[Asa]

The swap is probably worth doing. There is a small chance the motor is an early type that will not accept a Duraspark without modification.

You need to tell us what level of tools and car experience you have.

Then, positively identify the motor capacity and year made, by casting code and other identifiers. Next would be some basic diagnostics, and reporting back with the results.

From there, it's possible to target your spending to extract maximum value.

Regards, Adam.

the 64 and earlier blocks won't accept a DSII dizzy
to determine if yours is a '64, look for the casting numbers, for a '65 it should be C5xx (with the "x" being some random alphanumeric), the casting numbers can be found in the yellow boxes in this picture (click it for a big version)


you can also count the freeze plugs seen there on that side, five is a 200ci

good luck

 

[kirkallen143]

i was curious if you guys would suggest doing this upgrade to it or not?

It just depends if you like to change out points @ every 4 or 5000 miles. And points are cheap, too. I have never had any problems w/ them...like they say, "if it ain't broke, why fix it." Just my opinion, though. Good luck and welcome to FSPP.

Kirk

 

[Anonymous]

alrighty i got the information you guys were wanting and the block number is C4DE and the intake says C3 XXX and as for money as long as it isnt over a couple hundred dollers im cool with it. it also has 3 freeze plugs too

thanks
mike

 

[wallaka]

The last freeze plugs are hard to see. I don't think they made any '65 Comets with a 170, but given Ford's parts-bin philosophy, it is possible.

The C4DE means that it was cast in '64. The letter represents the decade (C=60's, D=70's and E=80's) and the number is the last number in the year.

It doesn't look likely that the Duraspark will fit. Beginning in '65 Ford made the hole for the dizzy bigger and it stayed that way through the 200's lifecycle. I don't know though...it could still fit.

If not, there is always the Pertronix module. There are people on here who love them and others who hate them.

 

[Anonymous]

hey its pretty sweet to see someone else with a 65 comet! is urs a 2 door or 4? mine a 4 door. but i kno its a 200cuin engine. but i read around earlier that someone got some sand paper at about 320 grit and sanded the hole or the dizzy so the the duraspark would fit do you think thats something i could try? also whats the average price for those from a junk yard?

 

[wallaka]

I have a 4 door too. White, with red interior. I have some pics in the Eye Candy section. If you're going to sand (which is what I would do 'cos I'm cheap) I'd probably sand on the distributor instead of the block. It's lots cheaper if you go too far. The price really depends on your junkyard. I'd say betweeen 20 and 50 bucks for all of it (module, wiring etc) but there's really no telling. It depends on how many are in the yard and the people there.

 

[addo]

Unfortunately, there are a couple of things stopping you fitting a Duraspark straight in.

The shaft is 40 thou too large. The oil pump drive shaft is 1/16" too big.

To fix the first, you need to turn down the shaft from below the driven gear. To fix the second, you need to replace the oil pump with a later unit, and also the oil pump drive shaft.

You might find an old stock Mallory or similar distributor to fit as-is.

Regards, Adam.

 

[Lazy JW]

... and as for money as long as it isnt over a couple hundred dollers im cool with it....

thanks
mike

This is a perfect situation to install an MSD ignition. The points will trigger the MSD box and they will last almost forever since the points don't have to carry full current.
Joe

 

[CobraSix]

so I don't rewrite what I've already written:

Pertronix (another option to DS2 and looks stock and they have them for earlier distributers):

http://www.kastang.net/pertronix.html

DS2: http://www.kastang.net/duraspark2.html

And my comparison of the 2:

http://www.kastang.net/pertvds2.html



Slade

 

[jamyers]

This is a perfect situation to install an MSD ignition. The points will trigger the MSD box and they will last almost forever since the points don't have to carry full current.
Joe

And you can pick up a used but good MSD box on ebay for about $60, instead of $180 for a new one. I've gotten two 6A boxes from there, both work fine!

 

[Anonymous]

so can i do the MSD and the pertronix? or would that be doin the same thing? also what model of cars have the straight sixs in the between 77 to 83 so i can get a newer head ?

 

[mugsy]

MSD and the Pertronix are not the same thing. Teh Pertronix replaces the points basically. And with the point the "weak link" in the system, the whole system can be improved. An MSD box will send multiple sparks to the spark plug (basically). I'm not too sure of how it works, but they are not the same thing.

tanx,
Mugsy

 

[Lazy JW]

I believe that the Pertronix is also capable of triggering the MSD. The only real advantage that Pertronix has in this situation is the elimination of the breaker points. Plus the fact that your wallet will be a bit lighter as well

If you use points to trigger the MSD it will literally be many years before you would ever need to replace them. They aren't carrying enough current to burn them like they do in the conventional ignition system.

There have been a fair number of Pertronix failures posted on this forum. You pays your money and you takes your choices :roll:
Joe

 

[CobraSix]

Pertronix generally is a very very solid system. However, it nearly left me stranded once because the adhesive tape holding in the trigger magnets came lose and I lost 3 of the magnets. I was able to limp home on 3 cylinders firing for 30 miles. After that I joined AAA and started carrying my old set of points in the trunk.

I switched to DS2 for a couple of reasons. I wanted the electronic, more solid state ignition. Pertronix offered that. However I wanted to go back to keeping the car equipped with mostly over the counter items. I didn't like having to wait for the replacement parts from pertronix for a week (though they did replace the failed part for free and with no aggrevation).

You can use pertronix to trigger and MSD device. I've run both ignition set ups and both of them are vast improvements over the points with little difference between them (Pertronix vs DS2).

In my opinion

Pertronix if you want an easier installation (takes like 45 minutes) and a stock look under the hood.

DS2 + MSD/GM module for more performance and for more reliable, easier to get parts for replacement.


Slade

 

[mugsy]

I've run both Pertronix and the DS-II. I ran the Pertronix for about 5 years without any problems. It was a good system for me. The old points used to go out of spec in 1K-2K miles. So it was nice not to have to change points all the time.

I haven't put much miles on the car since the DS-II install. I haqd hoped for better idle and performance, but really haven't noticed any difference. I seems to be about the same as the Pertronix.

tanx,
Mugsy

 

[jamyers]

Want a great ignition that looks stock?

Instead of using the DS II, use DS I. Same innards, small points-type cap, looks very close to original. Ask your local parts-monkey for a '74-'75 whatever-with-a-six-cylinder distributor.

Use a GM HEI module, and hide it on the backside of the shock tower. Get a real GM module, and you'll get the good programming (temp-sensitive dwell, etc)

 

[cfmustang]

So this is just a drop in?

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=A1C&mfrpartnumber=302690&parttype=218&ptset=A

Interesting...

 

[jamyers]

Yup, that's the exact one I just put in my '68 200. Interestingly enough, they say that dist. also fits the 302 V8.

One thing - earlier blocks had a smaller hole for the distributor and a smaller oil pump drive. I forget which year it changed, I want to say it was '66...