Over the counter substitutes for the Duraspark dizzy...

[66 E100 Pickup]

I'm fed up with the load-o problems of trying to get the advance worked out on my '66 200. The replacement dizzy I put in never worked great in the first place, and between issues with a loose rotor and poor fitting cap I am ready to heave it in the trash. The spark jumps around and the engine runs rough at all rpms. Time to go. Piece of $35 junk.

I see most of the part stores seem to be selling a remanufactured dizzy for Duraspark II replacements, made by "Cardone". Comes with a lifetime warranty and sells for between $40-$50 including core charges. Napa has one for a 1980 200 that is in the $60 range, but does not indicate who makes the dizzy.

Aside from the junk yard pull option, anyone have any thoughts on other options? The 200 duraspark dizzy just doesn't seem to make evil bay. This engine is not one that I am going to build, so I don't want to sink $300-$500 into a fancy performance ignition.

John

 

[addo]

I'm not quite sure of the angle you're taking. Would a DS-II be OK if it were recurved and reliable? Or do you want a different type of distributor, like a dual advance points unit?

The main problem with parts store DS-IIs is that they are seldom (if ever) correctly curved. The main problem with junkyard DS-IIs, is (probably) bushing/shaft wear.

The DIY option many people take with a Duraspark and the GM ignition module is a good compromise; carrying a spare module is sensible, cheap and space-efficient.

 

[fordconvert]

I got my DS2 from O'reilly. Seems to be working fine but I have not spent much time on the curve since I still have other more pressing issues causing greater performace problems but it seems to be in the ballpark.

The loose rotor thing on the ford points systems usually seems to be due to the little metal clip missing or broken on the end of the shaft. I have only seen one engine I have worked on come with one and it was broken. The only way I even knew about them was I got a new old stock tune up 'kit' for a Ford/New Holland tractor and it had one in the pack. Other than that one I have never seen or found a new one. It seems to be one of those parts that never existed. I use a few wraps of teflon tape around the shaft to snug things up. It seemed to help a lot on some motors and not as much on others. Its a cheap easy thing to try.

A few notes about the DS2's upgrade:

There will be a core charge (maybe the store will be dumb enough to take your load o?)

If you use the 74 Mav cap it will work with your old wires since it looks like the old cap. If you use the regular DS2 cap you will have to buy a cap adaptor and new wires. I went with the regular cap since I needed new wires anyway. In my area the Mav cap seemed to be a special order but the regular cap was a normal stock item usually with a choice of brands. The cap adaptor may or may not be a stock item because its not something that normally needs to be replaced. Its the round cylinder part that screws to the dizzy base that has the clips on it to snap down the flatish cap. The mav cap (i think also known as DS1) screws directly to the dizzy.

 

[66 E100 Pickup]

The main problem with parts store DS-IIs is that they are seldom (if ever) correctly curved.

I think I can deal with this issue, my main concern is the starting advance and the max advance. I believe the vacuum canister has the allen wrench adjuster in it.

As you know the load-o with its two spring set up is a cheap problematic unit.

My main angle here is that while there are remand DSII's at the parts stores, I am not familiar with the reman company and thus was looking to avoid another spot of dizzy trouble.

I will check O'Reillys they sell some stuff on-line but not sure they will ship this to CA.

The core charges are $5 or $10 for the single advance unit. No big deal, I just eat the cost.

BTW I already have the duraspark module and wiring harness.

John

 

[Bort62]

I got a remand Duraspark from Kragen and it works fine.

I did recurve it, but it worked fine before I did.

 

[66 E100 Pickup]

I did recurve it, but it worked fine before I did

How did you recurve it? Are you running the timed port, or the manifold port?

Got one coming from Kragen's, it was only $38 + $5 core. Same part numbers as the other companies, but prices vary all the way from $38 to about $70. I couldn't find any one but "Cardone" that sells these as an OEM replacement unit.

John

 

[xr van]

get on the aus ebay.

search for an electronic dizzy from an xe falcon
they are a pretty much bolt in excercise, you just need to turn down the base so you can bolt the hold down clamp on.

the two wires on this dizzy connect to the pos and neg sides of the coil

easy.

 

[Bort62]

I followed the link on the top of this page.

I run it off Manifold vac