Ready to run electronic distributors.

These work really well but here's an important tip, don't use an oil filled coil in the stock horizontal mount. The HEI module will make the coil run hot, and while laying horizontally the windings aren't covered with oil. You WILL burn out a coil. I know, I killed two flamethrowers in that manner.
I have some GM coil mount brackets that bolt into the intake manifold and stand an oil filled coil upright. You can still find em here and there in the junkyard.

How about the pertronics ignitor lll. Any issues w those?
 
My goal was another step in tidying my engine bay with increased performance being a bonus. I have experience with a 318 Poly engine in a 1960 Dodge Phoenix ( with after market ignition, Bosch style distributor with BIM024 module and Procomp e-core coil) which has reliably taken us on >1000km journeys throughout coastal and inland Queensland Australia in temperatures above 100F.

That setup I could not find for my 383 Polara but with the designed2drive/Moparmat2000 setup I am confidant using these commonly found parts, subject to suitable coil we will again be good to go.
I meant no disrespect to the work you or Moparmat2000 have done. There seems to be a trend among those who find ignition systems to be mysterious that newer, bigger, more is going to equal better and solve all of their problems (like a worn engine). My posts might help them reconsider.

I dislike much of what is see sold as an improvement, and believe much of it is a move backwards. If I was interested in redesigning the ignition, I liked the GM truck coil/module/bracket from Big_John's post... I have had very good luck with them (2 in the driveway) and parts should be readily available if you do need them.

For WIW, I believe the GM 4 pin module has about as much failure rate as the Chrysler module and is sensitive to heat sink issues even more so. They both seem to have the same low quality replacements out there now, maybe the GM is a bit more available. Still likely to be zero gain over stock on a factory engine.

I struggle to understand MSD use on naturally aspirated engines. I do understand increasing burn time for forced induction.
Hey look everyone I redesigned the wheel and it's still round.
Thank you :rofl:
I've been kind of hoping I'd hear some downsides from someone like yourself. It's usually something about "I'm not putting GM parts..." rather than experience and logic.
Thank you John. I'm sure half the readers of this post will still want to work too hard to get similar results, at best, as they would get just making everything they have right.

The real reason I entertain the idea that a modified ignition, or change to Chrysler electronic ignition from points, is the quality of replacement parts declining and becoming more difficult to find. I don't think we are all the way there yet, but I can see a possibility that the next decade or two won't be kinder to many old parts brands and the constant change of manufacturing locations doesn't help keep old stuff alive.

The big brands have been killing the industry... they make it hard to find parts that are still in the catalog because they don't have enough sales volume. Around here, I am almost out of mom and pop part stores.
 
I've been kind of hoping I'd hear some downsides from someone like yourself. It's usually something about "I'm not putting GM parts..." rather than experience and logic.
I'm afraid I am a "marque slut". Have owned Ford (US, English & Australian) GM (US & Australian) Chrysler (US & Australian) plus back in the day a 60's Mini CooperS.
 
I struggle to understand MSD use on naturally aspirated engines.
I've used MSD ignitions on a few cars now. First was back in the seventies on the car I was racing. Back then, it was the usual routine to warm the car up and change plugs. Not a fun job, but necessary. The plugs always got a little coating on them from running them off and on the trailer etc. If you didn't do that, the plugs would glaze over. When I went to the MSD, the car started on the first crank (impressive) and we no longer had to worry about plugs. The car became a lot less "fussy" about them.

Fast forward a few years and I had my A12 Roadrunner street car. Mild cam etc. The car ran great on the stock dual point almost all the time. Mopar Performance (which was still Direct Connection) was pushing their electronic ignition conversions at the time... and they were having quality issues with the box they were selling, so I decided to go with another MSD. The absolute best thing about the MSD was it would start that car no matter what.. At the time, I had to constantly move cars around in the driveway and in and out of the garage. The A12 was OK for about 3 moves without driving it and "cleaning it out". After that, the plugs might be fouled just enough to make the car a ***** to start. The MSD cured that... and again the car started faster with it. In fact, when the new owner called me, he told me he tried the MSD and a Chrysler ECU and he said he really loves how the car starts and runs with the MSD! .. and he wasn't a fan at first.

All that said, I seriously doubt if I would find any difference using one in my 300. It's a good piece though and I liked it in the other cars.
 
I guess I just don't get it... the Chrysler electronic ignition system is tried and true, I guess I'm an if it's not broke don't fix it guy. IMHO. When I look under a hood of a car and see these other units it kinda irritates me, and they would lose points if I was a judge. The original systems were very reliable and are now very inexpensive to repair or replace. When I hear guys saying that they ride with an original dizzy, to replace the $3 or $400 dollar one they bought aftermarket, I personally have to wonder on where you're better off.
Admittedly, I had to buy a plug and play distributor for my 77 Lotus and luckily it's working great. The distributor is located under the intake on these cars and almost impossible to check, reset, clean or change points on, not to mention the distributor was a complete disaster when I bought the car, so this was the only viable option. Simple two wire hook up no different than a points distributor. And it looks exactly like the factory model. Unless some nitwit wants to get a mirror and flashlight out to check for originality you'd never know the difference. Maybe someone can enlighten me to the advantages to having one of these vs. The ones that came on a '72 Hemi 'Cuda from the factory.
 
No disrespect taken cantflip. I wanted a hot spark electronic ignition with over the counter parts, and i liked the fact that not having a ballast resistor in the system made it one less thing to go wrong, and i wanted it to appear somewhat stock.

Some people may argue just using a pertronix drop in module in a points dizzy, however if that unit craps out, its not as close as the nearest auto parts store.
 
I bought a few sets of points and condensers and a few Ballast resistors and a screw driver and keep it in a cardboard box in my trunk. I did have to buy a new distributor though as the old one was worn.. I got a reman Cardone points dizzy. It cost 38.00. I seriously considered the Mopar ignition unit at one time but heard of them going out and you should carry a spare ,that they're now made in China and are crap etc. My ignition still looks stock cause it is. I can understand though guys wanting something more powerful in the ignition department especially in high performance situations. For me my 440 goes down the road cruising fine with points but I don't race it . I just cruze.:) I let my Omni do the scaring lol.
 
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I have some GM coil mount brackets that bolt into the intake manifold and stand an oil filled coil upright. You can still find em here and there in the junkyard.

How about the pertronics ignitor lll. Any issues w those?

I've been running a pertronix ignitor 3 for about 6 months or so with zero problems.
 
Nothing beats Ma Mopar for a street car.
I went to the local parts store and got the flavor of the week rebuilt distributor then purchased a Mopar ignition box and pigtail of from Summit.

I have never had a problem with this combo, on two cars I hid the ignition box, one I didn't worry bout.


Alan
 
I have had a TSP distributor in my smallblock. Its a HEI with a small cap and external coil. Works fine!? But is gonna get replaced soon for something lockable and phaseable.
 
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