Any thoughts on Cardone 843890 electronic distributor for 318? Coil checking?

[MoPar~Man]

I came across mention of the Cardone 843890 as a (drop-in?) replacement for the small block. Pretty good price. Does anyone have experience with this distributor?

Possibly might have to go with electronic voltage regulator (recommendations for this?) for best results?

My 318 seems to run fine, maybe might run better with this? Better MPG maybe?

I'm using the stock / original coil, I have a handfull of others. Is there a way to check these to make sure they're in tip-top condition? Resistance check? Is an aftermarket / new coil recommended for best results?

 

[Big_John]

IMHO....

Before I would buy that distributor, I would buy a rebuilt one from @halifaxhops . You are starting with a better, USA made unit and then he's making it like new again. That will be a much better, more reliable distributor, although you may spend a little more. You get what you pay for.

It sounds like you are switching to an electronic ignition from points... Correct? All things being equal, you won't find any more power. Change the advance curve in the new distributor and that may help, especially if you've done any other changes.

People debate on here all the time about if the electronic is more reliable than the points. I tend to think that it's about the same, giving the edge to the electronics, based on my own experiences. You won't have to screw with the points and where the points will wear and performance may degrade after x miles, the electronic will still being going strong. The electronic will be better in wet weather... and anyone that says no on that never had to dry out a distributor cap to get a points ignition to fire while standing in the rain.

You have some options, like Pertronix, which I run in one of my cars, but I thing the Chrysler electronic ignition is a pretty good piece, as long as you buy good parts to start with.

 

[mrfury68]

Stay away from any Cardone remanufactured part. They are pretty much junk. Many years ago they were a reputable company, not anymore. You need to contact @halifaxhops, he is a member here who has a business rebuilding and testing distributors. You will get the correct distributor that will work. If you 318 is running fine why do you think your distributor is bad? A bad coil will give you similar symptoms as a bad carb or fuel pump. As for better MPG, uh, your are driving a full size Mopar so don't expect too much, especially if your car is running fine. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Toolmanmike]

.

 

[CBODY67]

Going electronic can be a better long-term situation, due to the fact that you are not dealing with breaker points and breaker cam lobe wear. Which, to me, can be a BIG deal. The Chhryser-based system is good, but there are also otherw which are designed to be "added to" the Chrysler point distributors, too. Do NOT expect any big mpg improvement as if the sparks are working now, getting them from an electronic system will still provide good sparks. Adding a 40KV coil will only give the system the power to fire more-marginalized plugs and/or mixtures. So if the stock system is working well now, that's pretty much as good as it can get. No matter how much money you might spend. Not to say that a bit of tweaking to the advance curve and sparl plug gap might result in some minor improvements.

I concur with @halifaxhops being a good source for ignition needs.

Just some thoughts and observations,

CBODY67

 

[garyh]

Cardone is Junk today.I have had Good results with "Autoline" from Rockauto.

 

[saforwardlook]

I personally like the electronic systems for their simplicity. However, I have had a lot of problems with suddenly the ECUs just fail with no warning and will not start the car. I have had new control boxes just not work and these were bought as either new Mopar Performance Chrysler ones or even the vaulted NAPA Echlin made control modules. I personally do not like the idea of uncertainty whether my car will start next time. So on my cars with electronic boxes, I put known good ones in my glove box just in case.

For me, also, I will never buy anything Cardone.

 

[halifaxhops]

Cardones real issue that I have is the curve is set up to fit in the middle of like a ten year spread. Some work great with it some are dogs. Need something PM me your enginge info, thrans and what has been done to them.

Now on coils it is a crap shoot. Some are fine some die in a day. problem is the quality control, needs to be checked out first.

 

[halifaxhops]

73 318 off of RA cardone. 843890

LEBARON	1977-1980
CHRYSLER	NEW YORKER	1977-1980
CHRYSLER	NEWPORT	1972-1980
CHRYSLER	TOWN & COUNTRY	1978-1980
DODGE	ASPEN	1977-1980
DODGE	B100	1972-1980
DODGE	B150	1981-1989
DODGE	B200	1972-1980
DODGE	B250	1981-1989
DODGE	B300	1972-1980
DODGE	B350	1981-1989
DODGE	CB300	1974-1980
DODGE	CHALLENGER	1972-1974
DODGE	CHARGER	1972-1978
DODGE	CORONET	1972-1975
DODGE	D100 PICKUP	1972-1989
DODGE	D150 PICKUP	1977-1989
DODGE	D200 PICKUP	1972-1980
DODGE	D250 PICKUP	1981-1989
DODGE	D300 PICKUP	1972-1980
DODGE	D350 PICKUP	1981-1989
DODGE	D400 PICKUP	1978-1981
DODGE	D450 PICKUP	1978-1981
DODGE	DAKOTA	1989
DODGE	DART	1972-1975
DODGE	DIPLOMAT	1977-1980
DODGE	M300	1972-1974
DODGE	M350	1974
DODGE	MAGNUM	1978-1979
DODGE	MB300	1974
DODGE	MIRADA	1980
DODGE	MONACO	1972-1978
DODGE	P200	1972
DODGE	P300	1972
DODGE	POLARA	1972-1973
DODGE	RAMCHARGER	1974-1989
DODGE	RD200	1978-1980
DODGE	ROYAL MONACO	1975-1977
DODGE	ST. REGIS	1979-1980
DODGE	W100 PICKUP	1972-1989
DODGE	W150 PICKUP	1977-1989
DODGE	W200 PICKUP	1972-1980
DODGE	W250 PICKUP	1981-1989
DODGE	W300 PICKUP	1972-1980
DODGE	W350 PICKUP	1981-1989
PLYMOUTH	BARRACUDA	1972-1974
PLYMOUTH	CARAVELLE	1978-1980
PLYMOUTH	CUDA	1972-1974
PLYMOUTH	DUSTER	1972-1975
PLYMOUTH	FURY	1972-1978
PLYMOUTH	GRAN FURY	1972-1980
PLYMOUTH	PB100	1975-1980
PLYMOUTH	PB100 VAN	1974
PLYMOUTH	PB150	1981-1983
PLYMOUTH	PB200	1975-1980
PLYMOUTH	PB200 VAN	1974
PLYMOUTH	PB250	1981-1983
PLYMOUTH	PB300	1975-1980
PLYMOUTH	PB300 VAN	1974
PLYMOUTH	PB350	1981-1983
PLYMOUTH	ROADRUNNER	1972-1975
PLYMOUTH	SATELLITE	1972-1974
PLYMOUTH	SCAMP	1972-1975
PLYMOUTH	TRAILDUSTER	1974-1981
PLYMOUTH	VALIANT	1972-1975
PLYMOUTH	VOLARE	1977-1980

 

[Big_John]

And just as food for thought... If I were setting up an ignition from scratch, I would go with a good rebuilt Chrysler distributor and then add the GM HEI module with a Ford E-Core coil.

A decent write up on doing it HEI Electronic Ignition Retrofit How-To - Slant Six Forum

IMHO, you are then using the best pieces from each. The GM HEI module is pretty reliable and easy to source. The E-Coil is also reliable, and works well with this setup. I've never done this... But I've thought about doing it with my 300... Biggest reason for me is the existing stuff (older real Mopar stuff) works so nice and I'm in the "not broke, don't fix it" mode most of the time.

 

[Jengel451]

Agree with everyone about Cardone. For a different path, For my last 3 builds I decided to go with a Pertronix Flame Thrower distributors and will probably never turn back. LA block, Magnum and B block builds. 2 wire, no balast, no Ignition box etc etc. Rock solid, better spark and if you go with a III you can set redline cutout.

 

[halifaxhops]

I do like the Petronix kits you put in. For the money you cannot go wrong.