Ready to run distributors

[MilesnMiles]

Anyone using one? Firecore, Summit, MSD, PerTronix?
Read a million threads stateside, but has anyone got a review from their own Mopar here?

[Blue]

These are usually cheap chinese made HEI style units. Fitted one to a Pontiac, was 99 bucks including plug leads, worked fine. I fitted a similar type to a plymouth, that needed re curving. The Trigger wheel was made from a brittle cast material a bit of which broke off when I was carefully removing it and limiting the advance was tricky due to the materials used for the rest of it. So, probably OK for a bone stock engine but anything modified I would use something else like a stock dizzy with FBO box and coil.

[MilesnMiles]

Yes Blue, I’ve seen the cheap ones advertised on Summit etc. Seems you get lucky or not. Never had any luck with FBO although that was years back. Just seems wasteful not getting full voltage plus removing ballast etc is attractive.

[Blue]

FBO doesn't use a ballast either plus you gain a built in rev limiter too. I have the same set up on both my cars.

[MilesnMiles]

Ah gotcha Blue. You’re referring to the latest FBO ignition box. I’ll take a closer look, but did have two of the earlier FBO boxes burn out so got wary.

[Blue]

Yes I've had one of the older sheet metal boxes fail, not heard of any trouble with the billet ones they sell now though. They have an eBay shop these days so buying is easy. Mine are mounted inside the car in a cool position spaced off the panel to allow some airflow to the back for good measure, heat kills electronics.

[lough3969]

Ive got an FBO Box [the new billet box style] but had to replace it when it went pop about 10 months after fitting... like what it does .... may have to look at getting it out of the engine bay to keep cool

[MilesnMiles]

Just seen their site on eBay. Good tip on install and keeping it cool. I think excessive heat killed my first one. Stuck in Oxford going to the Nats for over an hour. Stop start, 90 degrees at pavement level. Next morning it refused to fire. Stock replacement did the trick. Ten years back..
..and still problems.
In truth, every thread on every type of aftermarket ignition set up indicates problems at some point from MSD ready to run down to the humble orange box.

Strangely, never had a OEM Mopar one go down. Might be a lesson there.

[Pete]

Heat may play a part, but I would also be concerned about Alternator output "Spikes" seeing off electronic ignition components too..

I would never run one of the cheap ready to run devices.

If you already have an electronic Distributor, then an MSD Streetfire unit is great value for money and very compact.

[MilesnMiles]

Yep, got electronic dizzy with FBO limiter plate.
Did you mean this box, Pete?
http://www.ignitionproducts.eu/en/msd-s ... h-rev.html

[Pete]

Yep, got electronic dizzy with FBO limiter plate.
Did you mean this box, Pete?
http://www.ignitionproducts.eu/en/msd-s ... h-rev.html

Yes, Miles.
They are a lot smaller than 6AL's.

I have had one on the Bee and it is fine.

They have a rev limiter built in.

They DO say avoid heat and I have it mounted on a carrier under the battery tray away from Headers, etc and out of direct water.

[MilesnMiles]

Thanks Pete, much better than Mopar OEM, comparatively speaking? Looking for better spark at lower revs which that box should provide.

[Birdman]

Miles,
Both John and I have Firecore RTR distributors. Neither of which are installed at present. Mine ran great ( very smooth) for 37 miles , then, died. After much wrangling, got a new module from Firecore and fitted it. The old module had a component with one connection unsoldered, probably the cause of failure. Anyway, fitted dizzy with new module and their coil, seemed great, but, at Shakey wouldn't run above 5000 rpm,so, old dizzy back in.
John is reticent to fit his , which, also failed and I put the new module for him. Not great for a $300 outlay. Beautifully made though!
Chris

[MilesnMiles]

Ouch Chris, just one more story in what seems a litany of module failures on various aftermarket stuff. Firecore don’t do a small block dizzy, probably just as well!

Reckon I’ll keep it Mopar, it maybe invest in the MSD Streetfighter box that Pete memtioned. I’ve read multiple threads so far and it seems folk are having problems.
My stock Mopar electronic set up ran me to 6,200 rpm last year without apparent drop off. Until I shifted gear

[Dave999]

mopar dizzy
recurved 1/2 the advance taken out, with a $15 hei and a coil off a V12 jag DLB198

sorted

Dave