Mopar Muscle Association UK

Hi all,

I have a stock 68 small block 318 in a dodge a100. It currently has points, all the original ignition system. I am planning on giving the current set up some TLC to get the van on the road and MOTd but eventually it will all need replacing with something new.

I am not looking for performance, reliabilty is the main thing I want.

What am I best to look into?

1. Replace the points system with like for like?

2. Some type of electronic ignition… if so what?

3. ….?


Any advice appreciated, I am not a mechanic, go easy on the terminology!


Thanks,

I went through this recently with my Dart.
I looked at the 'all in one' type electric ignitions, all built in to the distributor but decided against these as if one component breaks, you have the launch the entire thing in to orbit and buy another one.

I went with an MSD (brand) 6AL-2 (model) ignition kit.
and matching MSD ignition distributor (bit the spark plug wires clip on to)
Along with a MSD ignition coil (thing that makes the spark, which feeds the distributor).

I think it cost me about £600 from the US.
If you buy it in the UK you will pay much more as they put £100-200 on the price for mark-up.

There are cheaper options out there, all in one units are 3-400 if I recall.

The MSD kit was really easy to install, very clear instructions and if you ever change your car, rip it out and move it to another vehicle.

You don't need to spend big bucks on an ignition system unless your searching for more performance. Check out this link and think about following Dave999's advice regarding a HEI ignition conversion.

http://www.moparuk.com/forums/viewtopic ... hlight=hei

cheapest yet

318 electronic dizzy off a post 72 mopar ??? not much

or a Bosch 318 dizzy from post 73 aussie mopar

HEI module 7-20 quid ebay Etron/Dtron cheap. NAPA Echlin the better end of not too much Delco pretty good.
but you don't need a petronix or MSD version

Lucas DLB198 off an electronic ignition jag/Range rover/TVR 20-25 quid from your local factors or off ebay

you can splash out on a blaster 2 Coil (£50 black ones from VW Heritage are the cheapest) but you will then need a big ally heat sink for the module. the blaster 2 sucks 7-8 amps through the module and only the better ones can do that.

the DLB198 is using 5 or 6 Amps


By or borrow a hifi or CPU heat sink or a strip of ally heat sink from maplins for your module

by pass ballast resistor with loop of wire 1 end to the other end (piggy back connectors from Halfords)

set spark plug gaps to 25-28 thou

job done.


or

Simple but £50-60

petronix ignitor in your current dizzy


its not an electronic ignition its just a magnetic triggered switch (hall effect) points replacer
it doesn't gain you much more spark power (slight increase due to no condenser)
but you don't have points anymore

slightly more stable timing
slightly longer dwell
less to wear out

don't need new dizzy

Keep points dizzy in boot for the time when your module eventually dies.


Dave

Why HEI?

the story goes that GM in 1974 could not achieve emissions targets
so instead of redesigning their cylinder heads, altering cam timing and duration, raising CR, actually having their valves open into the widest part of the cylinder, addressing restrictive exhaust manifold and poor inlet
or a multitude of other things that might have helped

they decided that a catalytic converter was the way.

they made a chicken wire bag of platinum bullets and stuck them up the tail pipe.
and added in some air/exhaust gas recirculation shennanigans

this worked great under lab conditions. the cars ran kinda ok and did not pollute.

in real world conditions the catalytic converter got gummed up, caused back pressure which also seemed to have a impact on combustion and performance, resulting in upset owners and more unburnt fuel in the exhaust system, which glowed red , the catalyst beads got really really hot, breached their little cage and the cars shot red hot glowing platinum bits out the back setting fire to things like........ erm ....California.

so instead of doing the things that might have helped
they decided they needed an ignition that bloody well made sure anything flammable in the combustion chamber, no matter how polluted with the last cycles' exhaust gas it was, was bloody well set-off and burnt.

hence an ignition system with twice the spark power of points and variable dwell/coil protection built in.

good initially to 5000 rpm on a v8 and later 7000

its stopped GM cars being a fire risk
it stopped warranty claims for new catalytic converters. if flames never reach your catalytic converter it doesn't get so hot.

and it provided the rest of us with a bullet proof easy fitted, retro fit set up if our cars eventually got a magnetic triggered dizzy that we could swap in

all mopars did have the magnetic dizzy from 1972/3 onwards

HEI used by

all GM
76-86

Peugeot
Renault
Jeep
AMC
Jaguar
and loads others

the internal Chip is a Motorola design
if you know of a 70s or 80s car from the US or Europe with a magnetic pickup dizzy and a 4 pin or 5 pin module its a variation of the same old thing.
Millions of Chevy owners have tested it for us.


true story? probably not, some grains of truth? definitely.... Internet rubbish and elaborate exaggeration likely.
probably made up by a Mopar owner

but

it is a good ignition which automatically rev limits by being instantly rubbish when you get to 6000+ RPM on a v8

better rpm on a 6 or 4 due to fewer cylinders


Dave

Pertronix in dizzy is a good budget option, or you could look at FBO ignition modules, but more expensive at about £250 with a new coil to suit. I bought my FBO box from someone on here who imports both FBO and pertronix. Think I got an MMA discount.

Got it (Just about)

- Im not against spending some money, I can buy from america and ship in the back of a vehicle easily.

- Interesting, not one for keep the points.


Keep any thoughts coming,

Thanks guys,

No reason to keep points, they are about as relevant today as the dynamo. I would use an OEM style kit like this, fitted loads over the years they are normally pretty much bulletproof.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Mopar-Small ... d6&vxp=mtr