can the chrome box, 1/4 ohm resistor and standard production coil,be used for street driving ? thanks

The chrome box will work fine on the street until the day it quits, which may or may not be soon. There have been a number of posts in the last few years about chorme or orange boxes either failing soft or retarding the timing at high rpm.
If you are going to spend money n a chrome box don't, get the FBO box.

R.

what is this FBO box you talk about.

Chrome boxes don't retard the timing at high rpm.

Orange boxes DO.

Orange boxes are also much more failure prone.

If you have to pick between the two, spend a couple extra bucks and get the chrome box. It's worth it.

But that said, when my pile ran mid 12's I once A/B tested orange/chrome boxes and saw no difference in ET, shifting in the 6000rpm range. It's very possible that certain combinations might actually run better with a high rpm timing retard than without.

I have a quick question not meant to high jack this thread.

I used an orange box (probably 10 years old) that a friend gave me in my 1980 Dodge Ram stakebody with 360/4 barrel/NP 435, 4 speed stick with 4.56 gears.

The engine runs like a raped ape at idle when I give it gas. No matter how I set the timing, at highway speeds and cruising, it doesn't seem to have the get up and go that a 360 - 4 barrel - 4.56 geared truck should have when you step on the gas pedal.

Could this be because of the orange box retarding the timing at higher rpm's/speeds? Why does the orange box do this? Does a stock ignition box retard the timing as well at higher rpm's/speeds?

i have been running with my chrome box and stock coil for about 3 years now no problem.

I have been running a chrome box with the 1.00 ohms ballast resistor for over 10 years on the street. What difference would I notice if I changed the 1.00 ohms ballast resistor to the the 0.25 ohms ballast resistor?

thanks, the reason I asked was that I have these put away after installing an MSD unit in the race car, and would like to use it for the street Hemi.

I learned years ago that with a Mopar you want to carry a spare ECU and distributor pickup in the glovebox. In fact, I used to have a little "road box" that I carried in the trunk with a spare coil, ballast resistor, ECU, etc. That little box saved me a couple of times from a tow bill.

The Mopar ignition kit comes with a 1.25ohm ballast, the .25ohm is for the Accell race coil.
I wouldn't want to run the .25ohm for a long period of time, short runs under 20-30 minutes may be OK, or at the track.

I've had an Orange and FBO box failure, never a Chrome unit.

I also carry a spare ballast and ECU. After you are stranded, you learn. Same reason to hide a spare key, sucks when you can't get in.

I ran the chrome box for years with no problems.

-Don

I ran a chrome box in my Fastback since 1986 never a problem but have had three orange units go bad in less than two years after changing the chrome one out for fear it was going bad but turned out to be the loom. I wanted to try the FBO unit but you must buy it as a kit and I do not need the other stuff that comes in the kit.

Jesse

I am running a chrome box as well. So far so good

Well, this is good to hear, as just today I picked up a chrome box from Summit.

What retards the timing in these boxes is the resistance in the circutes. The old Boxes made in US are OK but the newer ones dont perform as well. They are made by the lowest bidder China. The FBO Box is made with the highest quality circuts and parts. Thats why they are better and because they use better parts they can run Higher voltage and that makes for a hotter spark.

just the reason why i run orange ecu's. i like a little high rpm retard. makes for better mph, and little chance of
detonation.
and yah.. should be good with a 1/4ohm resistor.

I run the orange box with an Acell coil and a .75 ballast. It was in my sons Dart for years and when he put MSD in his car I took the orange box and coil. I shift at 6200 and trap about 6300 with it and it works fine in my 63. And my sons Dart ran no faster with the MSD. Ron

Does a completely stock ignition box retard the timing at higher rpms?

I am thinking of trying a stocker in my truck application mentioned above in a previous reply in this thread...