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Electronic igniton conversion questions #3174097
09/09/23 09:53 PM
09/09/23 09:53 PM
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TJP Offline OP
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I know this has been beat to death I find myself questioning which way to go. Dealing with a single point 383 distributor.
The Mopar conversion kits seemed to have been taken over by Proform. my experience with them has not been good on electrical components.
I have also read the current ECU's fail about as fast as you can install them.
I bought a Mallory optical kit and it won't clear the lobes on the distributor cam. Looked at moving the module towards the outside of the dist. but the supplied trigger wheel is already BARELY clearing the module. So doing so would fix one issue but create another.
So I went looking and see that Petronix now requires their own rotor which I'm not overly fond of.
Accel is the same as Mallory just a different color whistling
I swear I saw a kit that used a hall effect sensor off the existing point lobes but can't find one for a single point mopar distributor ?
Also trying to maintain as close to factory appearing as possible. so what say the "BORED"?
TIA beer

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: TJP] #3174102
09/09/23 10:17 PM
09/09/23 10:17 PM
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Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Ain't nothin as good as it used to be. That includes most replacement parts for nearly everything.
1) I think I would see if I could find an older electronic conversion kit someone has laying on a shelf someplace.
2) Order the new kit, maybe you will get one of the good ones. When you install that ECU, make sure to ground the case with a wire that leads to the battery. Most failure are a result of a poor ground (self tapping screw through sheet metal) creating too much heat in the box.
3) Dual point distributer?

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: TJP] #3174103
09/09/23 10:17 PM
09/09/23 10:17 PM
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MoreParts Offline
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The Pertronix conversion kits use the hall effect. I've had the original version in my 383 since 1993 and no problems yet. I have a newer model III version in a Pontiac for 15 years and that one has run flawlessly too.

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: TJP] #3174122
09/09/23 10:58 PM
09/09/23 10:58 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Do you have any Pick A Parts yards or other scrap yards near you to scavenge a complete ignition with the distributer and wiring along with the ECU. If ss I would do that and make sure and buy it on the condition it works properly, the ECU grounding must be VERY GOOD wrench up


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: TJP] #3174126
09/09/23 11:24 PM
09/09/23 11:24 PM
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hi

why does everyone think they have to have electronic ignition ?

i do a fair amount of dist rebuilds , and recurves for performance / race engines . < have sun and allen dist tester>

i have some points dist that have been in use for 10 years , driven on weekends regulary and never been back for readjustment .

points are reliable ! must be properly installed !

single points easly run 6000 rpm plus , doul points 7000 .

chrysler and others accel / Mallory ect offered points for higher rpm 8500

just sayen !

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: calrobb2000] #3174150
09/10/23 07:38 AM
09/10/23 07:38 AM
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Sniper Online content
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Originally Posted by calrobb2000

hi

why does everyone think they have to have electronic ignition ?

i do a fair amount of dist rebuilds , and recurves for performance / race engines . < have sun and allen dist tester>

i have some points dist that have been in use for 10 years , driven on weekends regulary and never been back for readjustment .

points are reliable ! must be properly installed !

single points easly run 6000 rpm plus , doul points 7000 .

chrysler and others accel / Mallory ect offered points for higher rpm 8500

just sayen !





New points and condensers have the same issues as an other new part these days, poor quality. Put new points in my 51 2 years ago, I have maybe 1000 miles on it and the rubbing block is worn out already. NOS is where it's at because it isn't going to get better and since no new car has come with points in a long time no one is going to step up to build quality stuff.

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: Sniper] #3174155
09/10/23 08:21 AM
09/10/23 08:21 AM
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Apollo, PA.
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I was at a pick -a-part yesterday with a friend, just tagging along. I left with a small block electronic dist. for these reasons alone, to throw on the shelf.

I do have a pertronix lit in one of my cars since the late 90's... special rotor and all.

Last edited by B1MAXX; 09/10/23 08:23 AM.
Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: B1MAXX] #3174160
09/10/23 09:09 AM
09/10/23 09:09 AM
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VA
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It is easy enough to find a quality or original electronic pickup assembly and cam, if not complete distributor. Clean it up and convert. Harness is available, then get a ECU. Keep the points as a back up. Having said that, my 70 still runs points as a weekend car and I have not messed with it since the tune up about 5 years ago. Used OEM original points and condenser.

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: B1MAXX] #3174164
09/10/23 09:34 AM
09/10/23 09:34 AM
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You know, Pertronix is not the only game in town

Both Standard and Wells have similar conversions. Look up a 70 Charger with a 383 at Rockauto

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/dodge,1970,charger,6.3l+383cid+v8,1496003,ignition,ignition+conversion+kit,11340

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: Sniper] #3174210
09/10/23 01:16 PM
09/10/23 01:16 PM
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Omaha Ne
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Originally Posted by Sniper
Originally Posted by calrobb2000

hi

why does everyone think they have to have electronic ignition ?

i do a fair amount of dist rebuilds , and recurves for performance / race engines . < have sun and allen dist tester>

i have some points dist that have been in use for 10 years , driven on weekends regulary and never been back for readjustment .

points are reliable ! must be properly installed !

single points easly run 6000 rpm plus , doul points 7000 .

chrysler and others accel / Mallory ect offered points for higher rpm 8500

just sayen !





New points and condensers have the same issues as an other new part these days, poor quality. Put new points in my 51 2 years ago, I have maybe 1000 miles on it and the rubbing block is worn out already. NOS is where it's at because it isn't going to get better and since no new car has come with points in a long time no one is going to step up to build quality stuff.


the set in this car has less that 1k miles on it same S💩
To answer previous questions in order
1. Pooboy : When you say new kit, Are you referring to NOS or the current offerings? The only one I'm fining is Proform and my experience with their electrical components. It was so bad anytime a car came in with one of their HEI's we ALWAYS changed the modules out (Long story for an
other day). I wouldn't be so concerned about Proforms offerings except for the control box. From what I've read it's hard to find a reliable one.
Please comment if anyone knows otherwise And yes currently a single point dist.
2. MoreParts: May wind up going that way and buy an extra module
3. Cab: Being in the rust belt the chances of finding anything are next to zilch. Not to mention who pays for the time to go look? I do have a butt load of parts for both points and electronic but I believe most are small block. Actually thought about trying to mix and match putting soemthig together but there's that time factor again
4. CalRob: See Snipers and my response at the beginning of this response. I also have a Sun 504 distributor machine. wink
5. B1maxx See number 3 and then there's the control box issues that concerns me
6. Dragon slayer: being a 383, the distributor is a bit harder to come by quickly, I have plenty of OEM cams, pickup coils, and a New harness.
The issue is time and a reliable ECU.
7. Sniper: thanks beer they both look like petronix units. However they show the rotor and magnetic ring separate. That would make me a bit warmer and fuzzier as years ago I learned caps and rotors from different sources were not always compatible.
thanks to all for the responses, after many years of contributing, I am now getting help from others beer
If there are more comments. suggestions, experiences, Please feel free to add them
thanks again beer

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: TJP] #3174218
09/10/23 01:50 PM
09/10/23 01:50 PM
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I ran a mallory duel point setup that replaced the original point distributor. It ran decent until the points wore/got out of adjustment. Got tired of it and replaced it with a stock electronic distributor with modded springs and a msd6a. Been happy with it ever since.

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: Moparite] #3174296
09/10/23 10:09 PM
09/10/23 10:09 PM
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The owner decided to do the Proform kit licensed by Chrysler as is has better reviews than their standard kit. He will carry a spare ICM with him.

The ICM failures got me to thinking which is dangerous at times LOL. I've seen a lot of the ICM's mounted on the firewall directly above the the engine and exhaust heat. So I started wondering if being exposed to the heat may be causing some of the failures work whistling shruggy
I have always chose a cooler location like the backside of the radiator support or inside the car.

Thanks for all the help and input. beer

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: TJP] #3176210
09/18/23 11:22 PM
09/18/23 11:22 PM
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Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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Mancini sells an adapter pigtail to run the Mopar electronic distributor off of an MSD box. It's like $39 and has the Mopar distributor connector on one end and the MSD connector on the other. I was considering doing that to my current project until I found an NOS Direct Connection chrome box. I'll run that with a parts store spare in the trunk!

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: JDMopar] #3176313
09/19/23 01:36 PM
09/19/23 01:36 PM
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Wichita
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I'm a big fan of the old MSD analog 6AL boxes tied to a recurved OEM Chrysler distributor.

This setup offers reliability, great spark and the ability for options like rev limiters, 2 step rev controllers and timing control (retard only).

The great thing is they are starting to get cheap since everyone wants the newest gadget. They are also very easy to hide under the battery box and retain a somewhat stock appearance.


'63 Dodge 330

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Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.

9.92 @ 135mph with a 350 shot of nitrous and 93 octane pump. 1.43 60 ft. 3,750 lbs.

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: GY3] #3176368
09/19/23 04:31 PM
09/19/23 04:31 PM
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Thought I'd post a follow up. The Proform distributor is a bit cheesy and not the same quality as the OEM's the harness about the same. Two pin connector at the distributor did not fit the harness very well, the "tan" distributor cap had a bit too much cream in the coffee, and the ballast resistor is a bad joke whistling

So probably better to get and rebuilt, harness, Control box, and ballast etc. or go the MSD route. As previously stated my problem with aftermarket stuff is if it fails out of town your in a bad spot. twocents beer

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: TJP] #3176392
09/19/23 05:33 PM
09/19/23 05:33 PM
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340SIX Offline
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I may be greedy but unless it is a good friend or someone who has helped me i keep my stash of distibuters, harnesz, ECU, roturs, caps, ballast resisters, voltage regs.
But i do send them to Ray to get their own. He runs Halifaxhops and does rebuilds, has lots of good new/old parts and NOS stuff.


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Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: 340SIX] #3176820
09/20/23 10:26 PM
09/20/23 10:26 PM
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S.E. Minnesota
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FBO still making kits? I have used a couple in the past and they always worked well.

Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: 340SIX] #3176833
09/20/23 11:50 PM
09/20/23 11:50 PM
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Originally Posted by 340SIX
I may be greedy but unless it is a good friend or someone who has helped me i keep my stash of distibuters, harnesz, ECU, roturs, caps, ballast resisters, voltage regs.
But i do send them to Ray to get their own. He runs Halifaxhops and does rebuilds, has lots of good new/old parts and NOS stuff.


Ray is legit. You can spend as much time talking to him as you have available. Would love to talk to him more.


I want my fair share
Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: TJP] #3176887
09/21/23 10:57 AM
09/21/23 10:57 AM
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Holland MI Ottawa
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2boltmain Offline
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There are legit complaints that the trusted Pertronix conversion kits have gone cheap. Specifically thin non durable wires. Its crazy. In the 1980s many looked at OEM Chrysler stuff as sub standard- replaced with Accell Mallory and MSD almost immediately. Now all those discarded factory components are highly regarded and mentioned in stories from the good ole days.


Keep old mopars alive.
Re: Electronic igniton conversion questions [Re: 2boltmain] #3176938
09/21/23 01:33 PM
09/21/23 01:33 PM
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I have a a decent stash of distributors, carbs and parts that I need to sort and sell. not a whole lot but most is from the 80's back. Might get the time during the winter wink

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