Ignition Control Units

Hi All,

I think the Ignition Control Unit (or Module, or ECU) might be bad on my car, which has a mild 440 in it (mid-low 13s at 100+ mph in a 4,000 pound car once it's sorted out; I got it to the track for the first time in a decade a couple of weeks ago).

I keep hearing what junk the orange boxes are, but that the chrome boxes might not be appropriate for a mild engine.

I am looking at the JEGS blue unit (https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/40805/10002/-1). It says it's made in the USA (which might be good for quality), but it's equivalent to the chrome unit.

Do the experts have any opinions on this? If you don't think it's appropriate, what would you recommend I go with? If it is appropriate, what coil and ballast resistor would you go with? I think it has a parts store coil and a ballast resistor of unknown specs on it now. It idles and cruises fine, but wouldn't rev past about 4,000 rpm at the track. I am planning on a new ECU and coil, and evaluating the ballast resistor, distributor cap, rotor, and plug wires and replacing as necessary.

Thanks.

Greg

the chrome box is fine (& a good choice for your app). Just me I would get a parts house cheapie to see if it is the box (I ain't a fan of shotgunning parts at a problem but a spare box (assuming you stay with a Mopar ECU) is always a good idea (being stranded is no fun). I'm assuming you cant borrow one somewhere). More info on the problem, when did it start, any part or adjustment changes preceding it, fuel delivery is OK, rest of ign appears OK (rotor phasing etc).

hi
might be a fuel delivery prob and not the ecu .

check fuel psi while running car at track !

I am certainly not an expert. However, I just ordered one of these a few days ago: Link

I was looking for an NOS Mopar Chrome box for a few weeks and was unable to find one. My concern is more reliability than performance. I have my fingers crossed this will be fine for my car. I am really hoping for good reliability in an NORS USA made part. I am certain some may not be fond of the Delco brand. However, they made many of the original electronic parts for our old Mopars.

Thanks everyone, especially RapidRobert, you are usually the first one who responds to my posts...

I do have a spare, it's probably 10 years old and is the same style I am running (which I need to check if what I have is a chrome one or like an unpainted parts store cheapie). I had planned on popping that on and using either that one or the one that's on it as the spare, and just getting a new one.

And I know it could be something else like fuel delivery. The fuel pump is new (not that that means anything nowadays I guess), and all the ignition stuff is old, so I will probably just replace most of the ignition stuff so that I know exactly what I have and how old it is.

This is the first successful summer I have had with my car ('71 Charger R/T) in a decade, it basically passed every test (assuming it makes it to work and back tomorrow) without really running bad or flat out quitting on me, including going to the track and making three passes albeit not at full steam because it wouldn't rev past 4,000 rpm. I am looking forward to having it fully sorted out early next summer.

Thanks for all of the help and advice.

Greg