Ignition: electronic conversion/ Prestolite-mopar

[jrlemke]

What year mopar electronic dist. parts are used in this conversion? I know you use a big block (361-383-400) dist. for parts,but what years?

[doofus]

I used parts from '78 dodge truck big block. did this in late 80's. its still going strong. drove car 65 miles a day for years as work car then 3 yrs ago passed it on to grand son he's 8 so his dad drives the 63 lark custom W/ hood scope and mild cam. magnum 500 style rims looked, it's bright orange, son in law can tell some tails! Doofus

[Alan]

Mopar has a kit for it with all the new parts you will need for less than junkyard parts cost. It is P/N-P3690427

[JoeHall]

Mopar has a kit for it with all the new parts you will need for less than junkyard parts cost. It is P/N-P3690427

Here is what comes up under that part number on feebay. With shipping, it is only $300 http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mopar-38...ed7de3&vxp=mtr

[Dan Timberlake]

Summit has the their house brand for $200 with free shipping.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dcc-3690427

[PackardV8]

FWIW, it's more work than just bolting in the Mopar trigger. Most Stude Prestolite distributors also have worn advance weights and worn bushings. The whole unit usually needs rebuilt.

I've got on the shelf several completely rebuilt Delco and Prestolite distributors with new cap and rotor, converted to the Mopar trigger and with an R1 curve. To do it right is $250 minimum.

The FLAPS have Chicom electronic boxes for $25 or the Mopar for $50. It also requires the wiring harness between the two for about $25.

So bottom line, good to go for $299.

jack vines

[bezhawk]

Forget the Mopar ignition box, and use the distributor hall effect to trigger a MSD box. Capacitive Discharge Ignitions send higher voltages to the coil primary. No resistor needed. Multiple sparks (3)per trigger for up to 26 degrees of crank rotation. Every Mopar box I ever had any hand in didn't last. The hall efect trigger in the distributor, however, rarely ever gives any trouble.

[TWChamp]

My points work fine with minimum maintanence and no added expense.

[Alan]

There are a number of parts that you will not need. You can sell to a Mopar guy and get some of your money back. The first one I bought was $55, the last one was $120. Since Fiat bought them out they have had a few price spikes.

[jrlemke]

I can get the mopar dist. for $25, I just need to know what years to look for. My Prestolite has good bushings and pins and I will be using the advance weights from the mopar. I am a caso when it comes to things I can do myself. I built a G/M HEI for my nailhead Buick that worked very well until I pulled the motor and sold the '52 Chev it was in. I don't need to change my dist., just doing this as a winter project out boredom! So, what years do I look for? Jim

[PlainBrownR2]

We have the Mopar conversion in one of our Avanti's. It works great when everything is working, but if you go with a Mopar transistor box, be sure to have a spare in your glovebox. There's nothing to them, as they can still be bought over the counter, you just get two. It's not just the Studebaker guys that have issues with them, the Mopar guys would too, where you'll roll it onto a show field, and at the end of the day, the car wouldn't start because the transistor box popped.

[PackardV8]

Forget the Mopar ignition box, and use the distributor hall effect to trigger a MSD box.

Agree completely. The MSD box offers many advantages for the $250 cost. However,

I can get the mopar dist. for $25, . . . I am a caso when it comes to things I can do myself.

jack vines

[JoeHall]

Forget the Mopar ignition box, and use the distributor hall effect to trigger a MSD box. Capacitive Discharge Ignitions send higher voltages to the coil primary. No resistor needed. Multiple sparks (3)per trigger for up to 26 degrees of crank rotation. Every Mopar box I ever had any hand in didn't last. The hall efect trigger in the distributor, however, rarely ever gives any trouble.

That is the function of the MOPAR guts in the Stude distributor, which is part of EFI conversion in our GT Hawk. The rotor and magnetic pickup send triggered signals to the computer, which provides Electronically Controlled spark to the plugs. The distributor is gutted; no flyweights or points; just a rotor and mag pickup. The signals are sent to the computer via a GM ignition module; don't ask me how Bill Hamilton (of HFI) got the MOPAR & GM combo to work together, but it works very well

[kxet]

I've had the Mopar dist with G.M. module( 4 wire) on a slant six for 11 yrs. With the GM module you get rid resistors and Mopar Module and related parts. Used a 74 Olds 6 cyl coil that mounts out of cap but other coils will work.

[JoeHall]

I've had the Mopar dist with G.M. module( 4 wire) on a slant six for 11 yrs. With the GM module you get rid resistors and Mopar Module and related parts. Used a 74 Olds 6 cyl coil that mounts out of cap but other coils will work.

I am no electronics whiz, but guess running it through the GM module gets rid of the failure-prone resistor & module, lots of MOPAR folks have cursed & complained about for decades.