So, if I understand correctly it keeps frying the Dura Spark box?  Or at least that's what seems to be happening?  If that's the case try one of the old boxes again and see if it magically works.  Obviously, it won't really be magic, but you may simply be jostling a connection around that's causing an issue, getting it to make a good connection and after 30 seconds of engine vibration the connection goes away again.  I'm not a Dura Spark expert by any means, but from what I've read if the box is Ford/Motorcraft they rarely go bad. 

There's some real good info on this thread:

http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?157346-How-does-one-trouble-shoot-and-diagnose-a-problem-with-the-Duraspark-Ignition-module

The second  box is shorted internally the white wire comes from the starter in the cranking position to retard timing wired by the owner so that one has internal failure the only other thing it could be is the pick up losing connection but the  Petronix distributor will eliminate all that and look clearer under the hood and it was 250.bucks and I won’t have to drive across town anymore lol. I will wire the pick up wires on my next drive over to the box and if that doesn’t work I will replace it with a new Petronix Distributor and coil I only spent about 1 1/2 hrs working on it twice  after the drive takes more time .1 1/2 Houston Traffic Thanks for the info

Last edited by Coupedaddy (8/12/2023 11:18 AM)

Somebody has rewired the coil. The factory DS coil connector was a 1 piece horseshoe shaped piece of plastic. And the coil is obviously not a Ford coil. The DS ignition system used a standard coil. It certainly appears that coil is some sort of "50,000 Volt Super Zapper" coil and it is causing the problem.
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/standard-ignition/lighting---electrical/connectors---terminals/ignition-coil-connector/42e77feef12e/standard-ignition-2-terminal-multi-purpose-connector/std0/s583/v/a/5600/automotive-car-1976-lincoln-continental?pos=0

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/blue-streak/ignition---tune-up/ignition-coil/bcbc445c20d7/standard-ignition-blue-streak-ignition-coil/std2/fd476/v/a/5600/automotive-car-1976-lincoln-continental?pos=0

Now the boys all thought I'd lost my sense
And telephone poles looked like a picket fence.

The Lincoln came with points from the factory

Texas! wrote:

Coupedaddy wrote:

The Lincoln came with points from the factory

Then whomever did the DS conversion did it incorrectly.
 

And I think we discovered the real problem: someone else's wiring job. 
 

I am ashamed to say it bought a Petronix distributor and would fate has it started lasted  a minute longer running and then it died Have I been in the office to long new coil and distributor

Maybe get a ride while "bash'in".......!?!

Last edited by 6sally6 (8/19/2023 4:23 PM)

If it winds up having too many problems remember:  A two door deathmobile looks almost as good as a suicide door deathmobile.