FYI FORD - MustangSteve's Ford Mustang Forum
The Internet's Most Knowledgeable Classic Mustang Information
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT CLASSIC FORD MUSTANGS, YOU HAVE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE!
MustangSteve has over 30 years of Mustang experience, having owned 30 of them and restored several others. With the help of other Mustangers, this site is dedicated to helping anyone wanting to restore or modify their Mustang.... THERE ARE NO DUMB QUESTIONS!!!!!
Visit MustangSteve's web site to view some of my work and find details for:
FYIFORD Contributors' PICTURES - Power Brake Retrofit Kits for 65-66 Stangs - Classic Mustang FAQ's by MustangSteve - How to wire in a Duraspark Ignition - Mustang Ride Height Pictures and Descriptions - Steel Bushings to fit Granada Spindles to Mustang Tie Rods - Visit my EBAY store MustangSteve Performance - How to Install Granada Disc Brakes MustangSteve's Disc Brake Swap Page - FYIFORD Acronyms for guide to all the acronyms used on this page - FYIFORD Important information and upcoming events

You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

11/11/2020 8:43 PM  #1


DuraSpark? Ignition issues

It misses at 2000 and higher RPM under load and backfires. It runs smooth at idle till you rev the engine to leave the stop. I have ohmed out the coil and coil wire. There are no visible cracks or carbon tracks in the distributor cap. I have not looked at the plugs or the rest of the plug wires yet. If I get that far how is the DuraSpark module checked?


70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
 

11/11/2020 8:51 PM  #2


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Take the module to O'Reilly and they can test it. Make sure they run the test 3 or 4 times because it gets hotter every time they test it and it may show "good" when cold and then "bad" when it's warmed up.

 

11/11/2020 9:38 PM  #3


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Thanks.


70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     Thread Starter
 

11/11/2020 10:02 PM  #4


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

How old is your battery?
6sal6


Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
 

11/12/2020 7:01 AM  #5


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Are you sure you have all the plug wires going to the right places and the correct firing order for your cam?


Founding Member of the Perpetually Bewildered Society
 

11/12/2020 6:06 PM  #6


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Try un plugging the vacuum advance and see what happens.

 

11/12/2020 7:46 PM  #7


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Have you looked at cap terminals inside?
The wife’s F150 had terminals that had buildup on them that caused problems this summer.

 

11/12/2020 8:06 PM  #8


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

RTM wrote:

Try un plugging the vacuum advance and see what happens.

I was thinking on the same order, through a timing light on it and see if the vacuum/mechanical advance is kicking in. As far as testing the Dura Spark they seem to work or not. When I was having issues with mine I made a test set-up, it either worked or it didn't. I did have a generic one that put out a weak spark but it wouldn't even start the car.


If this forum can't fix it, it isn't broke.
 

11/12/2020 10:09 PM  #9


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

I did all the suggestions here Wednesday. The timing is where it is supposed be and the vacuum works as it should. The advance goes to 35 BTDC at 2500 RPM. The battery was new JUN 2018???? The alternator is a 3G and works as it should.????


70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     Thread Starter
 

11/12/2020 11:01 PM  #10


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Where is coil mounted? On engine?

Try checking resistance of coil cold before first start.

Then run it until problems occur again....shutdown and check coil while hot.

Fouled plug?

Last edited by Nos681 (11/12/2020 11:01 PM)

 

11/13/2020 11:09 AM  #11


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Bad gas will cause those issues. Also........on mine.........a dirty fuel filter REALLY makes it ak-up!
6sal6


Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
 

11/13/2020 4:57 PM  #12


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Hmmm......It was running fine till I filled it up.


70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     Thread Starter
 

11/18/2020 6:42 PM  #13


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Well this is what happens when you work on the ar then leave it for awhile and come back to it later. I started to fiddle with the carb and replace the fuel filter when I remembered that the last thing I did was to retard the timing because is goes to 40 BTDC at 2500 RPM so I timed it so it would only go to to 30 BTDC at 2500 RPM. That ended up with the initial timing at 6 ATDC. The engine didn't like that. The reason I did that is as the engine gets heat soaked it begins to ping the longer it is driven like on road trips. I took the the distributor apart to reverse the govenor but it is already on the small notch. There aren't any numbers on it to give a hint what the digress setting is.


70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     Thread Starter
 

11/18/2020 9:07 PM  #14


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

Did you put in the lightest sprangs?
Did you LIMIT the total advance to 36-38* at........2500 RPM's?  You may need some sort of bushing on the post to keep the timing from going too high.
Do you have a timing tape on the balancer to see where you are
6sal6


Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
 

11/18/2020 10:02 PM  #15


Re: DuraSpark? Ignition issues

I left the original springs in it. One heavy one light. I would think I should put in heavy springs????
I need to lower the timing about 5 degrees. How thick does the bushing need to be?
I do have a tape on the dampener that reads in 1 degree increments.


70, ragtop 351W/416 stroker Edel Performer heads w pro flow 4, Comp roller 35-421-8. T5
     Thread Starter
 

Board footera


REMEMBER!!! When posting a question about your Mustang or other Ford on this forum, BE SURE to tell us what it is, what year, engine, etc so we have enough information to go on.