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  1. #1
    FEP Senior Member silver85horse's Avatar
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    Default DuraSpark ignition box?

    Hey all,


    Just a quick question: is this a DuraSpark ignition box? I've never seen one and I found this on the Ford Parts/Motorcraft website. It sort of looks like the box I have on my '85 GT right now, but I can't be sure with this picture:

    http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Pa...=2&search=true


    If it isn't DuraSpark, is it some other type that Ford started making as a replacement for DuraSpark? My parents bought me an MSD 6-AL2 box for Christmas that I'd planned on going with in the restomod, but now this has me thinking....


    Thanks in advance,
    Reed

  2. #2

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    yep thats the box. Too pricey from ford.. parts stores sell em for $25..
    Last edited by feifong; 03-12-2010 at 12:19 AM.

  3. #3
    FEP Senior Member silver85horse's Avatar
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by feifong View Post
    Too pricey from ford.. parts stores sell em for $25..
    Logic tells me the Ford version if probably of higher quality though, right?

    Or are they one and the same?

  4. #4
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    Default

    It says in bold red print "this part is back ordered "
    clowns to the left of me , Jokers to the right

  5. #5
    FEP Senior Member silver85horse's Avatar
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ashley roachclip View Post
    It says in bold red print "this part is back ordered "
    You mean: THIS PART IS NOT SHIPPABLE

    It also says that for this ignition cylinder, and last time I checked, these were not obsolete

    http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/Pa...=2&search=true

  6. #6

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    How you doing? Im going to tell you this from experience...... Do not get the crap from the autozone type stores. They will burn out alot quicker than the motorcraft parts. I have been through 3 cheep boxes that run for a while. I just went through this too and bought a new duraspark box off ebay for $45. Brand new and works fantastic! My car has not run so smooth in years. I highly recommend you get a motorcraft unit.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/75-82...Q5fAccessories

    good luck.
    Joe E.

  7. #7

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    Except that is a brown plug Duraspark.... Pretty sure the Fox cars need a blue plug.
    1982 Capri RS - Sold
    1979 Fairmont - Sold
    1988 Mustang GT - Sold
    1984.5 Mustang GT - Sold
    2001 Mustang GT - Sold
    1983 Mustang GT - Current

  8. #8
    FEP Power Member Vinnietbird's Avatar
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    Default

    I think I have a new one in the garage somewhere.PM me and I'll check for it after work.If I do still have it,you can have it for $6.00 shipping.
    '88 T-Bird Sport Twisted Wedge heads,3G,,Trick Flow R intake,Scorpion rockers,Ed Curtis cam,BBK headers,Mass Air with 24's,X-Pipe, Flomaster mufflers,75mm t-body,T-5, MGW shifter,Mach 1 chin spoiler,Bullitt gas lid,deep Cobra R wheels,Taurus fan,3.73 gears,140mph speedo,CHE control arms, custom Hood with ''72 Torino scoop, custom trunk lid with integrated spoiler

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by feifong View Post
    yep thats the box. Too pricey from ford.. parts stores sell em for $25..

    And you get a big heaping pile of CRAP that will last at most 6 months.

    ONLY buy Ford Duraspark Modules. It's the aftermarket $25 junk that has given Duraspark a bad rap.

    -Mike

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by yamahaford540 View Post
    Except that is a brown plug Duraspark.... Pretty sure the Fox cars need a blue plug.
    Blue for the 5.0 cars. On some of the 79s you may need the rellow plug box.

    -Mike

  11. #11
    FEP Senior Member smokinn85's Avatar
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    Default

    I'm pushing 3 years on my parts store box...flawless so far.
    85 GT, 331 Stroker, Forged crank/pistons, AFR185's, 1.6 rollers, CompCams blower cam (35-312-8 ), Performer RPM Intake, Summit Racing 600, MAC 1 3/4" Ceramic Shorties, Stainless 2 1/2" X-pipe, MAC Cat-back w/ 3" tail pipes, Poly bushings front 2 back, 10.5" clutch upgrade, WC T-5, Pro 5.0 Shifter, Tri-ax handle, Granitelli LCA's, BBK Specific Rates, 8.8 w/ 3.73's & Ground Pounder Girdle kit.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od4j41_xXQM
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSPrj...eature=related

  12. #12
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Default 79 2.3t ign box

    Replaced mine 10y ago.
    Engine rebuild project was budgeted for the higher costs.
    An exact replacement justifys that. Sometimes ya gotta pay up.
    Make it up somewhere else in life.

    Yellow plug strain reliefs, 3 connector (reg + ign timing retard).
    Unit has Motorcraft all over it, with cast in numbers.
    Purchased 4/99 for 58.23 (Ford dealer). DY-237A

  13. #13

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    sorry about that mis identification. Just been through this so its pretty fresh in my head to get the motorcraft pieces.

    Joe E.

  14. #14

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    I'm sure there are guys with parts store boxes that have had good luck with them. I'm
    also certain, that every time I find someone that has had repeat problems with Duraspark,
    they've been using parts store boxen. I have -never- found a person to have repeat module
    failures with a Motorcraft box. Not even with junkyard ones.

    You pays your money and you takes your chances.

    My '85 T-Top still has it's original box. 179K miles. Show of hands how many of you have
    put that many miles on a parts store replacement.
    Cheers,
    Jeff Cook

    '85 GT Hatch, 5-speed T-Top, Eibachs, Konis, & ARE 5-Spokes ... '85 GT Vert, CFI/AOD, all factory...
    '79 Fairmont StaWag, 5.0, 62K original miles ... '04 Azure Blue 40th Anny Mach 1, 37K original miles...
    2012 F150 S-Crew 4x4 5.0 "Blue Coyote"... 65 coupe, 289 auto, Pony interior ... '67 coupe 6-cyl 4-speed ...
    '68 Vert, Mexican block 307 4-speed... '71 Datsun 510 ...
    And a 1-of-328 Deep Blue Pearl 2003 Marauder 4.6 DOHC, J-Mod, 4.10s and Lidio tune

  15. #15

  16. #16
    FEP Power Member Zephyr 351C's Avatar
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by feifong View Post
    yep thats the box. Too pricey from ford.. parts stores sell em for $25..
    You get what you pay for. You might get lucky, but my parts house box sucked.

    IMO, its one of those parts that you need to get OE. I cheaped out on an ignition box for my Futura and paid for it later. A few years later I did the same thing with the opti for an LT1 caprice...
    -Zach
    '81 Zephyr Sedan: In pieces. Some at the garage, some under my bed, etc...

  17. #17

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    What's funny is the picture shown looks exactly like the cheapo that Autozone sells.

    Oh and i'd just assume pull a real D2 out of a junkyard car than to run a parts store part. Or i'd run a GM HEI instead. I've had 2 of them fail on me...NEVER had a real D2 fail.
    -EVIL SSP-
    '85 KY Highway Patrol SSP Coupe
    Walk around/exhaust clip

    -David

  18. #18
    FEP Power Member Zephyr 351C's Avatar
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    Default

    Or i'd run a GM HEI instead.
    That's what I've got on the car now. Duraspark distributor, HEI module, TFI coil.
    -Zach
    '81 Zephyr Sedan: In pieces. Some at the garage, some under my bed, etc...

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by 85_SS_302_Coupe View Post
    Or i'd run a GM HEI instead.
    Why? HEI is not a better ignition, by any stretch. Maybe cheaper...
    Cheers,
    Jeff Cook

    '85 GT Hatch, 5-speed T-Top, Eibachs, Konis, & ARE 5-Spokes ... '85 GT Vert, CFI/AOD, all factory...
    '79 Fairmont StaWag, 5.0, 62K original miles ... '04 Azure Blue 40th Anny Mach 1, 37K original miles...
    2012 F150 S-Crew 4x4 5.0 "Blue Coyote"... 65 coupe, 289 auto, Pony interior ... '67 coupe 6-cyl 4-speed ...
    '68 Vert, Mexican block 307 4-speed... '71 Datsun 510 ...
    And a 1-of-328 Deep Blue Pearl 2003 Marauder 4.6 DOHC, J-Mod, 4.10s and Lidio tune

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by JACook View Post
    Why? HEI is not a better ignition, by any stretch. Maybe cheaper...

    Than a parts store knockoff? That's debatable. Than a real Duraspark II, no.
    -EVIL SSP-
    '85 KY Highway Patrol SSP Coupe
    Walk around/exhaust clip

    -David

  21. #21
    FEP Power Member Zephyr 351C's Avatar
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JACook View Post
    Why? HEI is not a better ignition, by any stretch. Maybe cheaper...
    Couldn't find a DSII locally. Parts house HEIs dont suck like parts house replacement DSIIs do.
    -Zach
    '81 Zephyr Sedan: In pieces. Some at the garage, some under my bed, etc...

  22. #22
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by silver85horse View Post
    Logic tells me the Ford version if probably of higher quality though, right?

    Or are they one and the same?
    prove it or its not true... my local oreillys wants $90 or so for a duraspark box
    71 Dodge Demon Green/Blk big turbo slant 6 in progress
    83 GT Red/Blk HCI 306/ 3550/ 4.30 8.8
    93 LX Reef Blue/ Grey stock bolts on's/ T5/ 3.55 8.8
    page 1 of my 83 GT build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=85989

    93 LX build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...73#post1569973

  23. #23

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    That's because O'Reilly's is a GD rip off. They wanted $90 for a stock distributor too when Autozone had one for $40. Just because they slap a high price on the same garbage everyone else sells doesn't mean it's better quality.
    -EVIL SSP-
    '85 KY Highway Patrol SSP Coupe
    Walk around/exhaust clip

    -David

  24. #24
    FEP Senior Member smokinn85's Avatar
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    I don't know....I think O'Reilly/Kragen/Checkers garbage is better than Autozone's garbage.

    Ranking (my .02 cents here)
    1. O'Reilly/Kragen/Checker (all the same store now)
    2. Advanced Auto Parts
    3. Napa (severely overpriced, but decent parts)
    4. Autozone
    5. Carquest (do they even exisit anymore)
    6. Chiefs Auto Parts (the worst....I purchased two crappy clutch kits from them that wouldn't disengage as soon as I installed them.)
    85 GT, 331 Stroker, Forged crank/pistons, AFR185's, 1.6 rollers, CompCams blower cam (35-312-8 ), Performer RPM Intake, Summit Racing 600, MAC 1 3/4" Ceramic Shorties, Stainless 2 1/2" X-pipe, MAC Cat-back w/ 3" tail pipes, Poly bushings front 2 back, 10.5" clutch upgrade, WC T-5, Pro 5.0 Shifter, Tri-ax handle, Granitelli LCA's, BBK Specific Rates, 8.8 w/ 3.73's & Ground Pounder Girdle kit.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od4j41_xXQM
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSPrj...eature=related

  25. #25
    FEP Super Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by 85_SS_302_Coupe View Post
    That's because O'Reilly's is a GD rip off. They wanted $90 for a stock distributor too when Autozone had one for $40. Just because they slap a high price on the same garbage everyone else sells doesn't mean it's better quality.
    this is true
    71 Dodge Demon Green/Blk big turbo slant 6 in progress
    83 GT Red/Blk HCI 306/ 3550/ 4.30 8.8
    93 LX Reef Blue/ Grey stock bolts on's/ T5/ 3.55 8.8
    page 1 of my 83 GT build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=85989

    93 LX build thread
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...73#post1569973

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