Ignition failure

Sounds like typical Uni-lite failure Tim, they're not known for being reliable. I've known some guys who really like their Uni-Lite distributors, they all happen to be quite adept at repairing them too.

Voltage drop across a resistance is dependent upon how much current is flowing through the resistance. The greater the current, the greater the voltage drop. So with no current flowing (i.e. an ignition that is not operating) there will be no voltage drop to measure at the coil side of the resistance wire.

Although I have never done it myself, I believe the best "street" ignition you could install in a Pantera would consist of a well built aftermarket distributor employing an inductive pick-up, such as an MSD or Moroso, firing an oem Ford Duraspark module. Duraspark modules are as reliable as a claw hammer. The Ford distributors are OK, but are cheaply made, and operate like they are cheaply made.

take care, George

quote:

I've known some guys who really like their Uni-Lite distributors, they all happen to be quite adept at repairing them too.

Well, hate to burst your perceptions...
The Unilite in 2511 has performed flawlessly for about 28,000 miles.

But yes, on long journeys, I carry a full second distributor.

Larry (Hope I haven't jinxed myself)

quote:

Originally posted by LF - TP 2511:
...Hope I haven't jinxed myself...

I was thinking the same thing!

cowboy from hell

This weekend both Mallory and MSD failed two Pantera owners and left them no option but to call AAA towing. I'll stick to my Stock Ford Electronic Ignition. ..thanks.

Ron

I ordered a MSD distributor with the built in pickup.(Plug and play)It also has a vac. advance, my old Unilite was mechanical advance only. So...hopefully it will be a reliable unit. I don't like sitting on the side of the road watching the world go by.

2 pieces of advise .

1. Get Triple A Gold.

2. Read the directions ... it cannot ... I repeat cannot be in the engine compartment. Where your going to locate it ? I dont know ..but the burn up due to the heat.

Ron

Put a Ford ignition in it.

MSD is worse then Mallory but where are you going to get parts for it now in the middle of nowhere?
You can with Ford, even if it has to be generic.

It's your pain. It can hurt a little or hurt alot.

I've already paid my tuition.

I read a lot of stories about MSD from Pantera owners here and on the e-mail list, few good words, many bad.

I actually think it would be good to look deeper into the MSD failure statistics. i.e. is this a general product failure or is there higher incidence amongst the Pantera community? If the latter, is that related to heat, welding or some other failure?
For instance a recent article on the e-mail list about grounding strikes a cord here; the owner measured resistance where on the cooling fans grounded through the wiring loom itself grounded at the dash post which gave 8 ohms resistance. A replacement ground to the body next to the fans reduced that to 0.8 ohms. Obviously the recommendation was to ground all major current drawing equipemnt directly to the body. Maybe the 'Lucas' syndrome is enough to fail an MSD unit if wired through existing wiring?

If MSD has an inferior product, why haven't they fixed it after all this time? There are recommended aftermarket repairers/enhancers of the MSD units e.g. http://www.techwestracing.com/

Julian

Joules,

I here what your saying ..and I speak for myself having extensive experience in other trades and minor experience in electrical work ... it shouldnt be so difficult to wire, check and test a LUCAS system to see if it works with a MSD or Mallory ignition. My experience with these two manufacturers is economics. If there product lasts forever then thye would be out of business. If your FORD DURASPARK failed FORD would have millions of calls and law suits.

As Doug says I paid my dues ..

Look at it in this logical sense. I have run a DURASPARK on my Race Car for 6 years the motor max RPM on an FE series was 6400. My Pantera this weekend rev'd to 5800 rpm ( at 6000 the lifters float) in both cases the ignition performed perfectly.

The question : Who needs an ignition like Malory and MSD to perform above 6500rpm ??? The Duraspark can be purchased all at a local autoparts store for 1/2 the price.... plug and play.

Ron

From what I have seen, aftermarket can not even begin to approach the durabilaty of OEM equipment.

Mallory doesn't have a terrible reputation for dependabilaty. Thier electronics are good for 3-5 years. I got something like 4 years out of my unilite.

MSD by comparison, in my opinion, is the worst piece of crap ever released upon the US market.
Their durabilaty is way less then three years.
It looks pretty but it must be that they use the cheapest internal components that can be had.


From their business perspective they have a perfect product.
They sell a lot of components and people keep coming back for more. They have to. The stuff keeps failing in use.
I'll bet that the average MSD customer doesn't even own their car for more then three years?

I think that the typical MSD customer is drag-race oriented. If you run hard that means you probably blow the thing to hell at least once a season and replace everything anyway.

The same with road race cars. They probably go through two or three ignitions a year just as a maintenance procedure.

The only thing that you need to replace with the Duraspark system is the coil every ten years or so. I was going through two or three MSD coils per year.

The MSD brain would typically last about a year.
I had one go three years. I want to be fair about this now.

Getting the picture yet?

I thought I would update the outcome of the MSD distributor I installed yesterday.
I does appear to be very well made, and does have many nice durable features. Its #8350, and does not require and MSD box..its a three wire plug and play.
Looking at the directions I decided to change the advance curve from the factory settings. Its easy to do. I set the advance at 25 degrees total along with using two light blue springs on the cam to allow timing to be 90% max. out at 3500 rpm. So...16 degrees BTDC plus 25 degrees total equals 41 degrees total timing. With a mildly aggressive advance curve.
Runs like a pissed off cat! Smoother idle quality too.(I did install new Motorcraft blue racing plug wires)
As far as fit, the MSD unit is larger, and its a farely tight squeeze, but no serious clearance issues.
Also this unit has a vacuum advance, something my Unilite didn't.
I have a feeling I could still go a few more degrees advance, I have not encountered any pinging at the current settings.
Best to all

I just bought a late '72 Pantera. Just before picking it up from the previous owner, he had his mechnic do a once over. Good thing. Once in the shop, the car wouldn't fire. Turn out to be a bad Mallory distributor. Mallory is in the process of rebuilding the unit, but who knows how long that will take. . .