New vs. Old Style Duraspark

[Nathan in MI]

And all computer-controlled VVs are considered EEC-III, yes?

[Mercracer]

Yes

[1987cp]

Linky: Nater and I were talking today, and I noticed my Duraspark II box on the '79 does indeed have three connectors. One goes to this dashpot-looking thing that he thinks is a barometric pressure sensor that's supposed to control spark retard under certain conditions.

http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/...ry/17133/62482

[P72Ford]

Isn't that third connector for altitude compensation on cars with that setup? I seem to remember reading thats what it did, basically pulled some timing out to keep it from pinging with altitude

You know, they asked me whether I wanted the module for high altitude emissions, or federal emissions. I said federal, and ended up with the two connector module. I'm not sure if thats the deciding factor or not.

[P72Ford]

My '82 has the three connector harness. Pulled one from an '81 LTD in the junkyard and it was a 3-Connector blue sticker, too.

I remeber you saying your '82 had the three connector module. Thats why I was confused when I saw the same PN through '82, and a change in '83.

[Mercracer]

I remeber you saying your '82 had the three connector module. Thats why I was confused when I saw the same PN through '82, and a change in '83.

You probably will never see the early 3 plug module listed in any aftermarket parts catalogs. To my knowledge, they don't make it. The change in '83 was the addition of the EEC-III module. Even in the earlier ones, there were applications for another 2 plug module, not that you will find that one in the catalogs either...
For D-II applications, I always use the blue plug module....

[P72Ford]

Well, I bought one that has two plugs, but since its aftermarket, it doesn't have the magical blue plug. And, since JY's around here are absolutely retarded, not to mention the fact that they have very little old stock, I don't plan on rummaging through them to find this beast, and pay 10X what its worth.

I hope the module I bought works; if it doesn't, I'll be pissed...

[Mercracer]

The aftermarket module plugs used to match the factory plug colors. If the factory plug was blue, so was the aftermarket one..... It has been a few years since I bought a new one. What brand and part number did you get?

[P72Ford]

Its from Standard; PN LX203T.
4 wire connector has :green, black, purple and orange wires.
2 wire connector has: red and white wires.
Is this what I need?

Where the wires come out of the module, it has a blue "strain relief cap."
As seen here:
http://www.wrljet.com/fordv8/duraspark.html
http://www.geocities.com/cantwait_fo...cj_ignmod.html

Quoted from the 2nd URL: "Note the Blue strain relief grommet, at one point and time, the Blue strain relief grommets indicated a Duraspark II ignition module. Obviously, aftermarket replacement units did not adhere to this color coding for their replacement units."

[Mercracer]

Its from Standard; PN LX203T.
4 wire connector has :green, black, purple and orange wires.
2 wire connector has: red and white wires.
Is this what I need?

Where the wires come out of the module, it has a blue "strain relief cap."
."

That's the one you need. The blue "plug" I refer to = blue "strain relief cap" All actual connectors are black.....

[Tiggie]

Linky: Nater and I were talking today, and I noticed my Duraspark II box on the '79 does indeed have three connectors. One goes to this dashpot-looking thing that he thinks is a barometric pressure sensor that's supposed to control spark retard under certain conditions.

http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/...ry/17133/62482

Hey, finally someone has one of those besides me. Well, my car had one at some point but it was removed in the past. All that remains is two wires. All three plugs coming out of the ignition box are occupied, though. According to my service manual, timing is advanced 6 Degrees under 3000 feet for 302 engines and 8 degrees for 255 engines.




I was looking though my '82 Engine/Emission Service manual today. It says the following (only for 1982 models):
4.2L Full-Size Ford/Merc (49-state) - Duraspark II or UIC (Universal Integrated Circuit)
5.0L Full-Size Ford/Merc (50-state) - UIC
5.0L Lincoln/Mark VI (50-state) - Duraspark III
5.8L Full-Size Ford/Merc (49-state) - Duraspark III

WTF is UIC?

[1987cp]

Interesting, so the 255 was apparently another gas-crunch motor that couldn't be made to pass California emissions, sort of like the Chevy 265(?). I'm interested in learning about them right now since I *may* be trying to buy a car that according to the VIN was originally equipped with one; do you know anything at all about this UIC ignition system, and whether they were used in 1981?

[Nathan in MI]

I'm wondering if UIC is the same thing as what the 1985 book calls the "UIM", or Universal Ignition Module, which is the one with the third connector to go to the MCU, barometric pressure sensor, or ignition timing vacuum switch (not sure what that is, but the book lists it). Universal Ignition Module...Universal Ignition Controller. Eh?

[1987cp]

Huh. So if you're correct, that would be the three-lead Duraspark, which isn't a problem in the least.

[Nathan in MI]

That's what I'm thinking, yeah.

Also, I'm wondering if I can take the third connector on my current DS box and just tie those two wires together (or maybe isolate them from each other; I'd have to do a little testing to figure out which) and have it function just like a DSII box. Thoughts on this?