Duraspark Install

[SR185]

So i can take my computer out completely?

Yes.

 

[SR185]

I was thinking it was cruise control. there is a cable that comes off the back that is not hooked up. I can trace it and get a pic up

Yes, that is cruise control. It should have a cable running towards the firewall that turns and connects to the throttle cable at the carburetor.

And after having done my Duraspark conversion the hard way, the first thing I would do, if doing it again, would be to remove the ECM (computer), and pull the wiring harness from the ecm through the firewall into the engine compartment.

The ECM is behind the passenger kick panel and is held in place by 3 screws. Remove the 3 screws that hold the ecm in place. Then, remove the screw that is holding the wiring harness plug in the back of the ecm. After the screw is removed, pull/pry the plug free from the ecm. Where the wiring harness goes to the firewall, remove the 2 nuts at the firewall so you can push/pull the harness through the firewall into the engine compartment. You can reinstall the rubber plug (I had to cut mine, but still reused it) to cover the hole in the firewall, and use some silicone sealer to fill the hole.

Once you have pulled the harness into the engine compartment, you can remove and discard the vacuum coffee can, and all of the vacuum pieces attached to the passenger side inner fender. You can cut the wire going to the starter solenoid.

 

[Twister]

OK so i am getting frustrated with this whole Duraspark thing. So I have read through the tech page and understand how to install everything except how to get you number one cylinder to TDC. I have been told to take the number one plug out, stick your finger in it and crank the crankshaft till you feel pressure. Ok pretty straight forward, but how am i suppose to tell if the stroke it is on is not the exhaust stroke. Is there any other way to get you #1 cylinder to TDC. As of right now all of my spark plugs are taken out to relieve the pressure in the engine. Getting to the crank is also a hassle because the fan is in the way.

So i am asking, is there any other way to get the #1 cylinder to TDC and how do i do it?

 

[Twister]

Is there any indicator on the cam shaft pulley that points to when you are at TDC?

 

[Twister]

Will the little bulge on the new dizzy sit flush with the hole for the dizzy. I think i got it in all the way but the little bulge is about half an inch from the hole.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If the dzzy shaft turns when you crank the motor it is not all the way down on the oil pump have someone crank on it while you press lightly on it until it goes all the way down.

 

[SR185]

My new dizzy wouldn't seat all the way. Just above the gear on the housing shaft was a flange that was bigger around than the original dizzy. I had to slightly grind the size of the flange until it would slide in. I used my bench grinder and lightly ground it as I rotated it.

I don't know if that is your problem, but you might pull your dizzy and look at it to see where it is hitting.

 

[MRLUKE]

I am def no mechanic, but most people make it sound like it is soooo easy. I have been trying for weeks, a few days a week after work. I still havent had it fire up.
found TDC by sticking a screw driver down #1, it will need to slope towards the front of the truck, at an angle. Then I turned the crank, that has the fan attched to it, clockward till the screw driver started pushing out. Thats when you know its on its way up to TDC. The I pulled out the screw driver and lined up the line on the crank pully with the little pointer thingy.

I was told by a few mechanics, thats the easiest way. I could be completely wrong.

For a guy who works on a computer all day at a desk, this aint easy!

 

[kimcrwbr1]

That shows you the piston is all the way up you need to stick your finger in the #1 plug hole and when you feel compression then line up the damper pully to TDC. Look to see how the rotor on the dizzy is pointing it should be at 11 oclock or at the #1 probe on the distributor cap. Once you get that right then you put the wires in the proper firing order 1_4_2_5_3_6 clockwise on the cap. from front to rear passenger 1-2-3 and drivers 4-5-6. Are you getting spark at the coil put a plug in the coil wire to the dizzy and set it on a good ground then crank it you should get a good blue spark. If not you need to check your wires how do you have it wired.

 

[SR185]

I am def no mechanic, but most people make it sound like it is soooo easy. I have been trying for weeks, a few days a week after work. I still havent had it fire up.
found TDC by sticking a screw driver down #1, it will need to slope towards the front of the truck, at an angle. Then I turned the crank, that has the fan attched to it, clockward till the screw driver started pushing out. Thats when you know its on its way up to TDC. The I pulled out the screw driver and lined up the line on the crank pully with the little pointer thingy.

I was told by a few mechanics, thats the easiest way. I could be completely wrong.

For a guy who works on a computer all day at a desk, this aint easy!

I struggled with mine for quite some times, so I understand your feelings. I have been considering re-writing the instructions with more details. If you pm me with your email address, I have a file I'll send you with much better instructions than those listed here.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Actually you should post your instructions for everyone doing the conversion. We are all up for the easyer way.

 

[dangerranger83]

The instructions in the tech library are straight forward to me, I honestly dont see how the wiring is that hard.

The only thing that was iffy to me was what years to get the carb off of or what engines they were on and the vehicles.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Yea same here I really dont know how it can be much simpler on the wiring if you remove all the wires for the computer first. On mine I only had to splice one wire and for the 85 you only need to splice two and cut two for the power to the module.

 

[Twister]

OK so i am pretty sure i got the dizz all the way down. Now the last bit of wiring i cant find the plug.

It says to use this plug in the tech page

IS the one the mean this one?

 

[MRLUKE]

im glad im not the only one that doesnt understand what side of the wiring to use. I will have more info tomorow evening, after I talk it over with a friend.

The info that im getting is somewhat onflicting. And most of my prev info is from researching other sites. Ive heard you dont need to hook up any vacc line to the new dizzy. I have also never heard of removing ALL the vaccum lines and completely removing the computer. Im all for it cuz my vac lines are wasted.

Just hard to understand how all those wires going into ECU are just for ignition. None are used for anthing on the dash or anywhere else? Cars must haave been so easy to work on when I was just born.

I can tell that the guys on this site know their stuff. Im going with their expertice. I just wish that write up had info on vaccum lines and, where the ends of the wires showing coming into the diagram, are from. I think its just one of those things you know if you know slightly aged rngines that still use carb.