I'm looking to upgrade the ignition on my straight 6 200. Its currently has a plain Jane single vacuum advance points-based distributor. I'm wonder which will give me a better improvement: going to a Duraspark II setup, or replacing the points with Petronix? Both will end up costing me about the same.

Thanks for the input,
Scott

 

I've had both and never really noticed a difference between them. Pertronix would be easier to do since its just 2 wires. The duraspark 2 system has a module you have to wire up and I believe it is 5 or 6 wires maybe more..

I fried 2 or 3 coils trying to get the duarspark 2 to work correctly.

 

Petronix seems like the easier alternative I just want to know how reliable are they and does it really improve performance of the reliability of the car?

 

I've been doing a lot of reading, it seems 6 this way or half a dozen that way with petronix vs DSII. I've also read that the best thing to do with either setup is add a multispark MSD box into the equation. I just so happened to run across one for $60 yesterday. Anyone have any experience in that department?

 

I don't know anything about Duraspark. I have a 1965 I6 200 motor and put on the Petronix I Ignitor with a Petronix coil. It was very easy to put on and the car has ran well with no problems (at least with the ignition).

 

I ran into no problems with the pertronix the whole time I had it installed. I had no problems with the duraspark after I got through with all of the wiring problems

 

Differences between petronix I and II?

 

Had more petronix burn up than I know what to do with. Never a problem with dura spark though.

 

the pertronix I is easier as you don't have to remove (or better bypass) the resistor wire
However the pertronix has the advantage of
- adaptive dwell (it changes dwell angle at higher rpms). Something you cannot achieve with pert I or points system
- it switches off automatically I think when ignition is on but engine not running (after a while). I believe that's what kills most pertronix I: ignition left on for testing or radio or forgetting.