Electronic Ignition Info

Older Points-Type Ignition

Shown above is the layout of a generic points style ignition system. Chrysler's implementation is identical to the above, using a "ballast resistor" as the primary resistor which drops the voltage down to lengthen the coil's life. Although a stable workable system, drawbacks include routine points maintenance, such as gap settings, condensor (capacitor) lifespan, and poor performance in low and high RPMs. In the mid seventies Chrysler switched over to an electronic style ignition system. Click on the following to see the original chrysler manual's ignition spec :

Electronic Ignition Theory

Basically the improvement on the old system is to replace the points and condensor with a basic rotor and electric pickup coil. This makes the primary circuit maintenenace free. Essentiually the switching is converted from a mechanical switch, to an electrical transistor switch, as pictured below.

Chrysler's 4-Pin Electronic Ignition

Chrysler's implementation of electronic ignition put the transistor in a module mounted on the firewall. It receives full power from the ignition, input from the pickup, and shunts the coil to ground at the right times.

Chrysler's 5-Pin Electronic Ignition

Almost identical to the 4-pin, the 5-pin module has an external ballast input to step down the voltage. The 4-pin did it internally, and I guess was a weak point in the design.

Mallory Aftermarket Electronic Ignition

Mallory improves on the Chrysler design with their Unilite series by putting the transistor inside the distributor itself, thus eliminating the need for an external transitor module. The ballast is still used, and the upgrade is equally easy from points or electronic. Mallory part#

4757801 for mechanical + vacuum advance
3757801 for only mechanical advance

Make sure your ignition wires are spiral type suppression (resistive), and your plugs are also resistive. This unit can use any aftermarket or OEM coil, but they suggest using their coil and an additional voltage spike suppressor module.

MSD Aftermarket Electronic Ignition

Similar to the Mallory design, MSD has a Ready-To-Run drop in distributor. They use HEI style distributor terminals, so you need their wires too. MSD part#

8387 mechanical + vacuum advance
32739 RED 8.5 Wires
32733 BLACK 8.5 Wires

Coil

Im using Accel's high performance coil, Part# 8140 :

Testing an ignition coil. (within 10% of spec. is acceptable) :

Primary Circuit resistance : Measure from coil (-) to coil (+)
Secondary Circuit resistance : Measure from coil (-) to distributor coil output

Wires & Plugs

There are 2 types of wires/plugs original performance, and radio surpressive. The difference is the amount of resistance built in. Ie original plugs and wires were solid core, and had zero resistance. Eventually it was found that they caused large electromagnetic interference everywhere, and interfered with car lectronics. Nowadays, everything is resistive/suppressive type.

	Mallory SPIRAL CORE PRO SIDEWINDER Part# 937 Resistance=300 Ohms/foot	MAXX Performance 8.5mm Ferrite Spiral Core Spark Plug Wires Part# MAXX 505R Resistance=500 Ohms/foot
	Moroso - Ultra 40 Race Wire Part# ? Resistance=40 Ohms/foot	Moroso - Blue Max Spiral Core Spark Plug Wires Part# ? Resistance=800 Ohms/foot

For plugs in order of popular preference, AutoLite, NGK, AC Delco, then Champion are preferred.

**Application - 1968 Dodge 440/7.2L**
Manufacturor	Part#	Heat Range
AutoLite	#75 - Non-Resistor (discontinued) #85 - Resistor	? D7 (first digit = heat range)
NGK	#XR4 (Stock# 5858) - V-Power #XR4IX (Stock# 7189) - IX-Series Iridium	? ?
AC Delco	#R43S - Standard #7 - Rapidfire	? ?
Champion	#RJ12YC - COPPER PLUS #RJ14YC - COPPER PLUS	12 14

The heat range of the spark plug determines how much heat the plug is capable of removing from the combustion chamber. The heat range of the plug does not affect horsepower. It only changes the temperature of the tip of the plug. If the heat range is too cold, the deposits will not burn off the tip and the spark plug will foul. If the spark plug heat range is too hot, erosion and pre-ignition could occur. A change in the heat range of the spark plug used will change the temperature of the spark plug tip by 70-120 degrees! Always start with a colder plug, and work up, as tip-fouling will be the only issue. The heat range of a spark plug has only a minute effect on combustion chamber and overall engine temperature. A cold plug will not materially cool down an engine's running temperature.