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Wiring A Mad Street Fire Ignition To Motorcraft Distributor

Discussion in 'Intermediate CJ-5/6/7/8' started by Jeff Taylor, Oct 1, 2019.

  1. Oct 1, 2019
    Jeff Taylor

    Jeff Taylor 1973 Jeep CJ5

    Charlotte, NC
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    I have a 1973 Jeep cj5 232 with points distributor and a street fire ignition. I recently received a distributor from a 1981 cj7 with team rush upgrades. My question is if anyone had experience with wiring a motorcraft to a msd street fire ignition module. The wires are the 2 trigger wires and the ground. My existing distributor has one wire connection. I will post pictures of everything tomorrow. Just not exactly sure what to take pics of.
     
  2. Oct 1, 2019
    Jeff Taylor

    Jeff Taylor 1973 Jeep CJ5

    Charlotte, NC
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    EB0F08DF-0AAC-447D-9AA9-057B3CD0EDBA.jpeg What I am assuming so far is a wiring diagram for the ford duraspark connection.
     
  3. Oct 1, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    If you have a Duraspark distributor, it has a built-in connector with 3 wires:

    upload_2019-10-1_21-5-37.png

    The wires are ground and the two pickup coil wires. If you don't have this connector, then you either don't have a Duraspark distributor or it's been modified.

    The connector in the picture I posted above connects to the "magnetic" pickup connector on your module. MSD makes an adapter harness that uses this magnetic pickup with their module, and plugs in to the distributor connector.

    The diagram you posted above expects a COMPLETE Duraspark ignition with the Duraspark ignition module as well as the Duraspark distributor. It would work with points ignition too... I'd suggest you look at your instructions for the diagram for a Duraspark ignition using the magnetic pickup. It will tell you what the adapter harness part number is.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2019
  4. Oct 1, 2019
    Jeff Taylor

    Jeff Taylor 1973 Jeep CJ5

    Charlotte, NC
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    Thanks Tim really appreciate all the help you have given me throughout my build. If I understand you correctly the diagram works but I need the additional wiring adapter from msd to hook the magnetic pickup to the distributor.
     
  5. Oct 1, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Maybe. Your instructions should show a Duraspark ignition used with a magnetic pickup. I'm not familiar with the Streetfire instructions, only the 6A. If the Streetfire is the same as a 6A, it can be triggered either via the switched connecton (white wire) or by a variable reluctance magnetic pickup like the Duraspark distributor.

    To use the diagram above, you need the big aluminum brick of a module that comes with the Duraspark. Or your points distributor.
     
  6. Oct 1, 2019
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    Contact Teamrush directly or or do some research via Off-road.com if it’s still around. He’s been touting his conversion since before I came here in 2002 ish. It’s a conversion that works well but is a conversion. Like most conversions normal instructions and rules don’t apply. A simple search should turn up how to contact him. He’s no longer a member here due to his “personality quirks”.
     
  7. Oct 2, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    upload_2019-10-2_10-52-51.png

    You want this diagram, if the "Team Rush" distributor is a modified Duraspark. My understanding is that all of these upgrades ("Team Rush," "TFI upgrade," "Juice Box") are simply the Ford 1980-ish ignition parts (cap, cap adapter, rotor, wires) swapped on to the Jeep Duraspark distributor. The later Ford TFI ignition is different electrically from the Duraspark ignition, but the Ford plastic parts (Duraspark? TFI? Both?) swap over. Been done for a long time by many owners, using parts from your FLAPS.

    Your instructions are here, if you don't have them. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-5520/media/instructions
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2019
  8. Oct 2, 2019
    Jeff Taylor

    Jeff Taylor 1973 Jeep CJ5

    Charlotte, NC
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    Excellent thanks Tim and nickmil. I have reached out to team rush directly to assist as well. Yes you are correct mine is team rush modified and my distributor connector looks like the one in your picture above. I will document my swap for future builds. Hopefully it will help others.
     
  9. Oct 18, 2019
    Jeff Taylor

    Jeff Taylor 1973 Jeep CJ5

    Charlotte, NC
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    One last question for everyone before I fire this thing up. It appears the motorcraft distributor does not sit all the way down in the hole. There is a slight gap. The distributor hold down still works but I wanted to make sure I did not need to swap the gears out.
     
  10. Oct 18, 2019
    Jeff Taylor

    Jeff Taylor 1973 Jeep CJ5

    Charlotte, NC
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    Here is a picture
     
  11. Oct 18, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    No, it has to seat all the way. There's even supposed to be a gasket in there. The end of the shaft has to fit into the slot in the oil pump, or no oil pressure.
     
  12. Oct 18, 2019
    Jeff Taylor

    Jeff Taylor 1973 Jeep CJ5

    Charlotte, NC
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    Thanks Tim after messing with it more it finally seated gasket installed and tightened.
     
  13. Oct 18, 2019
    Jeff Taylor

    Jeff Taylor 1973 Jeep CJ5

    Charlotte, NC
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  14. Oct 18, 2019
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

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    Glad I could help, Jeff! (y)
     
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