Stock MOPAR electronic ignition

bill dedman · 12-28-2007, 04:39 AM

Can anybody tell me if the distributors in the early Mopar electronic ignitions had a magnetic pickup or a Hall Effect pickup? I have read it both ways, and I don't know the difference, or how to TELL the difference. Mine has a magnetized reluctor or pickup (can't tell which) that acts on the other part when it passes by, but how do you tell if it's a Hall Effect unit?

I am installing an MSD spark retard (Boost Master) and the hookup wiring is different for the magnetic vs. the Hall Effect distributors, and THEY (MSD) don't know how to differentiate between the two.

Any information will be appreciated!!!

Bill

art leong · 12-28-2007, 09:29 AM

The 1970's ones were magnetic pickup. Thats where the brass feelers guages came in to play.
The ones for the 1980's 4 cylinder turbo cars are hall effect.
The boost master didn't work at all on my turbo car. It just fought with the computer. And the car slowed up a lot.

SStockDart · 12-28-2007, 09:30 AM

See if this site has the information you need. Try the electronic conversion part.
http://www.mymopar.com/tools.htm

Tailchaser · 12-28-2007, 06:18 PM

The "Lean Burn" cars, I think have been both ways. But vast majority are pickup/reluctor combinations.

Moparteacher · 12-28-2007, 10:54 PM

The early mopar dizzys had magnetic induction (pick-up and reluctor). The reluctor looks like a 8-point star on the shaft. The hall-effect uses a shutter wheel. It's looks like a steel umbrella with slots or windows. The magnetic induction produces an AC signal. The hall effect produces a DC square wave.

The hall effect distributor requires an external voltage feed hence a third wire.

The lean burn dizzys use two magnetic induction pick-ups. The Mopar engines book has a wiring diagram to utilize the lean burn distributor. It allows the user to switch from one pick-up to the other for starting retard.

Hope this helps.

bill dedman · 12-29-2007, 01:00 AM

Yes, it helps!!!

It ALL helps.... a LOT!

You guys are the absolute BEST!!!!!!!!

A shame I have to come HERE for information of this nature; MSD Tech hasn't a clue...

Leave it to DRAG RACERS to get it right... the first time!!!

Thanks a bunch to you all! This will solve all my Boost Master wiring problems.

Except one...

The distributor I have is an early-model (1974) and the color coding is long gone from the insulation on the wires that enter the base of the distributor.
It is an umolested unit. Any idea which wire is the + wire? I have to hook it up to a specific wire on the MSD 5462 control module. The wiring-plug coming from the dist. has a male and a female plug; might one of those be a positive? I'm thinking that the wiring to that plug would, of necessity, HAVE to be consistent in its polarity. Other than that, I don't know how to tell.

Any ideas?

Thanks again for all the good info!!!

Bill

12-28-2007, 04:39 AM	#1
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Stock MOPAR electronic ignition Can anybody tell me if the distributors in the early Mopar electronic ignitions had a magnetic pickup or a Hall Effect pickup? I have read it both ways, and I don't know the difference, or how to TELL the difference. Mine has a magnetized reluctor or pickup (can't tell which) that acts on the other part when it passes by, but how do you tell if it's a Hall Effect unit? I am installing an MSD spark retard (Boost Master) and the hookup wiring is different for the magnetic vs. the Hall Effect distributors, and THEY (MSD) don't know how to differentiate between the two. Any information will be appreciated!!! Bill __________________ Bill

12-28-2007, 09:29 AM	#2
art leong VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Richmond Hill, Georgia Posts: 2,003 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Stock MOPAR electronic ignition The 1970's ones were magnetic pickup. Thats where the brass feelers guages came in to play. The ones for the 1980's 4 cylinder turbo cars are hall effect. The boost master didn't work at all on my turbo car. It just fought with the computer. And the car slowed up a lot. __________________ Art Leong 2095 SS

12-28-2007, 09:30 AM	#3
SStockDart VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona, Texan forever Posts: 1,176 Likes: 876 Liked 574 Times in 212 Posts	Re: Stock MOPAR electronic ignition See if this site has the information you need. Try the electronic conversion part. http://www.mymopar.com/tools.htm

12-28-2007, 06:18 PM	#4
Tailchaser Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 9 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Stock MOPAR electronic ignition The "Lean Burn" cars, I think have been both ways. But vast majority are pickup/reluctor combinations. __________________ Chasin' my own tail for 30 years and counting....(shoulda raced oval track!)

12-28-2007, 10:54 PM	#5
Moparteacher Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Boise Posts: 49 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Stock MOPAR electronic ignition The early mopar dizzys had magnetic induction (pick-up and reluctor). The reluctor looks like a 8-point star on the shaft. The hall-effect uses a shutter wheel. It's looks like a steel umbrella with slots or windows. The magnetic induction produces an AC signal. The hall effect produces a DC square wave. The hall effect distributor requires an external voltage feed hence a third wire. The lean burn dizzys use two magnetic induction pick-ups. The Mopar engines book has a wiring diagram to utilize the lean burn distributor. It allows the user to switch from one pick-up to the other for starting retard. Hope this helps. __________________ Gary Weaver Moparteacher@yahoo.com

12-29-2007, 01:00 AM	#6
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Stock MOPAR electronic ignition Yes, it helps!!! It ALL helps.... a LOT! You guys are the absolute BEST!!!!!!!! A shame I have to come HERE for information of this nature; MSD Tech hasn't a clue... Leave it to DRAG RACERS to get it right... the first time!!! Thanks a bunch to you all! This will solve all my Boost Master wiring problems. Except one... The distributor I have is an early-model (1974) and the color coding is long gone from the insulation on the wires that enter the base of the distributor. It is an umolested unit. Any idea which wire is the + wire? I have to hook it up to a specific wire on the MSD 5462 control module. The wiring-plug coming from the dist. has a male and a female plug; might one of those be a positive? I'm thinking that the wiring to that plug would, of necessity, HAVE to be consistent in its polarity. Other than that, I don't know how to tell. Any ideas? Thanks again for all the good info!!! Bill __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 12-29-2007 at 01:02 AM.