is this using the ford TFI coil? I don't think the jeep duraspark module will work with that. Ford had a different ignition module for the TFI coil that didnt work with magnetic pickups. Gutting the jeep module and hiding a HEI module in it, using the case as a heat sink would be the way to go.

 

I thought I had read that it could work, but I’m pretty ignorant about this stuff

EDIT: quick check of my saved pages and notes says it can work with the stock Dura-Spark module, but I need the wiring diagram for that

 

I tried the 'HEI in a Duraspark Box' trick, and I couldn't get it to work (I probably had the wrong wiring diagram when I attempted it, and decided it was too much PITA for my liking - especially, since that trick still requires a separate high-output coil to see full benefit). Basically wasted a perfectly good Duraspark box in the process. At the end of the day, HEI and Duraspark are essentially the same thing, except that HEI already has a large cap dizzy/rotor and the module 'can' live in the cap, which would eliminate some underhood wiring.

The TFI coil works just fine with the Duraspark box. In the wiring, there's a resistor that's added to the 'pink' wire that allows the TFI to work properly with the DS box.

After I did the TFI on my 258, my pal Jim did some research and found the necessary parts for a TFI/Team Rush upgrade for his 304. It was just a matter of pull the AMC cap & rotor, install the upgrade adapter, cap & rotor, then wire in the resistor and plug in the TFI coil. Boom. That's it. Fired right up and ran even better than before.

Here's the wiring diagram I used on my '71 Mach 1 to replace the old points ignition system - which, upon further review, is pretty much identical to the TFI/Team Rush Duraspark set-up. The only real difference is that you're introducing a much higher-output coil into the mix (45KV vs. 19KV). You could even substitute the TFI coil with some like an Accel SuperCoil. I have an Edelbrock SuperCoil on mine (with an HEI distributor that came with the Pro Flow 4 MPFI, but if it hadn't I'd have stuck with the Duraspark/Team Rush ignition system).

Hope this helps!

 

Mr. Chris

I did not see any kinda distributor cap enlargement for a 304

I tried this on my 258 for a while and saw no MPG improvement, I've never encountered

my cylinder's "cross firing" in 40 years time.....unless I somehow missed it???

Here's the original postings, I think

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/i-6-teamrush-upgrade-definitive.669495/

-----JEEPFELLER

 

I don't know if you will need all this stuff. I changed over a '79 CJ7 304
probably 10 years ago.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8414

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-6201

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8227

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-35859

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8869

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8874

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8804

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pco-5712pt

 

I don't know if you will need all this stuff. I changed over a '79 CJ7 304
probably 10 years ago.

I'm planning on the 8414 cap-kit, the blaster 2 cannister style coil and probably the MSD 31199 cut to fit wires. All are available through Summit and will total around $300. Based on JH's tutorial , post #2 for the AMC V8's this is the basic upgrade.
Ignition Upgrade 78-90 Jeep, Team Rush upgrade---- by JeepHammer

The only thing I am not 100% clear on is the wiring connections from the distributor to the DuraSpark module. Mister 4X4's diagrams help, I need to study on them and make sure I'm clear on it. Will prob order all the parts next payday.
JeepHammers thread says that there is no wires that need cut and make it sound like its a plug & play type install, however I haven't been able to confirm this or see a diagram of how the wiring gets connected. I dont want to start on this until I understand what I will need to do.

 

Also - this canister type coil instead of the TFI coil:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8203

 

I have been thinking about this ignition upgrade for my ‘79 CJ5 304. Interested in what you come up with Chris.

 

Are you keeping stock ignition box then?

 

Yes, at least for the time being. I need to decide if I still want to save for putting an EFI in the CJ or start upgrading the Gladiator and use it for my future trips.

 

Chris, if you are simply adding the larger cap, cap adapter, and bigger rotor to your existing Motorcraft distributer, the wiring to the distributor doesn't change.

I think I have an old Motorcraft distributor with the Team Rush upgrade that I made the locator tab for. I'll see If I can dig it out and post some pics. It's very easy to do.

 

Chris, if you are simply adding the larger cap, cap adapter, and bigger rotor to your existing Motorcraft distributer, the wiring to the distributor doesn't change.

I think I have an old Motorcraft distributor with the Team Rush upgrade that I made the locator tab for. I'll see If I can dig it out and post some pics. It's very easy to do.

Thank you Matt!

 

I used this cap adapter and it clipped right on with no modifying.

 

I'm actually hoping that the MSD adapter won't need to be modified, but I won't know until I get it and want to be prepared if I do.
I won't know until I have it, and after the trip I just got back from, funds are the lowest they've been in a year or more. Have to wait 'til payday to order the parts

 

Chris, I spent 45 minutes trying to find my old Motorcraft distributor. I know I didn't throw it out, but damned if I can find it.

So, I did an image search and found a pic that shows the locator tab, kinda. As you can see, hopefully, it's just a small metal tab that screws into the housing of the distributor. That tab indexes with a notch on the cap adapter. Without it, the cap adapter can spin on the housing and mess with your timing.

I believe original Motorcraft distributors came with the tab, but the re-built versions you can buy today often don't have it. I made mine from a piece I cut and bent from a soda can.

Hope this helps

 

Chris, I spent 45 minutes trying to find my old Motorcraft distributor. I know I didn't throw it out, but damned if I can find it.

So, I did an image search and found a pic that shows the locator tab, kinda. As you can see, hopefully, it's just a small metal tab that screws into the housing of the distributor. That tab indexes with a notch on the cap adapter. Without it, the cap adapter can spin on the housing and mess with your timing.

I believe original Motorcraft distributors came with the tab, but the re-built versions you can buy today often don't have it. I made mine from piece I cut and bent from a soda can.

Hope this helps

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View attachment 4337791

Helps immensely!! I couldn't mentally picture what was being talked about but that makes it make sense.

 

Chris, here's a little better pic that shows how the tab indexes with the cap adapter.

 

So, for the basic upgrade, I don’t need to change coils?

 

No. You don’t need to change the coil.

 

You will need a different end on the distributor side of the coil wire.

 

Changing the coil is the biggest part/reason of the upgrade. The factory coil is only good for 19KV, whereas the SuperCoils are in the 45KV range. The bigger coil produces a bigger spark, increasing the efficiency of the burn. The bigger cap & rotor are to prevent any cross-talk between the electrodes inside of the distributor. Once could argue the bigger cap isn't needed (I have a standard sized cap & rotor on my Mach 1's 351C, because the Ram Air air cleaner won't fit with the larger cap, and it's suffering no issues - so far), but it's better safe than sorry (as with all of the other ignition system upgrades).

 

For a short period of time I thought I should look at a coil or cap upgrade. I found that what I got does the job really well. Plus I like the look of the old school round coil and the cap with the female sockets.

The wires and cap on my 258 are probably 30 years old. If they aren't cross firing or arcing to ground then there aren't any gains to be had.

The real gains are in spark timing.

 

I probably would've seen better gains had I been more familiar with the timing curves of my 258, however, the TFI/Ream Rush upgrade pretty much eliminated my 'rich' condition (blackness in the exhaust with a gassy smell) by providing a much more complete burn in the cylinder. There was a good power gain (Seat Of Pants Dyno) and things just got even better when I upgraded the Carter BBD to an MC2100. Both of those together really woke up my 130K mile 258 and brought more reliability into the mix (always fired, never flooded).

We pulled the same trick on Jim's 304 (TFI/Team Rush) and it had an immediate effect on his engine's performance as well. It would already pin you pack in your seat with the mid-range cam and Edelbrock performance goodies, but Jim's smile said it all the first time we took it for a spin after doing the work.

The factory Duraspark ignition will 'get the job done' just fine, but when you can make it so much better for just a few bucks... why not?

 

I might add the MSD 6A in the future, for now, I just want to be able to drive it and have it reliable without worrying that its gonna miss or worse case, crossfire and cost me an engine. Cap w/adapter, rotor, MSD Blaster coil and HEI wires for now.

Last question (hopefully), Does this change the timing? Do I need do anything with that ?

 

Yes it does, thank you Eric

 

well, bite the bullet and ordered the parts this morning. After all the reading I've done online, I'm pretty confident that I need this upgrade! LOL. I looked at the distributor last night and it has a locator tab on it, so I dont think I need to worry about that?
Gonna look at how I can organize the plug wires better before I do this tho, I don't want them just flopping around like they are now.

 

Chris, if you have factory valve covers, there should be metal tabs to accommodate spark plug wire separators. They will keep your wires nice and tidy.

 

Chris, if you have factory valve covers, there should be metal tabs to accommodate spark plug wire separators. They will keep your wires nice and tidy.

View attachment 4338194

View attachment 4338195

View attachment 4338196

View attachment 4338197

that's one clean looking engine! Mine is nowhere near as organized and neat looking

 

Chris - Keep us posted on your ignition upgrade. I may do the same on the 304 in my ‘79 CJ5. Thanks!

 

WIll do, i'll take some pics along the way too.

 

i did all this on my 79 304 along with the ignition upgrade, worth the effort/cost in my opinion

holler if you want pics of my set up