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  #1  
Old 03-18-2002, 11:37 PM
airgrabber airgrabber is offline
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Question Orange Ecu

What is the difference between the Orange ECU and the original looking blue unit on my 72 Duster 340? Might I expect to see any improvement if I switched to the Orange style or should I go to the MSD6AL and Blaster coil.
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Old 03-19-2002, 12:28 AM
Jims451 Jims451 is offline
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The basic operation of the Blue and orange box are the same. The orange box does not use the failure prone dual ballast resistor, and I think the ignition dwell might be more consistent over the RPM range?

It is hard to evaulate ignition systems because diferent engines (and engine configurations) have different ignition requirements.
If a basic stock ignition system can ignite the cylinders air/fuel mixture every time (no misfires) and at all the operating RPMs the engine runs at, then you may not see any difference when going to a better ignition system.

The problem is that inside the combustion chamber, the air/fuel ratio around the spark plug may be too lean or rich that the engine mis-fires on the cylinder. A good example is when the engine is cold, and the cylinder usually runs lean. A hotter spark (bigger ignition coil, increased plug gap) and multiple sparks (MSD type ignition) make it more likely the un-even air/fuel mixture will ignite.
This un-even air/fuel problem is more evident in engines with carburators and large camshaft timming (low intake velocity ar low RPM and poor carburator metering signal.)
This is why the MSD type ignition is so popular on performance engines.
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  #3  
Old 03-19-2002, 12:38 AM
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rumblefish360 rumblefish360 is offline
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Ahhhh, what jim said. Also, the orange box is said to have a hotter spark more suited for performance apps. It is also supposed to run stronger to 6000 rpm. Well past stock.
This box, IMO, is a great and Cheap upgrade over the stock box. Plug in and go for the most part.
Will you notice a diff in your stock ride?.....I don't think so.
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  #4  
Old 03-19-2002, 09:59 AM
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cuda66273 cuda66273 is offline
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Yup, listen to Jim he's absolutly correct...all the time!....well there was once when....ahhh never mind....
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Old 03-19-2002, 12:17 PM
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3bolt main 3bolt main is offline
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lets see $35 vs. $180 on a basic stock motor Hmmmm..... for the gain you'll see (if ya see it ) take whats left and buy your girl dinner then everybody's happy
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  #6  
Old 03-19-2002, 09:31 PM
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cuda66273 cuda66273 is offline
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Go with the Girl thing....way warmer this time of year....LOL
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  #7  
Old 03-19-2002, 10:02 PM
airgrabber airgrabber is offline
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Default ORANGE ECU

I'm sorry, I did not mention that the motor is not stock.My fault. It has amild cam,edelbrock750,TTI Headers,Dynomax mufflers,2@1/2 pipes.It runs kinda,roughwhen cold or warming up. This is what I assume Jim is talking about may improve with the Msd.
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Old 03-20-2002, 04:05 AM
George G. Leverette George G. Leverette is offline
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My experience with the Ortange boxes have ben different, after using several with failures in less than a year on a daily driver I switched to a Chrome box, it worked intermittenly. Bought a generic box at the local parts house for lesss than half the price and it works satisfactorily. On one car the late model 4 pin box has worked satisfactorily for several years. No luck with the performance boxes with no warranty for me. The dual ballast resistor can be used with either the 4 pin or 5 pin ECUs, the ohms is slightly higher but works on a street\strip car.
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Old 03-20-2002, 07:46 AM
Jims451 Jims451 is offline
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With the Mopar Mini-starter, the MSD6AL ignition, and the Holley Pro-Series carb my engine fires up as easy as my fuel injected '96 Chrysler Concord.
The engine idles pretty smooth at 800-850 RPM considering I have a 251 duration @ 0.050" (0.620" lift) cam, a M1 single plane and a 1,000 CFM carb
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Old 03-20-2002, 01:35 PM
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rumblefish360 rumblefish360 is offline
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I went through 3 MSD box's till I got one that works well. Since then, there has been no problem at all. I like it over the orange/chrome box's.
I have had better luck with MoPar box's in quality and life span. (But I still run the MSD.)
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  #11  
Old 03-20-2002, 10:32 PM
djswwg djswwg is offline
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Go but a Standard Motor Products part # LX-101. It will outperform/outlast all the different colored boxes MP sells, and it's half the money. Also has a 50,000 mile warranty I think. A NO HASSLE warranty at that.........djs
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  #12  
Old 03-20-2002, 10:33 PM
djswwg djswwg is offline
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Whoops! That should read "Go buy a..." sorry.....djs
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  #13  
Old 03-20-2002, 10:40 PM
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JVMopar JVMopar is offline
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I've got a stock, 400 in my truck. MSD is very nice. I noticed it started quicker and runs smoother. I got mine from Earnhardts Dodge in arizona. I got it for $172 if I remember right.

www.parts4mymopar.com
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  #14  
Old 04-13-2002, 01:03 PM
George G. Leverette George G. Leverette is offline
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Just a thought on the Orange ECU operating range to 6000 RPM max being better than stock. The 340s stock operating range was listed in the tests as 6300 RPM. This would imply that the Orange ECU would be a down grade for the 340 engines and the Chrome box would be needed.
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  #15  
Old 04-13-2002, 03:33 PM
Jims451 Jims451 is offline
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I Know the orange box will go 6,000+ RPM just fine, but I think the dwell angle may not be as consistent at high RPMs. I think this is the major difference between the Orange and Chrome ECU.
These MP and stock type ECU work basically like an electronic switch (or point distribitor.) They really leave most of the work upto the ignition coil, So changing from one box to another really dosen't produce a "hotter" spark, just a more consistent one at higher RPMs.
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