Changing to electronic ignition

[reavilh]

I just bought a 1970 D100. It has the 318 four speed, and I would like to change it over to electronic ignition. I've done this on other makes, but never a Dodge. What does it entail?

[Jeffc]

There are a number of ways you can go.
Pertornix makes a nice kit that installs in your stock dist
$80 to a little over $100 Depending on model
Mopar preformance kits or kits from Summit that use stock
like new parts
$170 to $250

Wrecking yard parts from a 73 or later 318 is the cheap way
almost free with your time, or you can combine new, or rebuilt parts

See link for stock EI
http://imageevent.com/jeffc/techstuff2e ... =4&s=0&z=2

[nfury8]

As Jeff mentions, the Pertornix is pretty simple and cheap.

However, I am a fan of the later Mopar design he mentions.
If it is a stock engine with a few miles on it, you may need a distributor anyway.
Sticking the Pertronix in a worn out distributor will still have issues.

There are several threads about people having trouble wiring the Mopar kit,
but it really is simple, just as the diagrams Jeff shows. It is a excellent
ignition system. Replacement parts are cheap and available at any parts store,
should the need arise. I would go with the 4 wire ECU and 2 post ballast if
scrounging the salvage yards. This is also the setup for all the aftermarket
kits from Mopar and Summit for example.

[junior]

Some people use a chrysler electronic ignition distributor and a G.M. HEI module.

[F6866]

On my slant six 71 I used GM HEI module and GM HEI coil with a 73 Chrysler electronic ignition distributer, I gap my plugs at .042 and by using the HEI coil you can bypass the ballast resistor.