Are Chrysler motors junk and to be avoided?

[ct1762@gmail.com]

ct1762 I have one 1977 65Hp with twin carb, 818cc and the larger LU.
Have also two 60Hp twin carb 818cc with the smaller LU.
All three with MAG II ignition.
I have bought all ignition parts I have found for the MAG II.
Even from Ebay US (I am in Sweden Europe)
Alternators, triggers, capacitor moduls and CD modules.
Found a retro fit kit for the ignition system to change to Prestolite system at Ebay US.
Bought it, was not cheap.
650 dollars with shipping and tax to Sweden, but worth it in my opinion.
If I do not remember wrong Franz Marine had it for 600 dollars without shipping and tax.
Hope I can keep these engines running for many years.

so thats why all the mag 2 stuff is gone ! haha. JK. very lucky you got that stuff! that retrofit kit is probably almost as rare as a CD module. one guy has a 1977 65hp but wants $550 for it. its sitting in his garden on its side with the cowling half open i tried explaining to him they discontinued all parts (the CD unit in 1982! ha) but he wouldnt listen.

 

[Nordin]

There are some triggers, capacitor modules and maybe alternator at Ebay US.
But to expensive in my opinion.
Think the trigger is out for 100-110 dollars!!!!!!
It is a pitty that CDI Electronics discontinued the CD module as a R&R unit.
I have a couple of those that are bad, maybe some start it up again.
But that thought is far far away!!!

 

[racerone]

Off topic.----Ignition parts for the older OMC motors are readily available.-----Installed from 1950 to 1990 models.-----The numbers / demand is there.----After market responds with the demand for those simple parts.-----Not likely to find any manufacturer to set up production to sell 5 units / year on some modern stuff.

 

[Nordin]

You will!! you know these engines inside out/ your a pro!

Thank you The Force power, but I am just a simple leisure mechanic that works on old OBs and fond of Chrysler/Force engines.

 

[The Force power]

Thank you The Force power, but I am just a simple leisure mechanic that works on old OBs and fond of Chrysler/Force engines.

Same here !!

 

[WinnerCougar74]

From a design standpoint I prefer simple over complex. Fewer parts often means fewer things to fail. I think that is where the Chrysler/Force shine. Also, straight forward troubleshooting. 1. check compression 2. check spark 3. check fuel delivery. That covers so much ground on these motors.

 

[The Force power]

From a design standpoint I prefer simple over complex. Fewer parts often means fewer things to fail. I think that is where the Chrysler/Force shine. Also, straight forward troubleshooting. 1. check compression 2. check spark 3. check fuel delivery. That covers so much ground on these motors.

The CDI ignition can be confusing & hard to diagnose

 

[WinnerCougar74]

Very true TheForce Power. I improperly diagnosed a bad CDI unit when I should have double checked ALL the basics first. I think I have read on this forum that the chrysler CDI boxes are excellent and that most of the time the problem is points, triggers, coils, plug wires or plugs. There is one thing that is really cool. You can bypass the CDI box and the motor will still run. Some claim it runs just fine. One day when I have the time I'm gonna wire up a simple switch that bypasses the CDI box just as a failsafe.

 

[The Force power]

You can bypass the CDI box and the motor will still run. Some claim it runs just fine.

Due tell; how?

 

[racerone]

If the distributor has breaker points , then yes you can go back to a conventional battery / coil sparkmaker.

 

[topgun3690]

If the distributor has breaker points , then yes you can go back to a conventional battery / coil sparkmaker.

So this wouldn't work on an electronic distributor with preamp? Just trying to wrap my head around this......

 

[Nordin]

Yes as racerone says.
If the distributor has points and the Magna Power CD box goes bad.
You can remove the CD box and install a capacitor (condenser) and a regular auto style ignition coil.
You also have to change spark plugs to regular plugs with a bent electrode.
The surface gap plugs used in the CD system need a higher voltage to spark.
With this modification you have a battery system as old school car style system.

 

[topgun3690]

Yes as racerone says.
If the distributor has points and the Magna Power CD box goes bad.
You can remove the CD box and install a capacitor (condenser) and a regular auto style ignition coil.
You also have to change spark plugs to regular plugs with a bent electrode.
The surface gap plugs used in the CD system need a higher voltage to spark.
With this modification you have a battery system as old school car style system.

Thanks for that info. So just to be clear, you can't simply disconnect or remove the CD unit and expect the engine to run? Unless you do the mods you mentioned? I mean no disrespect to WinnerCougar74.....just trying to learn about these systems.

 

[Nordin]

No you just can not remove the CD box and think it will run.
The CD box contains some "heavy" capacitors, a SCR transistor and some transformers and resistors.
The box is instead of the condenser in the regular old school system BUT it will be able to store much higher voltage.
The points is still the trigger to trig the condenser or CD box to dump the voltage into the sparkplugs.
If you have the electronic distributor with a preamp you can not do this as the preamp is an "electronic breaker point".
You might be able to put a MSD box in instead of the OEM CD box.
There are some videos at youtube that show how to convert the ignition system for example a guy called VertiJerky for the regular conversion and Mostly Interesting for the MSD.

 

[topgun3690]

No you just can not remove the CD box and think it will run.
The CD box contains some "heavy" capacitors, a SCR transistor and some transformers and resistors.
The box is instead of the condenser in the regular old school system BUT it will be able to store much higher voltage.
The points is still the trigger to trig the condenser or CD box to dump the voltage into the sparkplugs.
If you have the electronic distributor with a preamp you can not do this as the preamp is an "electronic breaker point".
You might be able to put a MSD box in instead of the OEM CD box.
There are some videos at youtube that show how to convert the ignition system for example a guy called VertiJerky for the regular conversion and Mostly Interesting for the MSD.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Nordin......you are The Man!

 

[The Force power]

Thanks for that info. So just to be clear, you can't simply disconnect or remove the CD unit and expect the engine to run? Unless you do the mods you mentioned? I mean no disrespect to WinnerCougar74.....just trying to learn about these systems.

Yes, same here; hence my comment

 

[The Force power]

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Nordin......you are The Man!

See my comment post#60

 

[topgun3690]

See my comment post#60

I saw it.....and agree 100% !

 

[WinnerCougar74]

FYI, I'm running this automotive coil right now. It's a sealed epoxy coil. With the simplicity of these motors you can adapt off the shelf parts. I think it's great.

 

[Nordin]

Winnercougar74 that is a coil for a MSD ignition system?
Not a coil for a regular auto system with points.
Those regular coils has a higher secondary resistance then CDI ignition system.
General about 10-12kOhm, CDI systems about 600-1000 Ohm.
I think that coil you use will work perfect with the Magna Power CD system.