Been lurking in the shadows lately, I've finally landed a job working at my best friend's Dad's body shop. It's really more of an underpaid apprenticeship, but it's better than being broke. Now that “I got a little change in my pocket goin' jingle lingle ling“, I'd like to do some overdue maintenance. The old Dart is overdue on it's tune up and guzzling gas, but I don't want to waste the time with that. Seeing as I have some of the parts, I may as well upgrade to electronic ignition. So here goes a slew of questions.

Where can I buy the Five pin pigtail connector that plugs into the factory ECU? AutoZone says that they don't carry them. Or instead of making my own wiring harness, where can I purchase one? I would really prefer to make my own (it’s cheaper) seeing as me and dad know pretty well what we’re doing. I already have a rebuilt factory electronic distributor and an OEM replacement ECU that dad bought years ago from AutoZone, both replacements for a ‘73 Dart with a Slant Six.

The pigtail is pictured in this diagram:
http://www.slantsix.org/articles/elect_ ... wiring.htm

What’s a good spark plug wire to use for the street? We’ve owned the car for 6 years now, and I believe we’ve changed wires a total of one time. As for plugs, we have 12 Champion spark plugs that we rotate in and out of the engine. They’ve got a thorough cleaning and a regap in each rotation. I now know that’s not good. So, I’ll ask. What’s a good street plug?

Now for the oil. I was thinking 5 quarts of 10W-30 Mobile 1 High Mileage. A WIX oil filter (anybody know the number off the top of there head? It’s been 13,000 miles since the last oil change (10W-40 Valvoline and a Fram filter)

Last but not least, I intend to buy a Fram air filter.

You can buy a new harness from the dealer still. I think the last one I bought was around 20 bucks. Or you can get on from a wrecking yard. I like NGK plugs..ran them in my Satellite and also in my 5th Avenue with never an issue. There is an extended electrode NGK for slants..just cant think of the number off the top of my head. A Wix/Napa filter is a good choice..even their oil is good, as its just repackaged Valvoline oil for less cost. Carquest's house brand is also Valvoline, and Wix filters. I've never had a problem using Fram air filters...I think just their oil filters suck.

Here is your Mopar Performance wiring harness from Summit Racing.

You do not want a 5-pin module because you then have to use the dual ballast resistor. Use a 4-pin ignition module. Do NOT use a module from Auto Zone.

Standard Motor Products LX101 is the module you want if you intend to use original style electronic ignition. Most every other brand is junk including Mopar Performance. Personally I would go straight to HEI, but that's me and a lot of other folks on this board.

I would not use High Mileage oil. I would not use Champion spark plugs. I use extended reach NGK plugs. If you ask for NGK plugs for a '96 Intrepid with a 3.5L you get the right plugs. Remove the sealing washer from the plugs and be aware you'll need a 5/8" plug socket.

Get a Wix air filter when you buy your Wix oil filter.

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Joshua

Eric,

Thaks for the tips. I've heard too many good things about wix oil filters, so I figured I'd give them a try. As for the oil, I'm done with conventional. Dad was always paranoid about full synthetic oil for some reason. I've learned enough about synthetics in Automotive to want to try it. We've used Fram air filter's for years, and have been very pleased with their performance over STP.

Josh,

Thanks for the line on the wiring harness and the module suggestion. I think I'll hold off on the module for now. I'm more into using what I have on hand rather than spending money. Also thank you for the line on spark plugs, I've heard mentionings before that Champions are not the plug to use. That's why I asked. As for the high milage formula, why not? Luckly I have a 5/8" plug socket on hand, but thanks for the heads up. Will the Wix air filter perform any better than the Fram?

be careful with the synthetic oil, its not recommended for engines with high mileage. Its to thin and could blow past your rings and main seals. I would run conventional with a quart of lucas. just my two cents

My 4 cents. I would not run any oil additives, except for GM EOS in my race engines, or for cam break in. Most can cause more problems then they cure. That statement about synthetic oil is an "old wifes tale", it is simply not true. For info on oil and oil additives, go here.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/cms/

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

I don't know about the synthetic dispute. But I do know that Lucas additive creates bubbles.

Well, I went to go buy my wiring harness on Summit, and they told me I need to link my credit card to my paypal in order to purchase from Summit.

THAT'S B%L$S@IT!!!

Now what? I don't have a credit card!

I think once you've spent a certain amount with paypal they require you to link a credit card OR a debit card.

I remember having to do that a year or two ago. That's if it's the same in the US as it is over here in the UK.

Cool car btw!

_________________
1960 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door sedan
Stock 60 225
Push button 3 speed Torqueflite
Right Hooker

Isn't the credit card the backup payment plan with Paypal?

(incase the original transaction doesn't go through)

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

I think so yeah. But I think they mandate the use of a debit/credit card after you've spent a certain amount with paypal. You can get away without it for the first $250 or so.

_________________
1960 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door sedan
Stock 60 225
Push button 3 speed Torqueflite
Right Hooker

I just have my paypall acct linked to a checking acct. and don't have any problems. The checking acct, I use is only for paypal, and I only have $5.00 in it unless I am buying something, then I transfer the necessary amount into it.
PS: the checking acct does not have overdraft protection, and the bank will return any checks that would create an overdraft, unpaid. That protects the account from a "hacker"

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

If you have a "Check Card", you can call Summit to order, and pay with th check card. The amount will be deducted from your checking acct.

_________________
Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

I'll try that next. I just tried to move $25 into my paypal account from checking. Maybe after it clears and is confirmed to be in paypal, it will clear payement.