And I wondered (not really, I knew this was the problem the whole time) why my new Duke wasn't running right....


Yes, that's rust on the pickup coil...


More rust, and in this picture you can see the pigtail off the pickup coil falling apart, no wonder the dizzy wasn't getting any spark...
(someone once told me there's no such thing as too much dielectric grease)


More rust...


Another pic of the damaged pickup coil. And if the pic was better, you could see where the pigtail had been arcing and causing even further damage to the plug...

I picked up a used distributor from the junkyard with the star-style points, and rebuilt it to look brand new, and it improved the feel of the engine considerably. Get another from an 85-86 engine, have the ignition module tested 7 or 8 times (so it gets REAL hot), put some new thermal compound on the bottom of the module (NOT dielectric grease), and a new pickup coil ($15 or so for an AC Delco). Also, new o-ring, the brown AC Delco one for the 3.4 DOHC dummy oil pump drive shaft, and a little dielectric grease on the pickup coil connector. Easy job.

Buddycraigg made some videos on rebuilding a V6 distributor, the 4 cylinder one is nearly identical.

[This message has been edited by RWDPLZ (edited 09-02-2011).]

I bought a new Cardone from Rockauto, and it came with new pickup coil, ICM, dizzy and cap.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/...6&pt=02780&ppt=C0334 Thats what I run. Works like a champ!

quote Originally posted by Rallaster: I bought a new Cardone from Rockauto, and it came with new pickup coil, ICM, dizzy and cap.

Did they throw in a pair of shoes for you too?

quote Originally posted by IMSA GT: Did they throw in a pair of shoes for you too?

Yuk, yuk, yuk...

I totally understand that bro! However, I didn't pay that for mine.

You gotta have friends in low places bud. A great friend of mine works there. I got it at his cost. I think I paid $89.xx + tax.

quote Originally posted by GADJet: I totally understand that bro! However, I didn't pay that for mine. You gotta have friends in low places bud. A great friend of mine works there. I got it at his cost. I think I paid $89.xx + tax.

Damn, that's a hell of a deal. I'd have done that as well if it had been an option.