Mopar Performance Electronic
Ignition Kit Instructions

PAGE 1 of 10
Instruction Sheet DCF-194CC MOPAR PERFORMANCE ELECTRONIC
IGNITION KIT
with
VACUUM ADVANCE DISTRIBUTOR
Part Numbers P3690426, P3690427 & P3690428
This package includes a vacuum advance distributor, wiring
harness, electronic control unit (ECU), ballast resistor and wiring connectors.
Installation is simple and can be accomplished with basic automotive tools. It is
suggested to read through instructions at least once before beginning the installation.
These instructions are divided various sections. The first section pertains to all
installations. The next four sections pertain to the style of ignition system being
replaced: Point Type (used up to the early 70's), Chrysler Electronic (used from the early
to late 70's), Lean Burn/Spark Control Computer (used from mid '70's to the late 80's),
and Logic Computer Controlled (used with all TBI fuel injected vehicles). The fifth and
sixth sections deal with Start Up and Tuning. A short Trouble Shooting section and
additional sections on wiring Street Rods and wiring vehicles without existing wiring
harnesses are included also. Tools required for each installation are listed at the
beginning of each section. If any troubles arise, call the Mopar Performance Tech Hotline
at (248) 969-1690.
NOTE: THE CHRYSLER FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM REQUIRES A SIGNAL
GENERATED BY THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTOR. TO INSTALL THIS KIT, THE FUEL INJECTION
SYSTEM MUST BE ELIMINATED. THIS IGNITION KIT WILL NOT OPERATE THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
USED ON CHRYSLER CORPORATION VEHICLES.
FOR ALL INSTALLATIONS:
Additional Tools Required: Distributor wrench,
.008" brass feeler gauge
1. Disconnect the negative (ground) battery cable.
2. At the coil, disconnect the wire leading from the
negative side of the coil to the distributor.
3. Note the location of the number one spark plug wire on the
distributor. Disconnect the spark plug wires from the spark plugs and coil. Remove the
wires from any wire looms or retainers.
4. Disconnect the distributor cap hold down clips, remove the
distributor cap and spark plug wires together. Set them aside.
5. Note the location of the distributor rotor. Carefully mark
the location where the metal end of the rotor is pointing by placing a piece of tape on
the engine or firewall, .
6. If the distributor being replaced is equipped with a
vacuum advance canister, note the direction the vacuum advance canister is pointing and
disconnect the vacuum advance hose.
7. Remove the distributor hold down bolt and hold down clamp.
8. Clean off the area around the distributor opening.
9. Carefully remove the distributor from the engine. Rotating
the distributor back and forth usually helps.
10. Disconnect the distributor hold down clips on the MP
distributor and remove the distributor cap.
11. Check the air gap between the distributor pickup and the
reluctor (see Figure #1 on page 8). The air gap specification is .008". This should
be checked with a brass (non-magnetic) feeler gauge. Set the air gap if required. Check
all 8 gaps!
12. Rotate the distributor shaft by hand. It should rotate
freely, but it is normal to feel "pulsations" as the reluctor prongs pass the
pick up.
13. Check to make sure the distributor's 0-ring seal is in
place and lightly coat the 0-ring with oil.
14. If your old distributor was equipped with vacuum advance,
hold the new distributor so the vacuum advance canister is in the same position as it was
on the old distributor, as noted in step #6, and carefully set the new distributor most of
the way into the block. If your old distributor was not equipped with vacuum advance, set
the new distributor in the block so the distributor can be rotated at least 45 degrees
without the vacuum advance canister hitting anything.
15. Turn the rotor until it points at the tape mark you made
in step #5. Carefully push, DO NOT FORCE, the distributor down into the block. It may help
to slightly rotate the distributor back and forth while wiggling the rotor. The
distributor should meet the block's surface.
16. Reinstall the distributor hold down bolt and clamp. Just
snug the bolt, do not tighten. The distributor should still be able to be rotated with a
little effort.
17. Reinstall the new distributor cap.
18. Proceed to the section pertaining to the type of ignition
system being replaced.
REPLACING POINT TYPE IGNITION:
Additional Tools Required: Electric drill, wire
cutter/stripper, one 12 gauge solderless electrical connector, 12 volt test light, and
electrical tape.
1. Choose a suitable location for the Electronic Control Unit
(ECU). The ECU must be bolted down, make sure the mounting location selected is a flat
surface and can be drilled through. The ECU should be located away from the exhaust
system, in the coolest place possible. Recommended locations are: the corners of the
firewall; the inner fenderwell; the radiator support panel/grill area; or under the
dashboard, inside the car.
2. Using the new wiring harness provided with the ignition
kit, connect the two wire distributor wiring plug into the similar plug on the
distributor. Place the five wire ECU plug at the location chosen for mounting the ECU.
Make sure the new wiring harness can be routed from the distributor to the ECU while
avoiding exhaust parts and sharp edges. Try to follow the cars existing wiring harness if
possible.
3. Once it is confirmed that the wiring harness will reach
the ECU mounting location, use the ECU as a guide and mark the bolt holes on each side of
the ECU.
4. The attaching hardware to mount the ECU must be provided,
it is not included in the kit. Either nuts and bolts or sheet metal screws can be used. If
using sheet metal screws, make sure the sharp points will not damage or contact anything
on the opposite side of the mounting location. If using nuts and bolts, make sure the nuts
can be reached on the opposite side of the mounting location to tighten them. Drill holes
to mount the ECU, making sure they are the correct size for the bolts or screws being
used. Mount the ECU and tighten securely.
5. Connect the five way plug to the ECU and route the
distributor wires so they will be protected from harm. If possible, run

PAGE 2 of 10
them through existing looms and/or use plastic ties
to secure them to the existing wiring harness. Identify the three loose wires of the
wiring harness. There will be a black wire (with a yellow tracer or line), a blue wire
(with a yellow tracer) and a green wire (with a red tracer).
7. The green wire is not used and should be cut off at the point it comes out of the
wiring harness's protective wrapping. Special note - in the newer wiring harnesses, this
unused wire has been omitted.
8. The black wire should be routed to the negative side of the ignition coil. Avoid
the exhaust manifolds and sharp edges. Follow the cars existing wiring harness, if
possible. Once suitably routed to the coil, cut the black wire to remove any excess. Strip
the insulation off the last 1/4 inch of the wire. Crimp the round eyelet provided in the
ignition kit to the exposed wire. Attach the black wire to the negative side of the
ignition coil.
9. Route the blue wire to the ballast resistor. Avoid the exhaust manifolds and
sharp edges, follow existing wiring harnesses if possible.
10. Disconnect the wires from both ends of the original ballast resistor. Remove the
old ballast resistor and install the new ballast resistor in its place. Do not reconnect
the wires.
11. Temporarily reconnect the negative battery cable. Make sure neither of the
ballast resistor wires are touching any metal and turn the ignition key to the
"on" position. Do not turn to the "start" position. Use your 12 volt
tester to determine which one of two connectors you removed from the ballast resistor is
"hot" or has power. This is the "feed" side.
12. Turn the ignition key off and disconnect the negative battery cable.
13. The blue wire of the new wiring harness must be spliced into the
"feed" connector identified in step #11. The feed connector must still be able
to be plugged onto the ballast resistor, a splice must be made. The feed connector can
contain from one to three wires in the original wiring harness. The easiest method of
splicing these wires is to clip off the original female spade connector, strip 1/4 to 3/8
inch of insulation off the old wire(s) and the new blue wire, then crimp all of the wires
back into a new female spade connector. Other methods of splicing are acceptable, but this
one seems to work the best. Use electrical tape to seal the connection.
14. Reconnect both wiring connectors to the ballast resistor.
15. Proceed to "Basic Start Up and Adjustment"
REPLACING ELECTRONIC IGNITION: Additional Tools
Required: None.
1. Connect the two wire connector to the new
distributor.
2. Disconnect the five wire connector from the production Electronic Control Unit
(ECU). Unbolt the old ECU and replace it with the new performance ECU.
Note: The ECUs used from 1972 through 1979 had five
pins or connections. The new performance ECU has only four pins.
3. Reconnect the five wire connecter.
4. Remove the two connectors from the ballast resistor. Note that in each of the
connectors there are two terminals. On one connector, there is usually an 18 gauge dark
green wire in one terminal and a 14 gauge brown wire in the other. On the second
connector, there is usually a 18 gauge light blue wire in one terminal, a 16 gauge dark
blue wire in the other and an 18 gauge black wire connected from one position to the
other.
5. Unbolt the old ballast resistor and install the new ballast resistor in it's
place.
Note: The dual ballast resistors used from 1972
through 1979 had four terminals. The new performance single resistor has only two
terminals. The two extra terminals fed the fifth pin used on the early ECUs and are not
required with the performance four pin ECU.
6. On the first connector of the new ballast
resistor, plug the terminal containing the 14 gauge brown wire onto one terminal of the
new ballast resistor. On the second connector, plug the terminal containing the 16 gauge
dark blue wire onto the other terminal of the new ballast resistor. The unused terminal on
each connector will be left empty. As stated in step #5, they fed the fifth pin on the ECU
and are not required on the new four pin ECU.
7. Proceed to "Basic Start Up and Adjustment"
REPLACING LEAN BURN/SPARK CONTROL COMPUTER
IGNITION:
Additional Tools Required: Electric drill,
wire cutter/stripper, 12 volt test light, roll of 14 gauge electrical wire, two 14 gauge
Scotchlok® electrical connectors, one 14 gauge round eyelet electrical connector, two 14
gauge female spade electrical connectors, two 12 gauge female spade electrical connectors,
one 14 gauge butt connector, electrical tape.
1. Choose a suitable location for the Electronic
Control Unit (ECU). The ECU must be bolted down, make sure the mounting location selected
is a flat surface and can be drilled through. The ECU should be located away from the
exhaust system, in the coolest place possible. Recommended locations are: the corners of
the firewall; the inner fenderwell; the radiator support panel/grill area; or under the
dashboard, inside the car.
2. Using, the new wiring harness provided with the ignition kit, connect the two
wire distributor wiring plug into the similar plug on the distributor. Place the five wire
ECU plug at the location chosen for mounting the ECU. Make sure the new wiring harness can
be routed from the distributor to the ECU while avoiding exhaust parts and sharp edges.
Try to follow the cars existing wiring harness.
3. Once it is confirmed that the wiring harness will reach the location, use the ECU
as a guide and mark the bolt holes on each side of the ECU.
4. The attaching hardware to mount the ECU must be provided. It is not included in
the kit. Either nuts and bolts or sheet metal screws can be used. If using sheet metal
screws, make sure the sharp points will not damage or contact anything on the opposite
side of the mounting location. If using nuts and bolts, make sure the nuts can be reached
on the opposite side of the mounting location to tighten them. Drill holes to mount the
ECU, making sure they are the correct size for the bolts or screws being used. Mount the
ECU and tighten securely.
5. Connect the five way plug to the ECU and route the distributor wires so they will
be protected from harm. If possible, run them through existing looms and/or use plastic
ties to secure them to the existing wiring harness.

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Remove all the wires connected to the ignition coil.
If one of the existing wires is a tachometer feed wire, it may by reconnected. All other
wires are to be left off. They should be covered with electrical tape and secured to
prevent grounding out. They will not be used.
7. Identify the three loose wires of the wiring
harness. There will be a black wire (with a yellow tracer or line), a blue wire (with a
yellow tracer) and a green wire (with a red tracer).
8. The green wire is not used and should be cut off. On newer harnesses, this
un-used wire is omitted.
9. The black wire should be routed to the negative side of the ignition coil. Avoid
the exhaust manifolds and sharp edges. Follow the cars existing wiring harness, if
possible. Once suitably routed to the coil, cut the black wire to remove any excess. Strip
the insulation off the last 1/4 inch of the wire. Crimp the round eyelet provided in the
ignition kit to the exposed wire. Attach the black wire to the negative side of the
ignition coil.
10. Choose a location to mount the ballast resistor. Do not remove the old ballast
resistor. Although the MP Ignition Kit will use the new ballast resistor, other components
of the vehicle may need the old resistor.
11. The attaching hardware to mount the new ballast resistor must be provided. It is
not included in the kit. Either a nut and bolt or a sheet metal screw can be used.
If using a sheet metal screw, make sure the sharp point will not damage or contact
anything on the other side of the mounting location. If using a nut and bolt, make sure
the nut be reached on the opposite side of the mounting location to tighten it. Drill a
hole to mount the ballast resistor, making sure the hole is the correct size for the bolt
or screw being used. Mount the ballast resistor and tighten. Do not over tighten the
resistor or the porcelain may crack.
12. Route the blue wire to the new ballast resistor. Avoid the exhaust manifolds and
sharp edges, follow existing wiring harnesses if possible. Do not cut the blue wire at
this time.
13. Locate the main ignition feed, or MIF, as it comes through the firewall at the
master disconnect connector. Refer to the chart on page 8 and the connectors shown on page
9 to determine the style of master disconnect connector and the location of the MIF on the
vehicle being modified.
14. Temporarily reconnect the negative battery cable. Turn the ignition key to the
"on" position. Do not turn to the "start" position. Use a 12 volt
tester to verify that the MIF found in step #31 has power when the key is in the
"on" position and has no power when the key is in the "off" position.
15. Turn the ignition key off and disconnect the negative battery cable.
16. Use 14 gauge wire and splice into the MIF. Do not cut the MIF. A splice must be
made, the MIF must still power many other under hood functions. An electrical connector
with the trademarked name Scotchlok® is very useful. Slice or Scotchlok® the 14 gauge
wire to the MIF, then securely wrap the splice with electrical tape to and prevent
grounding.
17. Route the spliced 14 gauge wire to the new ballast resistor, where the blue wire
of the new harness was routed in step #12.
18. Allow 3 inches of extra wire for engine movement, then cut off both the blue
wire and the new wire spliced into the MIF. Strip 1/4 inch of the insulation from both
wires. Place BOTH of the stripped wires into ONE of the 12 gauge female spade connectors
and crimp securely. Wrap the connection with electrical tape to seal out moisture.
19. Route a 14 gauge wire from the positive side of the ignition coil to the ballast
resistor. Avoid the exhaust manifolds and sharp edges. Follow existing wiring harnesses,
if possible. Leave plenty of extra wire and cut off the new wire by the ballast resistor.
On the end of the new wire by the ignition coil, strip the insulation from 1/4 inch of the
new wire. Crimp the 14 gauge round eyelet onto the new wire and connect it to the positive
side of the coil. Leave the other end by the ballast resistor.
20. Locate the starter relay. It is usually located on the left (drivers) side shock
housing or on the left side of the main bulkhead (firewall). A multiple wire connector
will be connected to the starter relay. Carefully unplug the multiple wire connector.
Refer to Figure #2 on page 8 to determine the style of starter relay. Follow the
instructions according to your style of starter relay. (Note: 1988 and newer cars/full
size trucks/vans and 1990 and newer Dakotas do not have an underhood starter relay. Refer
to "Style B or No Relay")
Style "A" Relay: At the angled connector indicated by
"BAL" in Figure #2, the vehicle may or may not have a corresponding 14 gauge
wire in the multiple wire connector.
1). If the multiple wire connector has a corresponding wire for the "BAL"
terminal, this is the Resistor Bypass Wire (RBW). Plug the multiple wire connector back
onto the starter relay. Cut the RBW approximately 2 1/2 to 3 inches away from the starter
relay. Make a new RBW by attaching a new wire to the old RBW coming from the starter relay
connector, so the new RBW connects to the starter relay. Crimp 14 gauge wire to the old
RBW with the 14 gauge butt connector. Tape the connection to seal out moisture. Securely
tape the end of the old RBW to prevent it from grounding to the vehicle.
21. If the multiple wire connector does not have a corresponding wire for the
"BAL" terminal, create a Resistor Bypass Wire (RBW) from 14 gauge wire. On one
end of the wire, strip 1/4 inch of insulation and crimp the 14 gauge female spade
connector onto the new wire. Strip any insulation from the spade connector and plug the
new connector and wire onto the unused "BAL" terminal. Thread opposite end of
the new wire through the previously unused hole of the connector and re-install the
connector onto the starter relay.
Style "B" Relay or No Relay: No additional wiring is required. On
the new positive coil wire you created in step #19, strip 1/4 inch of insulation and crimp
or solder a 14 gauge female spade connector to the end of the wire you ran from the coil
to the ballast resistor. Wrap the connection with electrical tape to seal out moisture.
Proceed to step #24.
21. Route the new RBW to the new ballast resistor, where you previously routed a new
wire from the positive side of the coil.
22. Leaving 3 inches of extra wire for engine movement, cut off the new coil wire
and the new RBW. Strip 1/4 inch of the insulation from both wires. Place BOTH of the
stripped wires into ONE of the 12 gauge female spade connectors and crimp securely. Wrap
the connection with electrical tape.
23. Plug the terminal containing the blue wire from the new harness and the MIF
splice wire onto one end of the new ballast resistor.
24. Plug other new terminal (containing either the new positive coil wire and the
new RBW wire or just the new coil wire) into the opposite end of the ballast resistor.
25. Proceed to "Basic Start Up and Adjustment"
REPLACING LOGIC COMPUTER CONTROLLED IGNITION
(w/FUEL INJECTION):

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NOTE: THE CHRYSLER FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM REQUIRES A
SIGNAL GENERATED BY THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTOR. TO INSTALL THIS KIT, THE FUEL
INJECTION SYSTEM MUST BE ELIMINATED. THIS IGNITION KIT WILL NOT OPERATE THE FUEL INJECTION
SYSTEM USED ON CHRYSLER CORPORATION VEHICLES.
Additional Tools Required: Electric drill,
wire cutter/stripper, 12 volt test light, roll of 14 gauge electrical wire, one 14 gauge
Scotchlok electrical connectors, one 14 gauge round eyelet electrical connector, one 14
gauge female spade electrical connector, one 12 gauge female spade electrical connector,
electrical tape.
1. Choose a suitable location for the Electronic
Control Unit (ECU). The ECU must be bolted down, make sure the mounting location selected
is a flat surface and can be drilled through. The ECU should be located away from the
exhaust system, in the coolest place possible. Recommended locations are: the corners of
the firewall; the inner fenderwell; the radiator support panel/grill area; or under the
dashboard, inside the car.
2. Using the new wiring harness provided with the ignition kit, connect the two wire
distributor wiring plug into the similar plug on the distributor. Place the five wire ECU
plug at the location chosen for mounting the ECU. Make sure the new wiring harness can be
routed from the distributor to the ECU while avoiding exhaust parts and sharp edges. Try
to follow the cars existing wiring harness, if possible.
3. Once it is confirmed that the wiring harness will reach the location, use the ECU
as a guide and mark the bolt holes on each side of the ECU.
4. The attaching hardware to mount the ECU must be provided. It is not included in
the kit. Either nuts and bolts or sheet metal screws can be used. If using sheet metal
screws, make sure the sharp points will not damage or contact anything on the opposite
side of the mounting location. If using nuts and bolts, make sure the nuts can be reached
on the opposite side of the mounting location to tighten them. Drill holes to mount the
ECU, making sure they are the correct size for the bolts or screws being used. Mount the
ECU and tighten securely.
5. Connect the five way plug to the ECU and route the distributor wires so they will
be protected from harm. If possible, run them through existing looms and/or use plastic
ties to secure them to the existing wiring harness.
6. Remove all the wires connected to the ignition coil. All wires are to be left
disconnected. They should be covered with electrical tape and secured to prevent
grounding. They will not be used.
7. Identify the three loose wires of the wiring harness. There will be a black wire
(with a yellow tracer or line), a blue wire (with a yellow tracer) and a green wire (with
a red tracer).
8. The green wire is not used and should be cut off. On the newer harnesses, this
un-used wire is omitted.
9. The black wire should be routed to the negative side of the ignition coil. Avoid
the exhaust manifolds and sharp edges. Follow the car's existing wiring harness, if
possible. Once suitably routed to the coil, cut the black wire to remove any excess. Strip
the insulation off the last 1/4 inch of the wire. Crimp the round eyelet provided in the
ignition kit to the exposed wire. Attach the black wire to the negative side of the
ignition coil.
10. Choose a location to mount the ballast resistor.
11. The attaching hardware to mount the new ballast resistor must be provided. It is
not included in the kit. Either a nut and bolt or a sheet metal screw can be used. If
using a sheet metal screw, make sure the sharp point will not damage or contact anything
on the other side of the mounting location. If using a nut and bolt, make sure the nut can
be reached on the opposite side of the mounting location to tighten it. Drill a hole to
mount the ballast resistor, making sure the hole is the correct size for the bolt or screw
being used. Mount the ballast resistor and tighten. Do not over tighten the resistor or
the porcelain may crack.
12. Route the blue wire to the new ballast resistor. Avoid the exhaust manifolds and
sharp edges. Follow existing wiring harnesses, if possible. Do not cut the blue wire at
this time.
13. Locate the main ignition feed, or MIF, as it comes through the firewall at the
master disconnect connector. Refer to the chart on page 8 and the connectors shown on page
9 to determine the style of master disconnect connector and the location of the MIF on the
vehicle being modified.
14. Temporarily reconnect the negative battery cable. Turn the ignition key to the
"on" position. Do not turn to the "start" position. Use a 12 volt
tester to verify that the MIF found in step #13 has power when the key is in the
"on" position and has no power when the key is in the "off" position.
15. Turn the ignition key off and disconnect the negative battery cable.
16. Use 14 gauge wire and splice into the MIF. Do not cut the MIF. A splice must be
made, as the MIF must still power many other under hood functions. An electrical connector
with the trad-marked name Scotchlok is very useful. Splice or Scotchlok the 14 gauge wire
to the MIF, then securely wrap the splice with electrical tape to seal out moisture and
prevent grounding.
17. Route the spliced 14 gauge wire to the new ballast resistor, where blue wire of
the new wiring harness was previously routed.
18. Allow 3 inches of extra wire for engine movement, then cut off both the blue
wire and the new wire spliced into the MIF. Strip 1/4 inch of the insulation from both
wires. Place BOTH of the stripped wires into ONE of the 12 gauge female spade connectors
and crimp securely. Wrap the connection with electrical tape.
19. Route a 14 gauge wire from the positive side of the ignition coil to the ballast
resistor. Avoid the exhaust manifolds and sharp edges. Follow existing wiring harnesses,
if possible. Leave plenty of extra wire and cut off the new wire by the ballast resistor.
On the end of the new wire by the ignition coil, strip the insulation from 1/4 inch of the
new wire. Crimp the 14 gauge round eyelet onto the new wire and connect it to the positive
side of the coil. On the other end, strip 1/4 inch of insulation and crimp a 14 gauge
female spade connector onto the new coil wire. Wrap the connections with electrical tape.
20. Plug the terminal containing the blue wire from the new harness and the MIF
splice wire into one end of the new ballast resistor.
21. Plug the new coil wire into the opposite end of the ballast resistor.
22. Proceed to "Basic Start Up and Adjustment"
BASIC STARTUP AND ADJUSTMENT:
Note: The procedures outlined below are for
tuning of the MP Ignition Conversion Kit on all vehicles and all ignition conversions.
Tools required: Distributor wrench, timing
light, 3/32 allen wrench.

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