FBO Systems

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I just wanted to express my satisfaction in my dealings with FBO Ignition Systems FBO Ignition Systems. I was having trouble with the advance weights sticking on my Pertronix Flamethrower lll distributor resulting in detonation. I had decided that I needed a new ignition setup and also wanted a rev limiter. I was looking at a close to a $400 purchase and had called Don at FBO to discuss it. I opened the conversation by telling him my problem and before I could say anything else he said he could fix my distributor and completely custom set it up for my engine. He took the time to answer all my ignorant questions. I quickly jumped on the opportunity and sent it off for repair and improvement. I will update when I receive my distributor. I am impressed with their customer service as well as their products and custom services. There really aren't a lot of companies like this anymore that cater to Mopar.
 
Good ol' Don the Con. Over-charging for off-the-shelf items. Getting on the phone with him is like talking to the leader of a cult. Had nothing but problems with my FBO distributor and he refuses to refund me for it. Theres several posts on this forum with similar complaints. Mine is a loose reluctor that won't stay gapped and loose wires (1 frayed).

Has anyone opened up his ignition unit he sells to actually see what's in it? I'm curious because he constantly bashes HEI ignition while his system seems a lot like it.

When on the phone with him before my mistake of buying a distributor he tried to sell me his ignition system. He claimed that HEI ignition will missfire over 3k RPM. I should have hungup the phone right then and there!
 
Good ol' Don the Con. Over-charging for off-the-shelf items. Getting on the phone with him is like talking to the leader of a cult. Had nothing but problems with my FBO distributor and he refuses to refund me for it. Theres several posts on this forum with similar complaints. Mine is a loose reluctor that won't stay gapped and loose wires (1 frayed).

Has anyone opened up his ignition unit he sells to actually see what's in it? I'm curious because he constantly bashes HEI ignition while his system seems a lot like it.

When on the phone with him before my mistake of buying a distributor he tried to sell me his ignition system. He claimed that HEI ignition will missfire over 3k RPM. I should have hungup the phone right then and there!
The older unit I bought, HR688 is a CNC box with a 4 pin HEI inside. My new FBO distributor leaked oil from day one, installed my old OEM distributor and no leak. I was told by Don my motor was the problem. I don't buy anything from FBO.
 
I spoke with him at length on the phone as well. Nice guy. Their limiter plates are the bee's knees.
 
The older unit I bought, HR688 is a CNC box with a 4 pin HEI inside. My new FBO distributor leaked oil from day one, installed my old OEM distributor and no leak. I was told by Don my motor was the problem. I don't buy anything from FBO.
Exactly what I, and others, expected. I wonder if his newer box is the same, I bet they are. So lets get this straight, he bashes HEI yet goes and buys the 4-pin modules (dirt cheap), puts them in a fancy looking box, and marks up the price a ton. Yeah, he sure is "helping out the community". I put him in the same catagory as Laysons and Rick E-berg, people trying to take advantage of the community and con them, not helping.

I spoke with him at length on the phone as well. Nice guy. Their limiter plates are the bee's knees.
The plate is good, the only original item he makes worth purchasing.
 
Suggestions for ignitions with rev limiter

You are telling some people to buy the FBO module and bash it on this thread.
So which one is it?
Their box was/is a good option for a rev limiter ignition system that hooks up to factory EI wiring so I recommended it. Overpriced though since it's just an HEI module with limiter. Since that thread I have since learned the Rev-n-ator is a superior option.

Their distributor plate is the only thing they make worth considering purchasing. Everything else he sells is marked up off the shelf products. His ignition system makes wildly false claims. See here:
FBO's HRR688 Mopar ECU

and here:
Bad fbo ignition system

WARNING: if you go with his distributor setup he will tell you to use the manifold vacuum port on your carb. BAD IDEA for street driving but he will preach it to you non-stop. You will lose engine braking and your car will be more sluggish off the line.

If I were you I'd cancel the whole order, get a distributor from @TrailBeast on here, and go with a different ignition system.

Don't say we didn't warn you!
 
I bought an advance limiter plate from FBO a couple months ago and he asked what ignition I was running. When I told him I was using a chevy style HEI module, he tried to make me feel really stupid for not running one of his special ignition boxes, because apparently HEI modules are notorious for pulling out timing at high RPMs. The whole phone conversation just made him seem like a sleazy car salesman because of his attitude.
 
I bought a coil and ecu from Don for my slant 6 car. He told me I needed to use this coil with this ecu, and vice versa. The car runs well with the re-curved distribtor I built. But in the back of my mind, I always wondered if I just bought an off the shelf coil and ecu. Hmm..

Having said that, I can put an electronic Chrysler ignition system together for minimal money.
One of the finest ignition systems ever designed, with millions of miles to prove it.
On top of that, it has propelled cars into the 10's and beyond. You can show me your little wave length graphs all you want, about your hot spark yada yada. But that dont prove jack to me. I do my research on the street or track, not on a 8x10 monitor with 2 colors. Black and White.
 
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On top of that, it has propelled cars into the 10's and beyond. You can show me your little wave length graphs all you want, about your hot spark yada yada. But that dont prove jack to me. I do my research on the street or track, not on a 8x10 monitor with 2 colors. Black and White.
I have not got my distributor back so I can not say anything toward these claims but as far as the track Current Points Standings
 
I run one of the fbo boxes with the rev limiter in my duster and it has worked flawless since day one.I use the provided coil with a stock mopar dist along his lock plate to limit timing. I recently just installed another one of his boxes in my cuda project for the rev limiter aspect. A good hei module for a gm with rev limiter is around 100 alone. I got the new coil, igintion box and plate for 200 shipped. Honestly I didn't think to bad of a deal
 
Flame Thrower III has a rev limiter!

Have you read the instructions and used the required equipment?
It still has to be adjusted for total mechanical advance based on your total timing requirements! I installed it in a factory Mopar points dizzy and adjusted the total with welding the slots! You may not need that with a plate from FBO that works with your dizzy! You would be hard pressed to find a better ignition IMO! The dizzy I got from Rock Auto had the diagonal slots that do not work with the FBO limiter plate so I had to do some welding to limit mechanical advance.

I did not get a full built dizzy from Pertonix, but the module is awesome as installed in a Mopar dizzy!
 
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Have been using the FBO coil and box with rev-limiter for over 5 years now with no problems. Had a orange box that gave me nothing but problems.
 
I have run them all ( my inner fenders showed the scars and holes prior to restoration) and the only one that survived was the Chysler Gold!

I could sell it today and feel good about it!

The Pertonix III has some very good features that out weigh it though! No extra wiring for one!

Rev limit and instant fire and multi spark that is easily hidden! I just wish it was available in the 80's.
 
Flame Thrower III has a rev limiter!

Have you read the instructions and used the required equipment?
It still has to be adjusted for total mechanical advance based on your total timing requirements! I installed it in a factory Mopar points dizzy and adjusted the total with welding the slots! You may not need that with a plate from FBO that works with your dizzy! You would be hard pressed to find a better ignition IMO! The dizzy I got from Rock Auto had the diagonal slots that do not work with the FBO limiter plate so I had to do some welding to limit mechanical advance.

I did not get a full built dizzy from Pertonix, but the module is awesome as installed in a Mopar dizzy!
Is this post directed at me? I know about the rev limiter and how to set the timing. Is this why you disagree? I have the Pertronix Billet Distributor that uses bent over copper straps to stop the mechanical advance. Not the best IMO and I think is part of the problem with the weights getting caught up.
 
I bought an advance limiter plate from FBO a couple months ago and he asked what ignition I was running. When I told him I was using a chevy style HEI module, he tried to make me feel really stupid for not running one of his special ignition boxes, because apparently HEI modules are notorious for pulling out timing at high RPMs. The whole phone conversation just made him seem like a sleazy car salesman because of his attitude.

Guess I was lucky. I called to order a limiter plate. He asked me what ignition I was running. I told him Accel 300+ ignition. He got very quite and didn't say anything for a good second or two. That Accel 300+ must be a damn good ignition.... lol
 
I bought a distributor, coil and ecu from FBO and been working great for last 3 years.
He also walked me thru some problems with a Demon carburetor that was giving me problems.
Two thumbs up.
 
They don't make an Ignitor 3 for an electronic distributor for one.
So in order to run one without having to do your own fabricating to install it you have to put it in a points distributor.

For two, the pickup system using a points cam as the trigger unit isn't very accurate.
It varies a little due to the rise and fall of the cam surface instead of using a vane for a sharp signal point.
 
The older unit I bought, HR688 is a CNC box with a 4 pin HEI inside. My new FBO distributor leaked oil from day one, installed my old OEM distributor and no leak. I was told by Don my motor was the problem. I don't buy anything from FBO.

I bought the white looking box w/the overrev. from Don along with the coil and harness. I like it and it's always performed. I like the fact that I don't need the resistor.
Before mounting the coil, I did an Ohm's test on it and a mopar performance coil that I had, got the same resistance number . So I guess I didn't need that.
I also had him set up my dist. Later I called him with a question and he was not much help. I later figured it out, but I was glad I called.
I don't want to bash the guy, but he could do much better at backing up his products after the Sale.
It seems like He's a heck of a salesman, before the
sale. But if he feels you are done with buying and he can't lead you off into other products, he reverses from full speed ahead to a Crayfish crawl-backwards.
We call em crawdads! LOL
It's almost like that he panics.
And it's, your problem now.
I wish someone else sold this product.
Hope this helps!
 
They don't make an Ignitor 3 for an electronic distributor for one.
So in order to run one without having to do your own fabricating to install it you have to put it in a points distributor.

For two, the pickup system using a points cam as the trigger unit isn't very accurate.
It varies a little due to the rise and fall of the cam surface instead of using a vane for a sharp signal point.

You are 100 % correct and That is a fair assement! It seems like magic!

I can tell you that even though, it has exceeded every other ignition I have tried to date. There stuff works extremely well when installed as per directed! As far as the mechanical advance issue it is just worn and or wrong springs being used. I will stick to that! The only thing I could add, is I started this time with a bone stock harness with 0 mods and like said it is awesome!
 
Is this post directed at me? I know about the rev limiter and how to set the timing. Is this why you disagree? I have the Pertronix Billet Distributor that uses bent over copper straps to stop the mechanical advance. Not the best IMO and I think is part of the problem with the weights getting caught up.

Well yes, when first read it seemed you wanted rev limit you already had. I apologize if I read it incorrectly!

After your description of the advance I would have to agree!

I use the replacement module in a factory point distributor and was surprised in your disappointment!
 
Well yes, when first read it seemed you wanted rev limit you already had. I apologize if I read it incorrectly!

After your description of the advance I would have to agree!

I use the replacement module in a factory point distributor and was surprised in your disappointment!
No worries. I like the multi-spark and rev limiter. It's just the way the weights and the advance limiters are set up in their distributor is not very well designed.
1306-zz383-short-block-upgrade-set-rev-limiter.jpg

This is not it but the design is the same.
1012chp_09_o1972_chevrolet_nova_pertronix_ignitor_iii_installignitor_iii_module_zps9dc21bda.jpg

Don said they could fix the worn out pads under the weights and machine a advance limiter to replace those copper straps.
 
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