MSD--si or no?

[Joe Prochazka]

Well, I 'm using a stock distributer with a Pertronics module (Hall Cell) to eliminate points and the Pertronics 40,000 volt coil on my 390.
It has always been dependable and solid. All of my wiring is run under the engine so there is no exposed wiring on top. All harness are taped and strapped down.

Should I spring for the MSD-6AL ignition? I can't see mounting a red shoe box in my engine compartment so it would have to go inside the foot box or under dash if there is room.

Is it worth breaking open the harnesses to run coil and distributor wiring? Will I see a performance increase?

The rev limiter alone is probably worth it. A lot of guys are using this box. Is it worth it?

[Mr.Fixit]

most folks think so, like you said the rev limiter alone is worth it

I run a Jacob's, it was money well spent 11 years ago

[Excaliber]

I have an MSD 6AL sitting in my shop unused. My current ERA has a separate rev limiter with a dial adjustment for rpm that works with the exisiting electronic ignition unit. That makes for two "black boxes" and it looks ackward and clumsy but works well.

I'm considering dumping both existing boxes and installing the MSD for the "two birds, one stone" simplicity factor. I would NOT expect any performance increase over my current set up. I don't think you would find any noticable improvement either.

If you have "enough" voltage to fire the spark plugs it really doesn't matter if it's electronic or point type ignition or who makes it. If the plugs fire and the mixture burns clean, your done!

In my case the MSD would "look" way better than what I currently have and I would mount the "red box" under the hood for "show and tell" time!

As your not concerned with the "look" of your current setup I would consider purchasing a separate rev limiter "box". Simpler, easy to install and you can hide it if you like. A rev limiter is a GOOD THING!

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Excaliber;

If you decide between now and the next couple of months not to use the MSD box,I'll buy it from you,will be needing one around Jan or Feb for "new" project car...........(65 Mustang to Vintage race with)

David

[Joe Prochazka]

Slick-
Plugs burn a nice even tan. If the MSD box won't buy me more ponies then I'll just keep what I have.

I pretty much went for the bare bones stock look, hence the Pertronics module.

Guess I'll look for a stand alone rev limiter.....any recomendations?

Thanks to all.

[mylesdw]

Originally posted by Excaliber


If you have "enough" voltage to fire the spark plugs it really doesn't matter if it's electronic or point type ignition or who makes it. If the plugs fire and the mixture burns clean, your done!

[/b]

Very well put! I have always wondered whether the 'multiple spark' aspect of MSD is a bit of a gimmick anyway. Unless there is something else badly wrong with an engine any decent ignition system will light the mixture on the first spark anyway, so why bother with more. For methanol or maybe an old engine burning a lot of oil I can see some possible benefit.

[Excaliber]

I have the Autometer "Pro-Control". A really EXPENSIVE and can do all kinds of fancy stuff black box. All I NEED is a simple "rev limiter" with a "set it and forget it" switch, dial, plug in or whatever!

Heres a link to my "Pro-Control" unit.

http://www.prostreetonline.com/store...control_units/

[Joe Prochazka]

Thanks Ernie
The guy at MSD couldn't tell me if their rev limiter works with a hall cell.............
The Pertronics website lists a digial one. Summit sells it for $130.
Looks like thats the animal.

[SCOBRAC]

Best investment you can make. Go with the pro billet distributor and a 6 AL...

[Excaliber]

Michael, in your world money is no object?

[Mr.Fixit]

Originally posted by mylesdw


Very well put! I have always wondered whether the 'multiple spark' aspect of MSD is a bit of a gimmick anyway. Unless there is something else badly wrong with an engine any decent ignition system will light the mixture on the first spark anyway, so why bother with more. For methanol or maybe an old engine burning a lot of oil I can see some possible benefit.

Yep, they are worthless, that's why you'll find two of them on almost every gas burning race vehicle out there. The 6 series isn't the hottest, but it is cheap.

When I finally decided to put a capacitive discharge box (Jacob's pro-8) on my 396 11 years ago, I wasn't too sure if it was a waste of money or not. It certainly was not!

[MidOHasp]

Zackly.

Not too many "new technologies" that are gimmicks that don't fail the market test within a year or two.

There is obviously a reason the performance ignition rack at Summit isn't covered in points setups.

Jacobs makes probably the best box and coils out there.

I should know, I am running an MSD 6AL.

[Dennis Kelley]

This is my opinion Scobrac said it all.
I bought my 6AL used did'nt think I need it. When I broke my U joint on a downshift and the engine stuck at 6,000 rpm's It was the best money I ever spent. MSD was very good to me and I'd recomend 6AL its simple to install. The wiring diagram is on the back of the Box. Without the 6AL I would have grenaded the engine it happened faster than I could react. Good luck.

[G.R.]

200 bucks or 10-20k to replace an engine--I'll go for the 200 buck option. Ran all MSD in my 392 stroker SPF, and the same now in my 289 FIA--never have had a problem.

[Excaliber]

I was kind of taken aback at the conclusion that the MSD maybe "smoke and mirrors". No question it IS a great product. But is it "required" for every application? Not in my opinion.

A very rich or very lean fuel mixture is more difficult to "lite off". High compression also is more difficult to ignite. Any combinations thereof increase the potential problems. Reliability is the BIG benefit of electronic ignition for ANY application these days.

BUT,,,, still, if the plug will fire and the burn is good with 15,000 volts, 40,000 aint gonna give you more power. A reasonable compression ratio with a reasonable fuel air mixture up to say 5000-6000 rpm will work just fine with a "point" type ignition system putting out 10 to 20,000 volts. An HEI (high energy ignition) system would be "better" mainly because it is more reliable over the long haul.

NASCAR, RACE and modified "Cobra" engines using HEI? No brainer! High rpm and radical motors demand some serious spark.

HEI became necessary when the manufacturers started going really LEAN on the fuel injection systems, which are very difficult to ignite.

"Multiple Spark Discharge" systems only give Mulitiple spark at the lower rpm range, where it's LEAST likely to be needed. As the rpm increases the ignition is reduced to a SINGLE spark due to the their simply isn't enough "time" left!

Still,,,,,, no way I would run points on MY car! HEI for me WITH rev limiter!

[wire nut]

How does the Digital 6 compair with the 6AL?

[jared1970]

Anybody got an opinion on D.U.I.'s distributors? I had them make one for my 428. I'll be finishing assembling the motor and starting it this coming week. If anyone's interested, I'll let you know if I like it.

[Brent Mills]

I have a Digital 6 and not ever had the 6AL. The digital has a rev limiter built in, but I doubt there's much else that is significantly better for performance, unless maybe running high rpms.

One other thing to consider is like the pertronix, Crane Cams offers something similar that has a built in rev limiter that is only $64. I used it on my last car, and it worked like a charm after my Pertronix died mysteriously.

http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...arch&Ntt=crane

[lovehamr]

Hi everyone, been a lurker for some time and finally signed up. Had to add my 2 cents in on the MSD thing. One thing that hasn't been mentioned in this thread is that, when using the MSD box, the only thing your distributor is doing is acting as a switch and only for a few milliamps at that. What this means is, that because the distributor is carrying such a small a load, you can still run a points type ignition and for all practical intents the points will last forever, never worrying about point gap or dwell. That means no worries about modules going bad in the distributor etc. How many here have gone through multiple "unilights" or some form of distributor module? If you look at the wiring diagram for the MSD you'll notice that the distributor is not wired to the coil but rather to the MSD box which in-turn has control of the coil. The advantage of the point setup is multiplied because of this. If the MSD box ever does go out (neither of mine ever have) then the connections at the coil can be jumped with a small wire included with the box, allowing the standard ignition system to operate. This power routing is also what makes me sure the rev-limiter function would work with your Hall effect triggering system (pertronix). The MSD box doesn’t care what’s triggering it - whether that is a set of points (mechanical switch), a unilight (optical switch) or a Hall effect trigger like yours or for that matter a Ford Duraspark.

All that being said, anyone who hasn’t started their high performance engine on a nice cold morning with an MSD really doesn’t know what they’re missing, the multiple sparks make the engine much more forgiving of A/F ratios that aren’t perfect.

[Excaliber]

Cold mornings? I've heard rumors about cold mornings, somewhere on the mainland I guess.......