MSD vs Duraspark??

SPF1061 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-18-2002, 09:28 AM

Well, I'm considering making another "improvement" to my Superformance and would like some perspective. I have a 392 stroker (installed by Olthoff Racing). I have replaced the 750 Holley with an AED Dominator. The ignition system is the Ford Duraspark with the addition of an MSD rev limiter (also installed by the Olthoffs). This car runs great and has never given me a moments touble in almost 12000 mi of driving. For some unexplained reason I am itching to install an MSD 6A ignition system along with the Blaster coil, leaving in the Ford billett distributor. Will I get any performance improvement with this modification? Is it difficult to retrofit? Is it worth the trouble and
expense or should I leave well enough alone. I love tweaking on my car, but I don't want to mess up a good thing. Any opinions? Thanks.
Steve
SPF1061
Ric,VA

Excaliber · #2 (**permalink**) 10-18-2002, 10:36 AM

It's a virtual gaurentee you will NOT be able to feel or measure any difference from what you have now to a new MSD6A. I like the 6AL because it DOES have the rev limiter built in. I have been none to float a few valves. 6AL I think would look better, give you one package instead of two. But some guys "hide" the MSD box anyway, so no point in using one if your gonna "hide" it and all ready have a good ignition system anyway.

Ernie

mikiec · #3 (**permalink**) 10-18-2002, 11:48 AM

I'm running an MSD6AL box with MSD coil. All connected to a Duraspark dist. No problems in 17K mikes.

Basically I go by the following If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Mike

Back in Black · #4 (**permalink**) 10-18-2002, 12:16 PM

****I'm running an MSD6AL box with MSD coil. All connected to a Duraspark dist. No problems in 17K mikes. ****

I also have the rev limiter and the crank position sensor.....my car is FINALLY getting it's paint, will be painted by monday the21st of Oct.....yahoo!!

Jack21 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-18-2002, 07:19 PM

Starting from scratch, use the complete MSD setup; distributor, box, wires, coil.

That being said, if you have a new Duraspark setup, and it's working OK, leave it alone, and spend your money on other performance enhancers.

Simply swapping out a Duraspark for an MSD will not result in any performance improvements unless the Duraspark is not functioning properly, or not dialed in. If you do install the MSD, it will need to be set up properly, and dialed in, and there are some tricks to this that MSD won't tell you.

mkcobra · #6 (**permalink**) 10-21-2002, 08:20 PM

Jack21 i would like to know any of those secrets MSD is telling, i am running the MSD setup and i dont think you will gain anything from switching you are already running a good setup. if you dont have the new edlebrock air gap intake you should consider switching that out in almost every test so far the air gap intake did better than the old performer RPM and even the victor jr intake. for average power and torque. that said you should really dyno the car then play with the mixture and possible timing to get everything out of you engine. we just installed a new Dynojet dyno here is east Texas and so for almost everyone has picked up 10-20 min hp and torque with correct carb adjustment and timing changes . one guy made 50hp more when we pulled his carb from a reading of 10 on the A/F meter to 12.8 and on the juice it was over 100 HP. so keep tweaking but you may want a plan and a starting point or you could make things worse and spend money doing it.
have fun. still tweaking my 351, considering the stroker my self.