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CC Advertisers
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01-06-2003, 11:20 AM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: God's country,
ME
Cobra Make, Engine: Original ERA 427sc, Powered by Gessford
Posts: 2,678
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Not Ranked
MSD Box
My question to all of you is do I need an MSD box? My driving will be limited almost exclusively to street. I would imagine that a good coil would be all I would need. Also, do I really need a rev limiter for street use? (after all I never miss a shift  )
Your thoughts and insight are appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Mike
__________________
Replica is not a dirty word.
"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
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Advertising
01-06-2003, 12:02 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: so cal,
Cal
Cobra Make, Engine: I used to fix them for a living
Posts: 2,563
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Not Ranked
It is one of the better places you can spend $150 The motor will run better and the rev limiter is nice.
__________________
In a fit of 16 year old genius, I looked down through the carb while cranking it to see if fuel was flowing, and it was. Flowing straight up in a vapor cloud, around my head, on fire.
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01-06-2003, 12:03 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Fairfield, NJ, USA,
NJ
Cobra Make, Engine: A & C, 351W, Tremec 3550. Exiled Member: Club Cranky
Posts: 5,897
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Not Ranked
Mike,
Best advice I can give is to see how the engine runs with what you have and take it from there. It's not like you have to change a clutch or heads.
Roscoe
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Roscoe
"Crisis occurs when women and cattle get excited!"....James Thurber
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01-06-2003, 12:21 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: randleman, NC,
Posts: 407
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Not Ranked
You don't really NEED it but it's just cheap insurance against that shift you never miss  . Also with a better spark you get a cleaner, better running engine.
h dog |
01-06-2003, 01:41 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Knoxville, TN USA,
TN
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique 427; 428 Mid South Gear
Posts: 54
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Not Ranked
Chaplin.....I never missed a shift either, still blew an engine. Now I'm set at 5,800 on the MSD with SoftTouch.
__________________
Dan Fowler
Knoxville, TN
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01-06-2003, 02:23 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: San Diego,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF - 427 Stroker
Posts: 721
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Not Ranked
MSD Soft Touch (6AL) - you won't foul plugs and it makes the motor run much better - plus the rev limiter is a very nice feature. If you go with a BB mostly on the street the rev limiter may be overlooked, but I know with my stroker it is an absolute MUST for those of us whose cars spend 90% of their time on the track. I'd have blown the sucker long ago w/out it...
__________________
NEVER LIFT
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01-06-2003, 02:25 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Los Angeles,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: E.R.A. FIA #2088 1964 289 w/Webers
Posts: 2,151
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Not Ranked
Buy it! Install it & put in the secret switch to cut power to the coil for theft protection. It's in the manual!
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Hyde D. Baker
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01-06-2003, 02:51 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: so cal,
Cal
Cobra Make, Engine: I used to fix them for a living
Posts: 2,563
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Not Ranked
Even if you never miss a shift, if you lose rear wheel traction unexpectedly while accellerating, the rev limiter will do it's job before you have the time to react.
__________________
In a fit of 16 year old genius, I looked down through the carb while cranking it to see if fuel was flowing, and it was. Flowing straight up in a vapor cloud, around my head, on fire.
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01-06-2003, 04:05 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Klamath Falls,
Or
Cobra Make, Engine: shell valley
Posts: 246
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Not Ranked
If You drive it like your Honda Don't spend the $$$$ if you drive it like a COBRA spend the $$$ 
Ken
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Talent is your head in communication with your balls.
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01-06-2003, 04:35 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Southern Connecticut,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF - 351W, 944 non-turbo
Posts: 2,105
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Not Ranked
Mike:
You don't need it. On the other hand, I wish I had one in my engine compartment. They look good in there.
Bob
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01-06-2003, 04:56 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Washington DC Metro (Virginia),
VA
Cobra Make, Engine: Classic Roadsters, Tweaked 351W, T-5Z, CRII Tech Support Team.
Posts: 1,895
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Not Ranked
Do you need it? Depends on what you're using now, and how well it's working. A slightly tweaked OEM ignition should work fine with 9.5:1 CR mostly stock engine.
That being said. Do you need it? Maybe, maybe not. Will it help you? Yes. Depending on how out-of-spec your OEM system is will determine how much the MSD will help.
The MSD capacitive discharge, multiple spark will get the maximum effectiveness out of your ignition system; MSD is no longer the only game in town. Crane, Accel, Jacobs, Holley, and others offer competitive, high performance ignition systems.
The Ford OEM distributor is another matter. Off the assembly line for stock applications, they get the job done, and work for decades with no maintenance.
But since ignition timing plays such an important role in power output, and in-service reliability, a more durable, and more tuneable distributor is desirable for a Ford engine. MSD to the rescue.
The MSD distributor is a piece of artistry and work. For a Ford, it's a Delco (Chevy) distributor on a Ford stalk. But it works, and it's tuneable, wheras the Ford (and OEM Delco) isn't. Worth the investment (yes). Should outlast the engine? Several engines.
Last edited by Jack21; 01-06-2003 at 05:03 PM..
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01-06-2003, 06:11 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Northern California,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: -Sold- Contemporary 427S/C # CCX-3152 1966 427 Med Rise Side Oiler, 8v 3.54:1 Salisbury IRS, Koni's.. (Now I'm riding Harleys)
Posts: 2,567
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Not Ranked
Do you? In a word.. NO.. However I went with the billet dist. and the MSD 6AL.. It was the best $500 (bought them locally in case they didn't work) I have spent on my car..
It starts easier, idles more forcefully (don't ask me what that means.. it just WANTS to run) and it will never need a set of points again.. If I only had $500 to upgrade a "stock" motor this would be the place I would spend it.. Jacobs, MSD, Mallory whatever.. they all work..
__________________
michael
A man that is young in years, may be old in hours, if he have lost no time. But that happeneth rarely. Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For there is a youth in thoughts, as well as in ages... Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
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01-08-2003, 02:06 PM
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Canadian Gashole
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Quebec, Canada,
QC
Cobra Make, Engine: Johnex 427 S/C, 351W, 472 HP, 444 lbs. torque
Posts: 2,455
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Not Ranked
The rev limiter is wonderful, even for a car that will be only driven on the street. I cannot tell you how many times I would have exceeded the redline if it weren't for the 6AL. These little cars gain their revs very quickly, much more quickly than you imagine because they will spin the tires before you can react. I found the MSD box to be a very good investment. By the way, mine is in the trunk, not under the hood.
Wayne
__________________
Don't get caught dead, sitting on your seat belt.
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01-08-2003, 02:35 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: God's country,
ME
Cobra Make, Engine: Original ERA 427sc, Powered by Gessford
Posts: 2,678
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Not Ranked
__________________
Replica is not a dirty word.
"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
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01-08-2003, 03:16 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: CA, USA,
Posts: 363
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Not Ranked
Chaplain,
You will be saying that over and over again. 
Steve D***ey
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01-08-2003, 03:21 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: God's country,
ME
Cobra Make, Engine: Original ERA 427sc, Powered by Gessford
Posts: 2,678
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Not Ranked
Steve-
If I had a dollar for every time I've said that so far, I'd have a Kirkham and a half paid for by now  .
Let's just say that I am significantly over my initial budget  !!
__________________
Replica is not a dirty word.
"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
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01-08-2003, 10:09 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: California,
Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: NAF 289 Slabside Early Comp Car with 289 Webers and all the goodies. Cancelling the efforts of several Priuses
Posts: 6,592
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Not Ranked
Budget? We don't need no stinkin' budgets!
Rick..................
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Rick
As you slide down the Banister of Life, may the splinters never be pointing the wrong way 
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01-10-2003, 08:35 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: McLean,
VA
Cobra Make, Engine: Unique FIA 351 W
Posts: 201
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Not Ranked
One suggestion:
If you can mount it under the dash rather than in the engine bay--do it. The only thing that seems to kill an MSD box is heat. I cooked two in my GT-350 before noticing that all the serious Mustang vintage racers had theirs on the floor of the passenger compartment. After the move, no problems.
In my Unique, the box is upside down in the top of the passenger footwell, and readily accessible if need be.
__________________
Allen Caskie
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01-10-2003, 01:51 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Northern California,
CA
Cobra Make, Engine: -Sold- Contemporary 427S/C # CCX-3152 1966 427 Med Rise Side Oiler, 8v 3.54:1 Salisbury IRS, Koni's.. (Now I'm riding Harleys)
Posts: 2,567
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Not Ranked
I don't even think about the cost anymore.. I do appreciate that it starts evert time I hit the key..
__________________
michael
A man that is young in years, may be old in hours, if he have lost no time. But that happeneth rarely. Generally, youth is like the first cogitations, not so wise as the second. For there is a youth in thoughts, as well as in ages... Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
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