I have always heard people talk about MSD Ignition boxes.
However, I am unclear as to what they actually do and whether you will be able to tell the difference with/without one installed (i.e. are they worth the money)?

I have an 89 Formula 350 TPI (if this info helps).
Thank you.

 

Basically they increase the power of the spark and how many time it actually sparks. You most likely won't be able to notice any more power, but you may notice better gas mileage and maybe a smoother idle and faster start up.

 

(I have always heard people talk about MSD Ignition boxes.
However, I am unclear as to what they actually do and whether you will be able to tell the difference with/without one installed (i.e. are they worth the money[B])

Yes they are worth the money... They improve rpm range, starting and idle, throttle response and top end power. Yes you will notice a difference once it is installed. The majority of stock ignitons are inductive ignitions. In an inductive ignition, the coil must store and step up the voltage to maximum strength in between each firing. At higher rpm since there is less time to charge the coil to full capacity, the voltage falls short of reaching maximum energy which results in a loss of power or top end miss. MSD produces full power multiple sparks for each firing of a plug. The number of multiple sparks that occur decreases as rpm increases. Above 3300 rpm there is simply not enough time to fire the spark plug more than once so there is only one powerful spark. Is it worth it? Absolutely! Dont know why anyone would tell you not to bother, its no big difference...Its a marked difference. They are easy to install. Easy to understand and MSD even has a hassle free tech line.

 

where can u order them from any info???Maybe Ill look into this.

 

My local Autozone carries them. You can them from SUMMIT and most anyone else.

 

autozone charges too much... id order from summit or some other hipo shop that sells enough of them that they sell them cheaply.


off the top of my head, i think the price diff between autozone and summit for a 6AL was like 40 or 60 bucks....

 

take a look at the crane boxes. they even come with a coil for free. from what i hear they are very similar. i myself went with a holley annihilator because it was being clearanced out by jegs for the new line from holley. its a shame i havent been able to start the motor yet though.

 

hey spartyon...you can't start the motor with the new ignition? or you don't have time to work on the ignition?

 

Where is everyone mounting their box at? I looked for a decent place on an IROC last weekend and we ended up fabricating a plate to mount it over the top of the charcoal canister. Just couldn't find enough room to mount it anywhere under the hood so we had to create room.

 

i havent been able to start the motor because i am doing a 383 buildup that is still in the works. the car is not moving until the engine is in and done.

 

yeah.....there doesn't seem to be that much room in a thrid gen engine compartment..maybe in the interior, like nascar. any guys out there with pics of your installs?

 

I put a MSD 6AL box on my 406. I had a really bad miss above 5800rpms, it felt like the valve springs were floating. After I put the box on the miss was gone and will go to 6300 smoothly and revs a little better. Stock igintion systems were not intended to push 500hp@5800rpms.

It starts quicker too, actually my carb 406 starts faster than my 89 T/A with FI. I can hit the key and the 406 will start, the TBI car takes longer and in the morning I have to try twice sometimes for it to kick over.

On a bone stock/mild setup it may not be as noticeable. I dunno.

Later

 

mounted mine on the interior side of the firewall...but my car has been stripped and I can actually reach the firewall easily on my car :-p