When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Back in the day, it seemed like an ignition box was one of the first things most people did to a car they were going to mess with. Do you not hear as much about them because most modern cars are coil on or near plug or some other reason?
If they are still a thing, what is the choice, best bang for the buck?
Back in the day, I was a fan of the Crane Hi6 (I don't think they even exist anymore, the original company is technically defunct)... boxes for "race" applications and the Accel 300+ for most GM stuff (it was compact, between 2 adapter harnesses it plugged into most of them) and worked. The disadvantage was that they were noisy; they ticked. The MSD 6AL was the standard and I'd installed plenty (I worked for a speed shop back in the day), but I was never a big fan, they were big and clunky and it seemed like there was always some weirdness with connecting them, like even their adapter harnesses had spade connectors in them, it never looked like a professional job.
I guess an appropriate related question is, is there a good/inexpensive/simple (I know you can have any 2 but not all 3) coil-on-plug swap that works for GM HEI V8s?
Some Boxes had built in functions for rev limiters two steps and some had timing retard for boost or nitrous. Good add ons that stock electronics didnt have. I used the old mallory 685 box back then for those reasons. They dont make it anymore but thats one main advantage to them. If you are staying with stock electronics or carb setups with no electronics i guess. Ignition power wise idk if it mattered or not.
Some Boxes had built in functions for rev limiters two steps and some had timing retard for boost or nitrous. Good add ons that stock electronics didnt have..
this right here. i forgot about the rev limiters..
good stuff for sure, and the add ons like 2 steps or timing retard..
I have been running the summit brand box for years, and in addition to having a rev limiter I also have much faster start ups and never have to use the choke at all after switching. Good MSD box, mounts nicely next to the HVAC box.
Do you not hear as much about them because most modern cars are coil on or near plug or some other reason?
If they are still a thing, what is the choice, best bang for the buck?
I don't think you hear about them b/c there is zero gains for the dollars $pent. Not worth it.
Originally Posted by 83 Crossfire TA
FWIW, I'm trying to chase down an ignition problem and I'm kind of leaning that the old Crane box in the car:
Personally? I'd diag and fix the ignition problem if it's not a massively boosted, 1k+hp rig or something...normal (now days) like that.
Originally Posted by 83 Crossfire TA
I guess an appropriate related question is, is there a good/inexpensive/simple (I know you can have any 2 but not all 3) coil-on-plug swap that works for GM HEI V8s?
I don't know. Possibly not? It's a thing that I think is a total waste of time and money, so I've never delved into it and I never will.
Reason? 1. no gains at all. 2. Even with the LT1/Opti....you know how many $155 opti's you can buy for the price of one of ^those^ things? I've had my LT1 for 16 years and replaced the opti twice...and learned in the processes, that 90+% of opti failures is dirt on the lenses...which you can clean off with a tissue and windex.
I'm sure you're right. The only reason I'd do it would be for the cool factor on opening the hood.... and the confused looks... lol. People already confuse my engine for a LT1 with the Miniram... then throw in a LS style CoP setup...
But any rate, my Pertronix ICM and coil is probably about as good as it gets with HEI. I can't imagine any improvement in performance over what I have now.
DIS ignition with 7730 as been a subject floating around for many years... just that no one seems to have a done a complete end-to-end how-to thread on how to do it.
