im thinking of getting an msd box. summit sells a kit for the HEI...comes w/ external coil, a dustcap to convers your dist cap, and the msd box...for the 6AL its about $250. anyway i just want to know how an MSD helps. I want the 6AL because i plan on going w/ a manual trans some day and i want the rev control

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350, Comp 262, Edelbrock Performer intake 600 cfm carb and exhaust, headers

i bought one, hooked it up, and rehooked it up about 5 times, but it never would work. i dont have a clue why not, but the directions are really strait forward, so i dont konw what went wrong... in any case, they are supposed to help somewhat w/economy, also, you are supposed to get one, or, it helps if you are running nitrous, and im not sure about using it w/a turbo or blower(not sure if it helps). ive talked to several other people about them(before i got mine) and they said the box's didnt make a world of difference in the way the car ran, but helped out in general. i'd love to give you first hand experience thoughts, but as of now it isnt happening what i can say, and i think is a pretty good thing to go by, is that unless you dont have anything else in the ignition to modify, then get it. otherwise hold out

If you ever plan on going the nitrous way, get the MSD Digital 6 plus. It comes with nitrous and start retard, and a rev limiter.

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1989 IROC-Z 5.7L

What will it do for you? Take about $250 from your wallet and put it in theirs. I tried the MSD 6A and Blaster coil and made 6 passes down the track. 3 with it hooked up and 3 without. I saw zero difference in my ET and MPH. I gave it back to the guy I borrowed it from.

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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.25 @ 107.18 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

My car wasnt any faster in the 1/4 mile either. But it did Improve throttle response I like it for that reason. The response was soft compared to after the install.

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Black 90 IROC, L98, A4, 323 gear. SuperRamed 406 in the works!

A good way to find out if an aftermarket product is any good is to see if the Big Three automakers ever did anything with it. GM can make MSD-equivalent boxes by the millions at a relatively low per-unit price if they wanted to. If an MSD made any difference in combustion efficiency, you can bet GM would've put it in, especially if it helped them keep the EPA and CAFE off of their backs!

Perhaps some racing engines need that long-duration spark discharge, but apparently such a device doesn't make a difference in your average street engine running on pump gas.

BTW, GM does make several types of aftermarket ign boxes, just like MSD. And, GM is only worried about profit margins--you don't see them installing performance exhausts or air filters or any other stuff on most cars-->they know only 0.5% of the people buying the cars would give a crap if they did.

I had an MSD box, coil, and billet distributor. I never track tested the car, but it did have better throttle response than before.

I'm going to school at the University of Northwestern Ohio in the hi-po program. I talked to one of the treachers about aftermarket ignitions and he said that they found no measureable gains on the dyno after installing an accel ignition system. I think the gains are all in driveability. At least that is my experience.

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82 z28 350cid, vortec heads, comp 262h cam, Holley 600cfm carb, 2in twice pipes, MSD ignition, turbo 350 trans, 3.73 posi, manly b&m megashifter

It seemed to give my Elcamino more "pick-up" and smoothed the engine out. BTW, it was a V6. I liked it so much I put it into my T/A. Again, bring the rpms up and smooth. Also, the of the line was torquier (is that a word?) Anyways, I dig it and hopefully you will too.

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'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...

You wont see a gain unless you regap your plugs a little bigger. I think you're supposed to get a colder plug also.

85,

Since you're running a carb, I'd say the MSD is a good idea. My carb car has shown a huge improvement in cold idle characteristics and throttle response.

I replaced the points ignition with a magnetic triggering device at the same time as the MSD installation too - so some of the improvement may be attributable to this.

BOR

I should say that my car starts up like nothing now and it idles better than it would without an aftermarket ignition. It is especially helpful during tuning excercises because it prevents fouled plugs. Regapping your plugs would definately help after an install. Jrr is right if aftermarket ignitions did help emissions or fuel economy the big 3 would be using a multiple sparking system now. They do use distributorless ignitions now, quite similiar to the system electromotive sells. The biggest advantage to aftermarket ignitions is in artificially aspirated applications where cylinder pressure may blow out the spark. By the way a digital 6 is waaaaaay overkill for a street car. Ask me how I know.

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82 z28 350cid, vortec heads, comp 262h cam, Holley 600cfm carb, 2in twice pipes, MSD ignition, turbo 350 trans, 3.73 posi, manly b&m megashifter

I'd like to know how you know. MSD told me to use the Digital 6, but I figured it was because it costs more.

Kevin,

My guess is you figured right.

BOR

My car seemed to pull a bit better at the top end with the MSD 6AL and Blaster SS coil. Previously, I "only" had an Accel remote-computerized-HEI Supercoil. The difference between the Accel & Stock was the same, more pull at higher RPM's. I also noticed my tranny shifting a few hundred RPM later; I assume due to the extra pull?

Of course the opposite happened with me; the starting time for the car is slower. It used to take a 1/2 second spin of the starter with the GM and Accel coils; now it takes 1-2 seconds. Figures.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

My car showed no difference.
Until, MSD tech joe told me to disconnect the battery for 30min. I did it no believing anything would come out of it. But it actually made a difference. Started and idled better.

Don't expect hp gains from the box. It's a mod that helps the car run better. You also get an RPM limiter.........what guys in 5speeds would really need.

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91 Formula
305 TPI 5speed
1LE package
Custom cold air intake w/K&N, SLP airfoil, ported plenum, Crane AFPR (47psi),MSD6AL, Holley 9mm Annihilator wires, Ac Delco cap,rotor and plugs, Bosch O2sensor, Slp 1 5/8 headers and catback (all stainless steel!), 3:73s,JET 195* fan switch, Macewen white face gauges, Intellitronix Digital Gauges

Stock throttle body,runners,intake manifold,cam, and heads.

[This message has been edited by theformula (edited December 13, 2000).]

Also if you get the box by the adjustable rpm module from jegs. its only $20 from 0-12000RPMS

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91 Formula
305 TPI 5speed
1LE/G92/WS6
Custom cold air intake w/K&N, SLP airfoil, ported plenum, Crane AFPR (47psi),MSD6AL, Holley 9mm Annihilator wires, Ac Delco cap,rotor and plugs, Bosch O2sensor, Slp 1 5/8 headers and catback (all stainless steel!), 3:73s,JET 195* fan switch, Macewen white face gauges, Intellitronix Digital Gauges

Stock throttle body, runners,intake manifold,cam, and heads.

I did the same and my car runs alot smoother