So I got a 84 z28 5-speed, and I was wondering if one of these MSD 6AL's are actually worth it?Would I notice the difference? and how exactly do I install them ,is it difficult?To my knowledge I have a factory stock distributor. thank for the help

 

Do you have any other performance mods ?

As just a stand alone purchase, I think there are smarter items than a 6AL ...

~DaVe

 

Much debate here...Purportedly your car will run "better" because you will get a cleaner or more complete combustion because of the stronger spark. I just installed one on my GTA. Not hard to install. Do I notice a difference....yeah a little. If your car is basically stock...don't bother. If its modified a bit and money is no bigger what the hell go with the box. Locate it either in the car or a good spot I found is up near the canister on passenger side. To make it really easy to install purchase the plug n play harness that plugs into your coil and the MSD wiring. Piece of cake. I've never run an MSD before on any of my cars...now that I have one...eh.

 

Unless youre running a bunch of compression with a massive cam nitrous or blower MSD boxes are 100% waste of money your car wont make another ounce of power.

HArd to beat a GM HEI


I hate having one cause I know one day it will strand me but would probably foul plugs eventually without it.

 

1984 Z28s don't have HEI......

 

1984 Z28s do have HEI.

 

84s had the dizzy with the in-cap-coil? Never seen one that early & I currently have a 87 TPI that doesn't. So really....Your gonna tell that in-cap coils were in 84, but dropped for 87? Not gonna convince me that GM went "backwards".

 

Pre 87 had the cap in coil. 88+ went to the External coil HEI dizzy.

 

Sounds Bass-Ackwards. Pre-HEI had external coils. Everybody knows that.

So your gonna tell me that GM had external coils...Went to Internal coils...Then back to external coils? That in no way explains the 90 & 92 I had, both with internal coil dizzies.

 

Believe it or not, They went from external to internal back to external. I think even the LT1's had an external coil.

If I am not mistaken 88 was the first year of the external Coil. 90-92 definitely had external(unless they were swapped out or converted to pre 87 MAF and did not want to cut up the harness)

To Add to the OP question. My brother added a 6AL as he had a carb car and needed a limiter. He added the ignition box and he said he noticed a difference. Started better, idled smoother and throttle response was better. As for more power, I doubt it made a difference, but drive ability was better. Plus if you can find one for a decent price on the boards and plan to stay with the sbc, why not.

Edit: HEI is both internal and external coil. It is the type of Ignition it is, not coil placement.

 

Everybody knows that whether the coil is internal or external has nothing to do with whether it's HEI or not. HEI was GM's name for their points-less electronic ignition that came out in 1974 and was used on every engine in 1975. Ever distributor between then and the Optispark was HEI, regardless of whether it was large or small cap with an internal or external coil.

But regardless of that, the stock distributor for 1984 is large-cap, internal coil.

 

Really talking about large cap versus small cap.

 

First off...I do know that the externals were HEI, but that is not what people think of when they hear HEI so I was just "following the herd" & keeping terms simple.

As for "90-92 definitely had external"? I guess the stealership was in the habit of swapping stuff out in cars on their lots?

I'm done.....My personal experience has proven otherwise & I'm not playing this game anymore. Unsubscribing now, so bicker among yourselves.

 

I have a huge chunk of money into my motor, and outside of MSD 8.5mm wires, I left the ignition alone. MSD ignitions are a waste of money in my opinion (in most applications). They aren't BAD persay, but I can think of a lot better ways to throw my change. Got $35K into your motor? You'll probably like the few small additions they offer.

 

.. this thread got derailed

As mentioned above somewhere, one of the nicest features is the built in rev limiter ! OR you can even get a built in two step with the 6AL-2

Another option that I would consider is an upgraded module and coil for your stock HEI, both can be had CHEAP ! and would probably be the same benefit

~DaVe