Ive always heard that the LS1's and Cobras and stuff have a great ignition system out of the factory and don't really need an upgrade that bad (unless i guess your making some serious power). But what about our cars? I have a feeling its pretty weak, but enlighten me. I had an accel 300 on the car but it shorted out so i got it repaired...but is it worth it to throw it back on?

 

I buy aftermarket ignition parts for one reason. Reliability not performance.
Save your money, the ignition is fine. When parts go bad buy a decent aftermarket part to be reliable. Do not expect miracles.

 

I doubt upgrading the ignition on a fairly stock motor would make a difference, but its piece of mind knowing your parts aren't 15-20 years old.

As a side note, my accell 300 also shorted out. I have yet to have it repaired.

 

If your system is in good shape and you're not doing anything totally crazy I wouldn't worry about it, if you havn't changed your wires in 5 years or are say hitting it with the bottle/have a stout high RPM motor build, time to step up a hair. If you look at the GMC syclone they run 15 PSI boost stock on what's basicly a stock HEI system. Not what I'd call a light duty application. When I get boost to the 305 I've got (need to get it in before I can grenade it) I'm gonna wind up with brass contact cap/rotor, wires and a coil and call it great.

 

I have read many places that state our HEIs are really good up untill around 4500rpm. They have great output, but above 4500rpm they cant recharge fast enough to make a good strong spark every time. I too have an Accel 300+ box that I am really happy with so far, I like being able to change my rev limit at will without stupid chips. It worries me to hear you guys having failed ignitions, but that is exactly why I left my HEI intact with plugs and all. If my Accel box pukes I will just unplug it and plug my dizzy back in and be ready to go.

 

I'm running the stock ignition system but with the MSD 6A plugged in. Works well on my car up to 6000rpm. By the way the MSD was worth maybe 2 horsepower on back to back dyno runs for comparison. Bottom line stock is fine and the most reliable.

 

The stock external coil HEI is pretty decent. Use a good quality cap and rotor, use only a GM Delco module, good wires and maybe an MSD coil. Call it good.

 

The words reliability and Accel should never be used in the same sentence. I stay far away from any of their ignition crap since I don't like the idea of being stranded somewhere at 2 in the morning with a dead ignition system. MSD makes great products, they run circles around any of Accel's garbage. Like the other posters have already said though, unless you have a highly modified setup, using all stock GM/AC Delco ignition components will keep you going down the road for a long time.