Msd Ignition. Is It Worth It.
#3
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Car: 83 Z-28 (Original owner)
Engine: 305 CC-carb
Transmission: Richmond 6-speed, Rear:3.73
For a mostly stock motor? IMO replace the stock coil with a hotter (lower impedance) aftermarket coil. That will give you a hotter spark, especially at redline. Make sure your plug wires are good (and cap/rotor). Adding a box seems like a waste of money unless you’re racing, supercharging, or adding laughing gas.
#4
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Car: 84z28
Engine: chevy 388
Transmission: 700r4
i would say get the 6AL with the rev limitor if yor tranny pops or you miss a gear it would suck if the motor over reved and poped too.
also you car will idel smoother becouse of multible spark and give more power becouse of a complete burn.
my page:
http://darcom.org
also you car will idel smoother becouse of multible spark and give more power becouse of a complete burn.
my page:
http://darcom.org
#5
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Car: 1989 IROC-Z Camaro
Engine: 5.8L 355
Transmission: T-5 5-speed
IMO I think its a good upgrade. I mean it helps with the air fuel combustion. You get alittle better mileage. It doesn't hurt to install. I have All MSD ignition compontents(wires, coil, 6A) on my truck, and soon on my IROC(6AL). you won't get significant gains, at least I didn't. but I did get like 1-2 more mpg. and better power at high RPM, and starting. JUST my 2 cents
Tyler
Tyler
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#8
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Car: 89 RS
Engine: 383 in building process
Transmission: 700r4
Originally posted by OMINOUS_87
You will see no benefit in your appplication.
You will see no benefit in your appplication.
#9
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Car: 87 Firebird
Engine: 305 LG4
Transmission: THM700R4
From what I found out from other people on this topic is that you will feel gains on the higher RPMs and in the gas mileage but only on a moded car.
#10
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Car: 89' T/A, 00' Firehawk
Engine: 406 Roller
Transmission: TH700R4 w/2800 stall
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
I put the 6AL w/ HEI conversion on my 406 and noticed a BIG difference about 5000. I oringally thought the valve springs I had were the wrong springs because about 5K it would spurt, cut out and cough. The springs were new and were matched to cam so I leaned towards igntion. My car idles smoother now, revs easier and doesn't cut out above 5k.
My car is modded some and it was either the stock coil and/or module that was hurting me. MSD on a stock application IMO would not result in any performance gain's but "should" help fuel consumption and quicker starts. Oh yeah, my car does start quicker, actually it starts quicker than my 89 T/A w/ TBI
My car is modded some and it was either the stock coil and/or module that was hurting me. MSD on a stock application IMO would not result in any performance gain's but "should" help fuel consumption and quicker starts. Oh yeah, my car does start quicker, actually it starts quicker than my 89 T/A w/ TBI
#11
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Car: 1984 Pontiac Trans Am WS6
Engine: H.O. 305 5.0L;L69
Transmission: T-5; Axle Ratio 3.73
I know that my buddy has a 6al on his 68 chevelle and the MSD box completely changed his car...He had a good increase in power, especially at high RPM and a better idle. The car even sounds quite a bit different...but he is also running a 350 and 13:1 compression, about 400+HP. So i think the engine will have something to do with it.
#12
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the 6AL makes a very nice improvement at idle the most to be honest, it makes the idle dead on and very smooth.... once you get over about 2500 RPM the multiple spark switches off and you are left with just the single spark. The difference a good ignition contoller makes is nice, but to be honest I have had bad experiences with MSD. MY coild cracked, and I had two controlers crap out on me. The were both instaleld using the MSD harness and grounded correctly. summit was very helpful in replacing them, since apparently I wasnt the only one with the problem, but the week long down time sucked still.
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i've heard so many mixed reviews over these for so long that my digital 6 has been sitting new in it's box for the last year. i would like to use it myself but i've just heard and personally seen way to many problems to justify any possible gain on a street car.
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Car: 89 RS
Engine: 383 in building process
Transmission: 700r4
Originally posted by Kandied91z
i've heard so many mixed reviews over these for so long that my digital 6 has been sitting new in it's box for the last year. i would like to use it myself but i've just heard and personally seen way to many problems to justify any possible gain on a street car.
i've heard so many mixed reviews over these for so long that my digital 6 has been sitting new in it's box for the last year. i would like to use it myself but i've just heard and personally seen way to many problems to justify any possible gain on a street car.
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Car: 1982 CAMARO;
Engine: 1985 LB9;
Transmission: T-5/
Originally posted by FstBrd6point3
to be honest I have had bad experiences with MSD. MY coild cracked, and I had two controlers crap out on me. The were both instaleld using the MSD harness and grounded correctly. summit was very helpful in replacing them, since apparently I wasnt the only one with the problem, but the week long down time sucked still.
to be honest I have had bad experiences with MSD. MY coild cracked, and I had two controlers crap out on me. The were both instaleld using the MSD harness and grounded correctly. summit was very helpful in replacing them, since apparently I wasnt the only one with the problem, but the week long down time sucked still.
Just my .02
#17
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Car: '82 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH400 4,000 stall
Axle/Gears: Currie 9", 4.56 gears
I just put in a MSD Pro-Billet distributor, 6AL box and blaster 2 coil this past weekend. The difference was very noticable in my car driving around. Better throttle response, more power, runs a lot better above 5,000 rpm ( I shift at about 6,800 - 7,000). I must have picked up 20+ hp or so, it was that big a difference for me. Of course, my engine is far from stock
Now on the other end of the spectrum, a friend of mine did the same setup last year with his Firebird running a 454. Fairly mild build but does low 12's. He didn't notice one bit of change. Glad I had a better experience than him
Now on the other end of the spectrum, a friend of mine did the same setup last year with his Firebird running a 454. Fairly mild build but does low 12's. He didn't notice one bit of change. Glad I had a better experience than him
#18
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Car: 1991Firebird T/A
Engine: 350
Transmission: Modified Viper t-56
Axle/Gears: dana 44, 3.55
there are better things to spend the cash on right now...
Thats my thoughts on it...
Thats my thoughts on it...
#19
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Car: 89 GTA
Engine: 5.7L Supercharged
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3.70
Mine did nothing for me, no improvement in gas mileage, start up or even making it run any differently. I also tested it at the track and guess what, no difference in times/mph either Hopefully now that I have this supercharger that it might actually do something for me.
So if you have a upgraded ignition system like good plugs, coil, wires, and cap that should be all you need and if you think your still having problems that's when I would get one of these boxes, that's probably why I saw no changes since I had all of this in place already.
So if you have a upgraded ignition system like good plugs, coil, wires, and cap that should be all you need and if you think your still having problems that's when I would get one of these boxes, that's probably why I saw no changes since I had all of this in place already.
#20
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Car: Black 89 Camaro RS w/t-tops
Engine: 2.8L (173ci) v6
Transmission: 700r4
Last week I added this to my 2.8:
------------------------------------------
-MSD 6A ignition box
-Accel 8.8mm wires
-AC Delco Rapid Fire Plugs
-MSD Blaster GM Coil
Definate change in:
------------------------
-starting
-idling
-need for speed acceleration(like getting on the highway)
-average RPMs for cruising reduced..i.e. the level of rpm i need to travel at 70 on the highway reduced by about 250.
Problems encountered:
----------------------------
-MSD box failed after 1 week, sending it in and getting a new one. No current was coming from the box.
Mods I have on my car: edelbrock cam and timing chain + power chip. I am thinking of going with the 6AL because my computer has been modded, atleast that is what the tech support guy from msd recommended for my application.
Dave M.
------------------
'89 Camaro RS 2.8L
------------------------------------------
-MSD 6A ignition box
-Accel 8.8mm wires
-AC Delco Rapid Fire Plugs
-MSD Blaster GM Coil
Definate change in:
------------------------
-starting
-idling
-need for speed acceleration(like getting on the highway)
-average RPMs for cruising reduced..i.e. the level of rpm i need to travel at 70 on the highway reduced by about 250.
Problems encountered:
----------------------------
-MSD box failed after 1 week, sending it in and getting a new one. No current was coming from the box.
Mods I have on my car: edelbrock cam and timing chain + power chip. I am thinking of going with the 6AL because my computer has been modded, atleast that is what the tech support guy from msd recommended for my application.
Dave M.
------------------
'89 Camaro RS 2.8L
#21
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Car: 1988 Camaro Convertible
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700r4
GM blaster coil and MSD 6al on my stock TBI did nothing but take longer to start the car. I use to be able to flip the switch and the car would start. After the 6al it would take a few revolutions. However I did notice better gas mileage 2-4mpg, trip to AZ I literally got 5 mpg more. Not too shabby.
Now with the 355 I have a complete state III blaster coil, MSD billet distributer, and a 6al. For a non stock engine I wouldn't run anything less.
Now with the 355 I have a complete state III blaster coil, MSD billet distributer, and a 6al. For a non stock engine I wouldn't run anything less.
#22
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Car: '91 t-top RS; '91 hrdtp Z28
Engine: LO3;383tpi
Transmission: 700r4;very nice 700r4
Axle/Gears: 4.10 zt posi, 3.70 auburn
Definate change in:
------------------------
-average RPMs for cruising reduced..i.e. the level of rpm i need to travel at 70 on the highway reduced by about 250.
------------------------
-average RPMs for cruising reduced..i.e. the level of rpm i need to travel at 70 on the highway reduced by about 250.
One of my first mods was the MSD 6A to an other wise stock lo3 at the time. I noticed:
-quicker starts
-2.5 mpg highway
-smoother idle
-cleaner plugs
-NO gain in power
Eventually, after some "breathing" mods, I added the MSD dual connector coil, which helped me pull to 5k with the stock intake, as opposed to the 4.5k prior.
When I swapped in the 383, I had a brain dump and connected the harness wrong to my coil, and fried it. So I used a new GM coil my buddy had as an extra for a while. Eventually, I got another MSD coil, and it made a huge difference past 4.5k or so.
#23
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Car: 86 Camaro
Engine: L98 350 bore .060 out, Carb power
Transmission: slusher 700 beatbox
you see the most gains in carbed cars. atleast thats whats been said. i have the 6a, blaster2, pro billet and wires. all MSD for me
#24
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Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 357cid
Transmission: T5 Swap
Axle/Gears: 10bolt 7.5" 3.23 soon to be 3.73
you all installed the ignition in ur cars looking for major or even semi major gains but the point is a hotter spark helps a little if nothing is changed otherwise ie upgrade to the MSD and upgrade ur fuel system, you will be able to burn more fuel and grab the extra horses you want. think of it like a lighter or match: they do the smae thing but which would burn larger amounts of stuff more easily??
#25
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Car: 86 Camaro
Engine: L98 350 bore .060 out, Carb power
Transmission: slusher 700 beatbox
i actually installed the MSD because i rebuilt the whole car from the ground up and swapped in the 350 carbed. might as well if the whole damn car is apart. hence the reason i got more then just the box. which is actualy good because their distributers are designed to hook right up to the box. glad i did all of it
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