Do I need a MSD 6A Box?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Nice when they're working, but not a reliable piece. Having had two of them fail within a couple of years I'd have a hard time recommending any MSD box. YMMV
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 111
I have a 13.5:1 solid roller 372ci small block that turns 7,500 rpm. I have it set up with a simple MSD 8360 Ready-to-Run distributor and Blaster coil with no box. It starts easy and pulls very clean throughout the rpm range. I've heard folks claim improvements with MSD boxes, but I've just never seen the need and I like to keep things simple.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
No. I would not upgrade my Accel Performance HEI distributor with 40K volt coil and matching module with an MSD 6* unless it was absolutely essential.
My warmed over 80L48 has not required a single ignition upgrade beyond the Accel Performance replacement distributor with performance module (under $150), Taylor Spiro Pro wires (about $50) and AC R45TS spark plugs gapped at .045 (under $20). This equipment works great... only 'bling' was recent install of a red MSD distributor cap to match my (red) Taylor wires and exterior paint....
I still have my black Delco Remy wire retainer ring on the dist cap.
My warmed over 80L48 has not required a single ignition upgrade beyond the Accel Performance replacement distributor with performance module (under $150), Taylor Spiro Pro wires (about $50) and AC R45TS spark plugs gapped at .045 (under $20). This equipment works great... only 'bling' was recent install of a red MSD distributor cap to match my (red) Taylor wires and exterior paint....
I still have my black Delco Remy wire retainer ring on the dist cap.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 925
Likes: 7
Im having what i believe to be an issue w the box as well. My 71 came with an msd distribuitor, msd blaster 3 and a 6AL box... im almost possitive i am getting no spark because of the box. Ran a few test (white wire to ground w/ screw driver in cable to coil 1/4 inch from ground) and i got nothing. Any eay i can just run the dist and coil by themselves and eliminate the box? Sounds to me thats keeping it might be more trouble than what its worth...
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 59
From: Meldrim Georgia
If you wanted to turn your engine over with no spark, say if your plugs were out, you would ground the white wire. Or to make a cheap ignition kill, you would connect the white wire to a switch and ground the other side of the switch. That's what you're doing, if I'm understanding what you wrote. There's no spark if the white wire is grounded.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 878
Likes: 55
From: Deep South Denmark
Im having what i believe to be an issue w the box as well. My 71 came with an msd distribuitor, msd blaster 3 and a 6AL box... im almost possitive i am getting no spark because of the box. Ran a few test (white wire to ground w/ screw driver in cable to coil 1/4 inch from ground) and i got nothing. Any eay i can just run the dist and coil by themselves and eliminate the box? Sounds to me thats keeping it might be more trouble than what its worth...
The white wire is used with breaker style distributors.
Shorting and then releasing the green and violet wires (for the mag. trigger) will do the same.
/Karsten
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 947
Likes: 213
From: Foothills of the Adirondacks.
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