ignition box... worth it?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 3
From: In a van down by the river! Florida
ignition box... worth it?
I don't see many guys here running them.
I just saw a commercial for MSD offering $40 rebate when you buy an ignition box, blaster coil, and wires.
Well, I need new wires, and if a new coil is a good idea, I'd throw it in too, but I dunno much about ignition boxes and wonder the pros/cons and if there are any gains to be had using them.
Thanks!!
I just saw a commercial for MSD offering $40 rebate when you buy an ignition box, blaster coil, and wires.
Well, I need new wires, and if a new coil is a good idea, I'd throw it in too, but I dunno much about ignition boxes and wonder the pros/cons and if there are any gains to be had using them.
Thanks!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 3
From: In a van down by the river! Florida
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire Wisconsin
I ran a 6AL in my 68 Buick GS for 13 years and it was OK. I would not buy one again for many reasons.
Unless you are running massive HP and compression the stock ignition system is fine. I have wittnesed no HP increase by going from a stock GM HEI to an MSD box, some cases lost HP.
MSD Tech support is the worst I have encountered anywhere
Unless you are running massive HP and compression the stock ignition system is fine. I have wittnesed no HP increase by going from a stock GM HEI to an MSD box, some cases lost HP.
MSD Tech support is the worst I have encountered anywhere
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 3
From: In a van down by the river! Florida
I ran a 6AL in my 68 Buick GS for 13 years and it was OK. I would not buy one again for many reasons.
Unless you are running massive HP and compression the stock ignition system is fine. I have wittnesed no HP increase by going from a stock GM HEI to an MSD box, some cases lost HP.
MSD Tech support is the worst I have encountered anywhere
Unless you are running massive HP and compression the stock ignition system is fine. I have wittnesed no HP increase by going from a stock GM HEI to an MSD box, some cases lost HP.
MSD Tech support is the worst I have encountered anywhere
After my motor gets done I was thinking about going with a Mallory unit for the easy adjustable timing while on the spray.
Side question to this one. When should the coil on an LT be replaced?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
huh, good input. I had been wondering about the same question on the MSD Box. I found my MSD window switch for the nitrous kit the other day and it got me thinking about the MSD ignition box... Guess i'll save my pennies and skip it! 
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
At least twice a day at the track, there is always an announcement asking if anyone has a spare MSD box because someone's crapped out.
Based on that failure rate, I don't see how it can be a good thing.
Based on that failure rate, I don't see how it can be a good thing.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 140
From: Salem NH
I used MSD for years, and always had failures or other problems.
A CDI ignition box will def help if you running wider plug gaps, high compression, or winding the motor so high dwell time is not optimal to recharge the coil. I'm using a mallory hi-fire these days. The analog MSD boxes just seemed to crap out way too much.
-- Joe
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire Wisconsin
The rev limiter was a nice feature on the 6AL but for the price I think it is over kill on 95% of the street cars out there. A local guy I know has a 70 Chevelle that runs 9.90's in the quarter, he drives it on the street and runs an HEI with GM parts inside. Tech dept. at MSD is horrid, when I was doing my opti I hard wired it to the factory harness and called to make sure it was correct, the guy from MSD tech when telling me what wires went with what wires kept screwing it up, I had to correct him.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
for a real hot rod the 7al can provide some nice features. Mine was perfectly fine shifting at 6k+w/out the 6al, and actually had made me go back through the timing table as I started getting some SK around 2k for no apparent reason.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
I run a Mallory box on my car for nitrous retard. I gained nothing on the dyno or on the track by installing the box.
It's been pretty reliable. It's died once because I hit it with the hose when washing the car, and died a second time because of heat in the engine compartment. I've relocated to inside the car and haven't any problems in the last 2 years or so.
It's been pretty reliable. It's died once because I hit it with the hose when washing the car, and died a second time because of heat in the engine compartment. I've relocated to inside the car and haven't any problems in the last 2 years or so.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,753
Likes: 9
From: Louisiana
I have a MSD on the 92 that was on the car when I got it. I've had the car a little over a month and a bad ground on the MSD left me stranded. Using the FSM, it led me to believe the ICM was at fault. After using a good ICM and still no start, I check the MSD and found a bad ground.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 3
From: In a van down by the river! Florida
Thanks much for all the info guys.
For now the standard ignition will be peachy keen..
I'll have to look more into the mallory or crane digital box after a while if I think about spraying it in the future, cause I like the timing retard.
Any info on when/if the coil should be replaced?
For now the standard ignition will be peachy keen..
I'll have to look more into the mallory or crane digital box after a while if I think about spraying it in the future, cause I like the timing retard.
Any info on when/if the coil should be replaced?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,857
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Thanks much for all the info guys.
For now the standard ignition will be peachy keen..
I'll have to look more into the mallory or crane digital box after a while if I think about spraying it in the future, cause I like the timing retard.
Any info on when/if the coil should be replaced?
For now the standard ignition will be peachy keen..
I'll have to look more into the mallory or crane digital box after a while if I think about spraying it in the future, cause I like the timing retard.
Any info on when/if the coil should be replaced?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
I also heard that the MSD box failed quite often, so I went with the Mini-VIP 18 Volt Step Up Regulator - http://www.performancedistributors.com/minivip.htm
I went with it due to the high HP of my car. This unit wouldn't be necessary or advisable for a stock application.
I went with it due to the high HP of my car. This unit wouldn't be necessary or advisable for a stock application.
