MSD Ignition Upgrade
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Troy Illinois
MSD Ignition Upgrade
I am considering upgrading the ignition on my 1985 Corvette. The car is stock except for a Borla cat back exhaust. Corvette Fever November issue had a reader write in to say how happy he was with the Bosch Platinum +4 plugs (Tec Line section). Corvette agreed the plugs improved the way the car ran, smoother acceleration etc. Corvette Fever replyed the saw simmilar results and suggested replacing the stock coil with a MSD coil. I was also considering adding a MSD Plaster Ignition (PN 5900). Has anyone installed an MSD Ignition system in their GM HEI Distributor system and what do you think of it? Also does this unit replace the seven pin stock ignition module or is the unit an addition?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,960
Likes: 707
From: WI
Don't waste you money IMO. Are you looking for more power? That money could be spent on things that will actually help. I had an MSD on a turbo car and it left me stranded a few times. I would not recomend the platinum plugs either. They are very expensive and would not help IMO over a normal plug. In the test they did, how old were the plugs they replaced? They could have been old so that any new plug installed would have seemed better.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
That is a waste of money on a stock engine. No ignition system produces any more power than necessary to jump the plug gap. Your stock HEI is capable of much more voltage than necessary. There will be no improvement in performance, even if you THINK you feel one. All you can expect from ignition trinkets is under hood eyewash.
The job of the spark plug is to provide a gap that the spark can jump. When the spark jumps, hopefully the A/F mixture is ignited. Either way, spark is spark. The plug does nothing but provide the gap. Can a more expensive plug provide a "better" gap??? I don't think so. Many of the exotic metal plugs, particularly the platinums, do, in fact last longer, if that is of any value to you. Personally, I couldn't leave any plug in there long enough to benefit from the longer life. For me, the cheaper the plug, the better. I certainly don't give up any performance with that practice.
RACE ON!!!
The job of the spark plug is to provide a gap that the spark can jump. When the spark jumps, hopefully the A/F mixture is ignited. Either way, spark is spark. The plug does nothing but provide the gap. Can a more expensive plug provide a "better" gap??? I don't think so. Many of the exotic metal plugs, particularly the platinums, do, in fact last longer, if that is of any value to you. Personally, I couldn't leave any plug in there long enough to benefit from the longer life. For me, the cheaper the plug, the better. I certainly don't give up any performance with that practice.
RACE ON!!!
Last edited by CFI-EFI; Nov 3, 2007 at 12:06 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 848
Likes: 1
From: 1992 LT1 6 speed Cayman Islands
Most of these upgraded ignition parts are a waste of money and will not give you more power.
I also go with the cheapest plug and keep them clean and change them often. Also change the rotor and cap if there is corrosion or signs of spark jumping in there.
If you have the HEI and are worried about misfire, you can open up the gab an extra .005 for a slightly bigger spark as the HEI has plenty power stock.
If you want to change something in an HEI have someone who knows what they are doing sell you some new advance curve springs to suit your engine combo.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by Jerris
If you want to change something in an HEI have someone who knows what they are doing sell you some new advance curve springs to suit your engine combo.
Mechanical advance weight springs for a computer controlled distributor? After you buy those springs, come and see me about a bridge I have for sale.
RACE ON!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 848
Likes: 1
From: 1992 LT1 6 speed Cayman Islands
not another bridge
My bad... Im showing my age but just wanted to make the point that the HEI is a much more powerful ignition setup than most people give it credit for.
Substitute the spring for a new chip tune and you will get the results I suggest.
Sorry but I already own too many bridges, the wife wont let me buty another
Substitute the spring for a new chip tune and you will get the results I suggest.
Sorry but I already own too many bridges, the wife wont let me buty another
