MSD? Yes or No
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: MSD? Yes or No (UB2 SLOW)
It might actually help you with your mods. You might feel better throttle response and with those mods you might get a few hp from it if your stock ignition is falling off.
But its not really a necessity.
But its not really a necessity.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: MSD? Yes or No (UB2 SLOW)
If you want a much better rev limiter and some of the other features of the boxes such as the digital 6, go for it. If you want higher performance don't bother. If your car is running now it won't help any, if it's stumbling now you need to fix that because IF the MSD made the problem go away it would simply be masking the real problem.
It will wear out your opti quicker (the distributor part, not the optical part) as well as your spark plugs, but probably not before the opti would quit for some other reason anyway. I have the digital 6 for my own reasons. Coupled with my MSD GM blaster coil and MSD plug wires it throws a lightning bolt across the plug gap. Does it help my performance and gas mileage? Probably not.
If you're just looking for a performance upgrade, look to spend your money somewhere else.
[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 12:14 PM 10/4/2002]
It will wear out your opti quicker (the distributor part, not the optical part) as well as your spark plugs, but probably not before the opti would quit for some other reason anyway. I have the digital 6 for my own reasons. Coupled with my MSD GM blaster coil and MSD plug wires it throws a lightning bolt across the plug gap. Does it help my performance and gas mileage? Probably not.
If you're just looking for a performance upgrade, look to spend your money somewhere else.
[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 12:14 PM 10/4/2002]
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 105
Likes: 18
From: Trabuco Canyon CA
Re: MSD? Yes or No (UB2 SLOW)
I agree with Nathan. Here's why.
I installed a 6A in mine as an experiment. Idle smoothed out and got 1 mpg better hwy gas mileage (24 to 25).
Subsequently, removed the MSD, did a full spark tune up (plugs, "Spiral wound" wires and higher output coil) and essentially saw the same result. I believe that the MSD just helped when the rest of the ignition was subpar. As far as Opti reliability, mine was only in for a couple of months (about 3000 miles) so I can't talk to that.
If your going to go with higher cylinder pressures (supercharger, nitrous, higher compression pistons) in the future, I would buy one. The extra power helps out in these situations. If not, I would recommend a tune up and save for some other "goodies"
I installed a 6A in mine as an experiment. Idle smoothed out and got 1 mpg better hwy gas mileage (24 to 25).
Subsequently, removed the MSD, did a full spark tune up (plugs, "Spiral wound" wires and higher output coil) and essentially saw the same result. I believe that the MSD just helped when the rest of the ignition was subpar. As far as Opti reliability, mine was only in for a couple of months (about 3000 miles) so I can't talk to that.
If your going to go with higher cylinder pressures (supercharger, nitrous, higher compression pistons) in the future, I would buy one. The extra power helps out in these situations. If not, I would recommend a tune up and save for some other "goodies"
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Re: MSD? Yes or No (UB2 SLOW)
Don't waste your money, you won't go any faster and you won't get better gas mileage. For opti spark cars they only reduce the reliablity and lighten your wallet, esp true for 96, they have the upgraded coil.
Eric
Eric