MSD 6A worth the money?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 20
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From: Greenfield IN
MSD 6A worth the money?
Interested in getting a MSD 6A & a coil upgrade for my 88 L98. It is mostly stock now with only minor air mods. But planning to add cam & more intake and exhaust upgrades. Is it worth the $ spent? Also, is there a recomended spark plug change when adding an MSD?
Thanks in advance for any help
Tom
Thanks in advance for any help
Tom
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (Jet Mech)
Hi Tom,
I wouldn't put it on until you really need it, say after all your performance upgrades. With a good coil, wires and plugs, you'll have enough spark to run just fine. I'd spend the money on the other stuff that really gives you noticable change, exhaust, heads and most of all GEARS :yesnod:
I wouldn't put it on until you really need it, say after all your performance upgrades. With a good coil, wires and plugs, you'll have enough spark to run just fine. I'd spend the money on the other stuff that really gives you noticable change, exhaust, heads and most of all GEARS :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,171
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (Jet Mech)
Strick, he does NOT need gears on the L98.
As for the MSD, if youre going to do intake mods like SR/MR, then its worth it to buy the unit. It helps where the HEI falls off, which is above where the TPI dies. But at the moment it wont really help anything.
I would do a full tune-up to go with the MSD.
As for the MSD, if youre going to do intake mods like SR/MR, then its worth it to buy the unit. It helps where the HEI falls off, which is above where the TPI dies. But at the moment it wont really help anything.
I would do a full tune-up to go with the MSD.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,171
Likes: 1,735
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (Strick)
Strick, he does NOT need gears on the L98..
What kind of gears do the L98s have?
What kind of gears do the L98s have?
The powerband in the L98 is not the LT1s, its too short to require alot of rear gearing, anything more than 3.07 is too much or ricers can beat us. The M6 has six gears to play with so 3.45 is plenty for it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (Jet Mech)
On a NA L98 I like the HyperTech coil/cap/rotor combo. It costs about $70 through Summit Racing, just bolts up (with minor surgery on the ring atop the dist cap) and provides 54kV to much higher RPM than the stock HEI (which drops off around mid 4k RPM range).
Combine this with a good set of wires, like TPIS for stock look or MSD 8.5mm SuperCondurcors for minimum resistance and AC Delco cut-back spark plugs (gapped to .045") for a nice HP boost. This system will work well with your intended mods, even if you go with a SuperRam intake.
This ingnition along with ported #113 heads, a nice cam and free flowing exhaust will give you a very quick and quite streetable Corvette. Of course you will need some intake work but there a number of options & prices here.
Decide where you want your power band and design the system to work well together.
BTW, with even a modified TPI intake you realy don't need gears, especially with an A4; you want to stay in that deep 1st gear as long as possible.
[Modified by 65Z01, 4:36 PM 5/23/2003]
Combine this with a good set of wires, like TPIS for stock look or MSD 8.5mm SuperCondurcors for minimum resistance and AC Delco cut-back spark plugs (gapped to .045") for a nice HP boost. This system will work well with your intended mods, even if you go with a SuperRam intake.
This ingnition along with ported #113 heads, a nice cam and free flowing exhaust will give you a very quick and quite streetable Corvette. Of course you will need some intake work but there a number of options & prices here.
Decide where you want your power band and design the system to work well together.
BTW, with even a modified TPI intake you realy don't need gears, especially with an A4; you want to stay in that deep 1st gear as long as possible.
[Modified by 65Z01, 4:36 PM 5/23/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 1
From: Winter Park Fl
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (65Z01)
I have a '91 with the 700r4. The stock 2.73:1 rear gears couldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's azz. I changed to 3.54:1 and it feels like I added 50 HP. Gears do make a BIG diffrence.
The multi-spark boxes smooth the idel also.
The multi-spark boxes smooth the idel also.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 21,094
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From: Phila., PA burbs
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (C44ever)
I have a '91 with the 700r4. The stock 2.73:1 rear gears couldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's azz.
BTW, I've recently swapped to 3.07s, but have yet to cut 60' times as low as I did with the 2.59s, although traction has been a problem since the swap.
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: ELLICOTT CITY MD
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (Jet Mech)
just installed one yesterday with a msd coil. i have not had the car out for long but i will let you know how it does soon. i am going on a 300 mile trip with the car this holiday weekend so we will see how it does. :cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 13,356
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From: tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (Jet Mech)
This is a worth while modification.....I would install it for sure.....just will make sure you get the best possible fire at the plugs that you need...never a bad idea......every little bit helps...it all adds up to more HP.....
Go for it......
With my blessings
just my thoughts
tony
:smash: :smash: :smash:
[Modified by oldace84, 8:49 PM 6/3/2003]
Go for it......
With my blessings
just my thoughts
tony
:smash: :smash: :smash:
[Modified by oldace84, 8:49 PM 6/3/2003]
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 27,818
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From: CT
MSD 6A worth the money?
I ran the stock ignition for the longest time. The shop that installed my DFI computer also put in a 6AL MSD box. I honestly don't think it's doing anything for the car.
$ave you dollars. :cheers:
$ave you dollars. :cheers:
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (Jay D 90 383)
Still have my distributer type ignition. Its an Hypertech dist, but it made no difference over the stock on.
The MSD made a HUGE difference on the Chevelle, but I doubt I would see anything on the vette.
If the ignition is in good shape, then you have plenty of spark. :cheers:
The MSD made a HUGE difference on the Chevelle, but I doubt I would see anything on the vette.
If the ignition is in good shape, then you have plenty of spark. :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 1
From: providence ut
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (ski_dwn_it)
What is the stock hei voltage? the msd 6al is only putting out 43,000 volts.......the hypertech coil puts out 53,000 volts for only $70.00......if you don't need a rev limiter the hypertech seems like the way to go. anybody know? :chevy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,099
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From: PITTSBURGH PA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Re: MSD 6A worth the money? (lead foot 85 vet)
the msd puts out multible spark down low over a wider band not like a stock gm ignition i have one on my car but i do noy recomend buying one either yet unless you was fouling out plugs from a overly rich mixture then it would benefeit you :cheers:
