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MSD Box
My question to all of you is do I need an MSD box? My driving will be limited almost exclusively to street. I would imagine that a good coil would be all I would need. Also, do I really need a rev limiter for street use? (after all I never miss a shift:3DSMILE: )
Your thoughts and insight are appreciated. Thanks in advance, Mike |
It is one of the better places you can spend $150 The motor will run better and the rev limiter is nice.
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Mike,
Best advice I can give is to see how the engine runs with what you have and take it from there. It's not like you have to change a clutch or heads. Roscoe |
You don't really NEED it but it's just cheap insurance against that shift you never miss;). Also with a better spark you get a cleaner, better running engine.
h dog |
Chaplin.....I never missed a shift either, still blew an engine. Now I'm set at 5,800 on the MSD with SoftTouch.
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MSD Soft Touch (6AL) - you won't foul plugs and it makes the motor run much better - plus the rev limiter is a very nice feature. If you go with a BB mostly on the street the rev limiter may be overlooked, but I know with my stroker it is an absolute MUST for those of us whose cars spend 90% of their time on the track. I'd have blown the sucker long ago w/out it...
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Buy it! Install it & put in the secret switch to cut power to the coil for theft protection. It's in the manual!
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Even if you never miss a shift, if you lose rear wheel traction unexpectedly while accellerating, the rev limiter will do it's job before you have the time to react.
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If You drive it like your Honda Don't spend the $$$$ if you drive it like a COBRA spend the $$$:D
Ken |
Mike:
You don't need it. On the other hand, I wish I had one in my engine compartment. They look good in there. Bob |
Do you need it? Depends on what you're using now, and how well it's working. A slightly tweaked OEM ignition should work fine with 9.5:1 CR mostly stock engine.
That being said. Do you need it? Maybe, maybe not. Will it help you? Yes. Depending on how out-of-spec your OEM system is will determine how much the MSD will help. The MSD capacitive discharge, multiple spark will get the maximum effectiveness out of your ignition system; MSD is no longer the only game in town. Crane, Accel, Jacobs, Holley, and others offer competitive, high performance ignition systems. The Ford OEM distributor is another matter. Off the assembly line for stock applications, they get the job done, and work for decades with no maintenance. But since ignition timing plays such an important role in power output, and in-service reliability, a more durable, and more tuneable distributor is desirable for a Ford engine. MSD to the rescue. The MSD distributor is a piece of artistry and work. For a Ford, it's a Delco (Chevy) distributor on a Ford stalk. But it works, and it's tuneable, wheras the Ford (and OEM Delco) isn't. Worth the investment (yes). Should outlast the engine? Several engines. |
Do you? In a word.. NO.. However I went with the billet dist. and the MSD 6AL.. It was the best $500 (bought them locally in case they didn't work) I have spent on my car..
It starts easier, idles more forcefully (don't ask me what that means.. it just WANTS to run) and it will never need a set of points again.. If I only had $500 to upgrade a "stock" motor this would be the place I would spend it.. Jacobs, MSD, Mallory whatever.. they all work.. |
The rev limiter is wonderful, even for a car that will be only driven on the street. I cannot tell you how many times I would have exceeded the redline if it weren't for the 6AL. These little cars gain their revs very quickly, much more quickly than you imagine because they will spin the tires before you can react. I found the MSD box to be a very good investment. By the way, mine is in the trunk, not under the hood.
Wayne |
Thanks guys for all the responses. I am sold, I went ahead and ordered it. At this point, what's another couple hundred bucks**) **) **) :JEKYLHYDE
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Chaplain,
You will be saying that over and over again.:LOL: Steve D***ey |
Steve-
If I had a dollar for every time I've said that so far, I'd have a Kirkham and a half paid for by now:rolleyes: . Let's just say that I am significantly over my initial budget:JEKYLHYDE !! |
Budget? We don't need no stinkin' budgets!
Rick.................. |
One suggestion:
If you can mount it under the dash rather than in the engine bay--do it. The only thing that seems to kill an MSD box is heat. I cooked two in my GT-350 before noticing that all the serious Mustang vintage racers had theirs on the floor of the passenger compartment. After the move, no problems. In my Unique, the box is upside down in the top of the passenger footwell, and readily accessible if need be. |
I don't even think about the cost anymore.. I do appreciate that it starts evert time I hit the key..
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