Quality ignition parts

[Tim_K]

I need some suggestions on what ignition parts would make a good hot spark to fire a 195 psi cranking pressure racing engine (slant 6) up to about 5800 rpm. I'd like to stay with stock style parts to keep emergency interchangability intact, but will consider MSD boxes, etc. What do you suggest for coils, wires, and control boxes? Let me know if any special coils need some special ballast resistor or anything.

[6 packin]

I would go MSD 6AL for sure! I have run them for years! And it makes it real hard to foul a plug too!

[cuda66273]

Another choice would be the Crane Hi-6 unit...

[Doug Wilson]

Another would be Mallory.

Another would be MOPAR Performance.

[6pakman]

[dave571]

Some guys love msd, others don't

I personally have had bad luck, when trying to use it on newer stuff(doesn't apply here) Subsequently, for customer service reasons(with msd) I have sworn to never recommend it to a customer, or install it again.

Like you said, if you keep to stock set up, emergency caps ect, are easy to get.

A high output coil, and some good wires should do it with mp stuff.

As for the balast resistor, there should be instructions with the coil, when you buy it, as to the resistance of the primary circuit it requires.

[Tim_K]

Once, several years ago, I tried putting one of those big Accel yellow coils on my Valiant, which had a /6 and points ignition. Didn't notice much performance difference, but it melted out a set of points after several days. All 4 of those little rivets pulled through the plastic.

Now I have a modified /6 with electronic ignition. I'm thinking of using the MSD 45,000 volt coil that is compatible with stock non-MSD ignitions, and good spiral core wires (which types are best for high output?), along with some new spark plugs, even though these only have about 18,000 miles on them.

I once ran a set of Splitfires over 80,000 miles. They were pretty well rounded off, but they worked.

Would it be a good idea to run a new MP wiring harness from the ECU to the rest of the ignition? I've heard that factory type wires get higher resistance in them as they get older. The harness I have now is old.

If auto parts store books recommend a certain heat range plug for a stock engine, should I go one range hotter or colder for a moderately built engine (50-70% hp increase over stock)?

[Doug Wilson]

Heat ranges - it depends on what the engine is doing. Usually, hotter plugs are used on older engines that are burning oil.. the higher heat range keeps the plugs from fouling. Colder plugs are used when you are detonating/knocking, and can't make it go away using any other method - like a less aggressive spark curve, pulling out total spark lead or richining your primaries. If the engine is running fine, use factory recommended plugs, or whatever ones you like. Recently, I've been using Bosch Platinums - 4 electrode on the 280ZX and one electrode on the CJ-7 Jeep.

I'm interested in any other thoughts on this subject??