Ignition Upgrade

[6SENSE]

Anyone tried anything to upgrade ignition?
I noticed MSD makes a part specifically for our cars (DIS4 w/Buick adapter). I also spoke to a couple places that sell MSD and they said that quite a few of their items will work for our cars (including the MSD 6A box).
I had Tested my ign. coil/mod. recently with Casper's simulator tool and found out that I am getting weak spark between the center poles (I can really see it in the cars performance). While I am replacing whichever part it is I need to replace I figured I'd look into what I could do to upgrade as well. Any ideas are much appreciated!

 

[Nocooler]

Why the stock ignition is good for 10's if not 9's.

 

[6SENSE]

Okay, point taken Nocooler. Thanks for smacking me upside my head and reminding me.
With that said, I have a couple of extra ign. modules sitting around but I dont remember if they are from 84/85 or 86/87. I know that the coil packs are different, but are the modules?

 

[Dr. D]

Ignition

I think the stock ignition is great once the engine has cranked over and is running. But my '85 GN, my brothers ''84 & '87 T Types all are difficult to start.
They will usually start up at the third or fourth try, but rarely on the first try and never like my supercharged Pontiac Grand Priz, which is instantaneous every time.

What's different? And can the new system or parts of it be used on our Classics?

 

[Darkside]

I would consider a MSD upgrade, I hear of a lot of people on this board constantly replacing ignition modules and coils. Granted these cars are getting 13 plus years old, I just think companys like Accel and MSD make a fine product, for example, I have an Accel Supercoil on a work vehicle of I put on in '95 and I am still getting 25 miles to the gallon on the hwy. ( fully loaded 3/4 ton van and equipment 305 V-8 with emission controls). I wish we had a little more info on an MSD upgrade?

 

[6SENSE]

Okay, see I knew it was worth thinking about.
I know performance wise alot of people have accomplished alot with the stock ign. but that does not mean there isnt room for improvement, especially concerning overall driveability (which will lead to performance).
My brothers and I have had 7 Ttypes over the years, and have 4 now. Every one of them started up like a carburated vehicle with a misadjusted choke. I never have exactly understood why. This car is the first fuel inj. vehicle I have owned and the first powered with anything smaller than an 8cyl. I expected a little better gas mileage & smoother idle. Dont get me wrong, I love these cars and believe that they are 2nd to none, but sometimes I feel that if I wanted a loping, gas drinking hotrod, I could of just put a big cam in a .350. That is not want I want, Ive already been there & done that, I want a badass-underdog of a Turbo 6 (performing at its full potential) knocking cars like that out the box!
Just figured that this was the time to check out the options, this isnt the first time Ive had to swap out ignition parts, and it does get tiring after awhile (Im part of that statistic of people replacing coils & modules).Just looking for anyone out there that has any tips or experiences that my apply here.
P.S. after plenty of fuel delivery upgrades, head porting etc.(let alone the fact that weve got boost pressure trying to bog down the spark too) when do you start thinking about ignition upgrades ?

 

[cool 84]

My dad's stage II runs the stock ignition and besides the obvious power output it spins a lot more rpm. The stock ignition is all you will ever need. If the car is hard to start and the stock ignition is up to spec, it's not the ignition. My car starts up almost instantly everytime. I would look elsewhere like the chip.

Also the FWD Buick motor referred to is knows as a quick start. It doesn't use a cam sensor but instead just a crank sensor with an uneven space to to start the sequence. The most that motor ever has to turn over to start the sequence is one revolution where ours might have to turn over 2 times, depending on where the cam sensor stopped.

 

[TType84]

3 or 4 attempts?? what?

Something is wrong with your car.

My car used to start instantly. Now, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt. Things on my car arent adjusted as well as they should be.. I know that though so I dont complain.

Loping? Bad gas mileage? you do have a non stock cam in there dont you?

Ive heard of IC'ed cars getting 30mpg driving to the GS nats and back...

For some reason, hotairs dont seem to get as good gas mileage(ive heard), but 15-16mpg city is what I get, to me that is VERY respectable considering I randomly go WOT just to [1. scare people on the sidewalk 2. scare people who cut me off 3. try to get a race (never works) or 4. just to feel that 1-2 (35-45mph) KICK in the pants] about 15 times a day...

If you really want to deal with ignition.. run through this lil checklist I just made up

1. make sure your alternator is in good working condition, putting out enough voltage without a volt booster, and is the right amperage or more (91, 94, or 97 is stock for reference).

2. Get some NGK plugs, the um, like UR4 or something, I dont
know the part number but it cross refs with the CR43TS's so check with your auto parts store. just FYI, i run CR42TS's, for what its worth. oh yea, get them gapped right.

3. Get some MSD or Nology plug wires. Yea theyre expensive as hell, but guess what.. they are the BEST. Magnecore SUCKS, sorry if anyone bought some of those.. everyone Ive asked whos actually checked the resistance on those wires say they are some of the worst aftermarket wires you can buy. If you have doubt, use one of those MSD plug wire displays.. its not false advertising, I promise! Jacobs do pretty good too I think.

4. make sure youve got good clean connections between the coil and the module (the GASKET is essential), at the module, and the cam and crank sensor connectors too. Might as well make sure they are set right (AND NOT 180* OUT).

5. umm lemme think anything else.. dabs of dielectric grease should keep all connections clean, tight, and non corroded.. make sure all of your cars grounds have been cleaned (or relocated) just to keep the electrical problems to a minimum...

if anyone else has any other tips.. post em up.

 

[WFO]

i witnessed one big plus of the msd dis-4 at vegas this weekend.

jason cramer is running it with a trans brake(stage-right).apparently there is a multi-stage rev limiter built in,like a "stutter box" on a dragster/comp car.jason has this set up on a microswitch for when his shifter is in first(transbrake on).

so it goes like this:

1:burn out and stage,both beams.

2ull shifter into first,activating brake and rev limiter.

3:floor gas pedal.the engine will rev to the limiter.bang the shifter to release the brake,it deactivates the rev limiter and you're off to the races.i'm not sure if he was running an electronic boost controller,or whether the rpm controller keeps the boost where you want it.

either way,he was within .001 in his 60' times in the time slips he showed me.amazingly consistant,and simple at the line.

later,sean