Ignition Upgrades

[BlackMetal]

Looking for some advice regarding ignition upgrades.

I posted a thread a few days ago talking about how I seemingly had an engine miss when I was getting into high boost the last few weeks. Took the car to work with me today, took 3 different techs I work with on 3 seperate rides since they liked the car, romped on it every time, and of course, couldn't get the problem to happen while someone was with me.

Anyways, I know a while back I had the chance to hook it up to an old Lab Scope, and the ignition patterns looked pretty crappy even back then, and now with this engine miss problem, I thinking I could use a few igniton upgrades.

Mainly looking for opinions on MSD DIS-4 and Accel's Turbo Buick upgraded coil pack. The MSD boxes are pretty expensive, would it not be worth it on a mild street car? The Accel coils advertise 10% more energy over OE coils, and being only 80 bucks, I could really care less about spending that much.

Also is there any place I could have the ignition module tested to see if I should change that out too?

 

[RUQWKNF27]

Oreily's Auto Part's if you have one can test that ignition module.

 

[TURBOV6]

Mainly looking for opinions on MSD DIS-4 and Accel's Turbo Buick upgraded coil pack.

I got the same set up but think it's not worth the money. MSD says you can't run the HO version on the street because it gets too hot.

I only use the box for the multiple spark discharge and the 2 step. You can also adjust timming.

Read this Why do you need an MSD?

 

[Mad_Trbo]

Stock iginition

I know I was having a missing problem beyond 5000 rpm adn I chased my tail for months. Went down the same road you are traveling now and was about to put some serious coin on an MSD unit. What I ended up doing was changing the plugs, turned out one must have been dropped and cracked the inner electrode. I also adjusted my gap and I have run the motor through to 6500 RPM no problem.

Additionally I've had numerous conversations with others who state the stock system is good into the 9's. So I just wanted to provide my input on this.

Just out of curiousity when you looked at the scope and saw what you saw. Was your issue in the dwell section or in the spark / firing section. That scope should help you pin point exactly where the problem is and once that is resolved you should have no problems.

 

[GNVYUS 1]

You never stated how old your coil and module were but I swapped both on mine around 70k and noticed at difference on the high end for sure.

As far as the Accel coil pack, if they say it's 10% hotter then they must know how strong the stocker is. I would trust their claim if they had energy figures on both items.

You will want to store the MSD ignition in your cabin, heat kills those things big time.

 

[TurboBuRick]

Soon the fullthrottle guys are going to have a way to run a distributor with the Tpro. The rest is history.

 

[Nick Micale]

........ What I ended up doing was changing the plugs, turned out one must have been dropped and cracked the inner electrode. ......

If it was an AC Delco plug, seen this on a few cars, and the plugs were not dropped. Another reason I stay away from the AC's.

 

[TurboBuRick]

If it was an AC Delco plug, seen this on a few cars, and the plugs were not dropped. Another reason I stay away from the AC's.

I have heard this too. But I know alot of people that run AC's and swear by them. I prefer autolite. What do you run?
I always ohm out the plug and check for resistance.
Also, can I get the round gaskets for ATR headers from you? Are they pretty thick? The flanges have quit the gap.

Rick :biggrin: