Ignition Box
08-02-2006, 02:20 PM
#1
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,306
Ignition Box
Is it worth it with this list of mods to get an ignition box? If yes, why, and if no, why not.
I'm just kicking doing an ignition box or an elctric fan next.
Vortech 5 psi SC, 30 lb. inj. TF Street upper/lower, BBk headers, 3 inch exhaust with Borla mufflers, 73 MM MAF, 70MM TB, Fluidyne aluminum radiator, 355 gears, pulleys, MSD blaster coil and a bunch of other stuff.
I'm just kicking doing an ignition box or an elctric fan next.
Vortech 5 psi SC, 30 lb. inj. TF Street upper/lower, BBk headers, 3 inch exhaust with Borla mufflers, 73 MM MAF, 70MM TB, Fluidyne aluminum radiator, 355 gears, pulleys, MSD blaster coil and a bunch of other stuff.
08-02-2006, 03:30 PM
#3
5th Gear Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Central New York
Posts: 3,850
RE: Ignition Box
Got this from LoneStarMustangs, good info and yes i say ignition box, because your aluminum radiator cools car good and stock fan setup doesn't rob that much power, so here ya go. Good Luck
There are numerous ignition sytems available that say they give you "X" horsepower gain, or do this or that for your engine. In most cases the ignition unit will benefit your engine, but is it needed? To decide if adding an upgraded ignition system to your vehicle is going to be worthwhile you need to ask yourself a few simple questions:
1) Am I trying to get maximum spark energy, engine efficiency, lowered emissions, and power output from my engine?
2) Am I modifying the engine (cams, head porting, exhaust system, larger carbs/injectors, compression, or any other assortment of aftermarket performance parts) so that cylinder pressures will be increased?
3) Am I adding a serious power adder (Nitrous, Supercharger, Turbocharger, etc)?
4) Am I planning on racing the vehicle?
5) Am I increasing the RPM range of the engine?
If you answered YES to even one of the questions above you could consider the addition of one of the available ignition systems on the market. If you answered YES to 2 or more of the above questions, you'd better install a quality ignition amplifier (Mallory Hyfire, Holley Annihilator, Crane Hi-6, MSD, etc).
There is going to be B.S, from many ignition manufacturers, and the facts surrounding what an ignition unit can really do.
Some Facts:
1) A small power increase and strides in efficiency will be seen in most cases. (Note that if you are racing, not having a good ignition system can cause serious power loss and engine damage if the air/fuel mixture is not ignited properly. Without the correct or adequate coil the ignition system cannot do its job properly.
2) Analog ignition systems are slow and not as good as digital units
3) Opening up your plug gaps just because you have added an amplifier CAN SLOW YOU DOWN and cost your horsepower.
4) Not all ignition units are the same (Inductive amplifier and Capacitive Discharge amplifier, not to mention brands)
5) If it takes 10k volts to fire your spark plug, that is what you will get. Just because you have a bazillion volt system does not mean the box will give that to your plugs and combustion process. Don't believe that just because the ignition has the highest "millijoule" rating that it is the best.
Using the wrong coil can have serious implications (coils overheat, boil over, and catch the vehicle on fire because the coil could not handle what the box was telling it to do).
6) Not all ignition triggers are equal (breaker point, magnetic, magnetic breakerless, hall effect, photo optic, etc). Each can affect the efficiency of your ignition unit.
Some Hype:
A) "Guaranteed horsepower claims"
B) "Our amplifiers will help ALL vehicles"
C) "It will work with any coil" (this usually means that their unit does "squat"). Remember, the coil is the workhorse and the box is managing the coil.
D) "You can now increase the spark gap for better performance". This usually means again that their box does "squat". If you "have to" open the gaps up to get spark energy, the box is not supplying what they claim. Increasing plug gaps should be decided on an individual engine basis, not by the box.
The lowest plug wire resistance is not always the best either. A coil has to build energy (resistance) and then release it. This resistance is a combined part of the coil, plug wires, plugs, etc. The more efficient units can operate with slightly higher plug wire resistances to eliminate outside interferences. Weaker units require extremely low resistance plug wires and ignition coils, virtually just blowing the spark through the coil and wires to get to the plugs.
E) "All these controls will help you achieve more performance". Many of the available "gadget boxes" are just that. If you have a real need for timing controls, high speed retards, etc, then get a box that uses these features. Just because the box has these controls does not mean you will get more performance. Computer programmable ignitions (where you hook your laptop or PC to the ignition) are for dyno rooms. Once you have a setting that works for your specific engine, it probably never needs to be tweaked again. You can play with those settings for months and never get a single HP gain from them.
Choose the brand and type's that you believe will best benefit your need's, not what your buddy's need's might have been.
There are numerous ignition sytems available that say they give you "X" horsepower gain, or do this or that for your engine. In most cases the ignition unit will benefit your engine, but is it needed? To decide if adding an upgraded ignition system to your vehicle is going to be worthwhile you need to ask yourself a few simple questions:
1) Am I trying to get maximum spark energy, engine efficiency, lowered emissions, and power output from my engine?
2) Am I modifying the engine (cams, head porting, exhaust system, larger carbs/injectors, compression, or any other assortment of aftermarket performance parts) so that cylinder pressures will be increased?
3) Am I adding a serious power adder (Nitrous, Supercharger, Turbocharger, etc)?
4) Am I planning on racing the vehicle?
5) Am I increasing the RPM range of the engine?
If you answered YES to even one of the questions above you could consider the addition of one of the available ignition systems on the market. If you answered YES to 2 or more of the above questions, you'd better install a quality ignition amplifier (Mallory Hyfire, Holley Annihilator, Crane Hi-6, MSD, etc).
There is going to be B.S, from many ignition manufacturers, and the facts surrounding what an ignition unit can really do.
Some Facts:
1) A small power increase and strides in efficiency will be seen in most cases. (Note that if you are racing, not having a good ignition system can cause serious power loss and engine damage if the air/fuel mixture is not ignited properly. Without the correct or adequate coil the ignition system cannot do its job properly.
2) Analog ignition systems are slow and not as good as digital units
3) Opening up your plug gaps just because you have added an amplifier CAN SLOW YOU DOWN and cost your horsepower.
4) Not all ignition units are the same (Inductive amplifier and Capacitive Discharge amplifier, not to mention brands)
5) If it takes 10k volts to fire your spark plug, that is what you will get. Just because you have a bazillion volt system does not mean the box will give that to your plugs and combustion process. Don't believe that just because the ignition has the highest "millijoule" rating that it is the best.
Using the wrong coil can have serious implications (coils overheat, boil over, and catch the vehicle on fire because the coil could not handle what the box was telling it to do).
6) Not all ignition triggers are equal (breaker point, magnetic, magnetic breakerless, hall effect, photo optic, etc). Each can affect the efficiency of your ignition unit.
Some Hype:
A) "Guaranteed horsepower claims"
B) "Our amplifiers will help ALL vehicles"
C) "It will work with any coil" (this usually means that their unit does "squat"). Remember, the coil is the workhorse and the box is managing the coil.
D) "You can now increase the spark gap for better performance". This usually means again that their box does "squat". If you "have to" open the gaps up to get spark energy, the box is not supplying what they claim. Increasing plug gaps should be decided on an individual engine basis, not by the box.
The lowest plug wire resistance is not always the best either. A coil has to build energy (resistance) and then release it. This resistance is a combined part of the coil, plug wires, plugs, etc. The more efficient units can operate with slightly higher plug wire resistances to eliminate outside interferences. Weaker units require extremely low resistance plug wires and ignition coils, virtually just blowing the spark through the coil and wires to get to the plugs.
E) "All these controls will help you achieve more performance". Many of the available "gadget boxes" are just that. If you have a real need for timing controls, high speed retards, etc, then get a box that uses these features. Just because the box has these controls does not mean you will get more performance. Computer programmable ignitions (where you hook your laptop or PC to the ignition) are for dyno rooms. Once you have a setting that works for your specific engine, it probably never needs to be tweaked again. You can play with those settings for months and never get a single HP gain from them.
Choose the brand and type's that you believe will best benefit your need's, not what your buddy's need's might have been.
08-02-2006, 03:43 PM
#5
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: KY
Posts: 13,396
RE: Ignition Box
for ur set up i would. i get like a msd 6al box with the rev limiter and a msd coil if u haven't already. hotter spark and with the limiter if u miss a gear u won't blow ur motor up the box will cut the spark out
08-02-2006, 03:54 PM
#6
4th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 1,306
RE: Ignition Box
I really appreciate the input and choosing the right, if any, ignition system upgrade has more variables in it than I ever would have thought. I've heard a lot of good things about the MSD 6AL box, and wandered if this sounds like a good consideration.
Sounds like the ignition box is the front runnewr and I do have a MSD blaster TFI coil.
Sounds like the ignition box is the front runnewr and I do have a MSD blaster TFI coil.