MSD Ignition question...?

[Hazieview]

Hey guys I already have a GM HEI distributor and I'm really not sure what I need to upgrade.

I was looking at this kit since I already have an HEI and new spark plug wires.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-8500/


What do you think? Or should I just get a better HEI? Totally lost on this topic...

(this ignition is going on my sb400 which probably has 9:1 compression)

[3r!c84]

im going to watch this. cus i got a 400sbc im putting into my truck and it came with a msd hei distributor and msd box

[nbpro]

has new spark plug wires. its a kit
http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...yword=MSD+kits

[Patriot]

Subscribing

[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by nbpro

has new spark plug wires. its a kit
http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...yword=MSD+kits

I already have new wires and an old GM HEI distributor.

[iroc12valve]

i'm interested too because my 383 Iroc has msd and an intermittant no spark, i'm thinking of getting a buddies HEI to fix it cheap.

[piecesparts]

There is nothing wrong with the MSD upgrade. With the HEI, I believe that you have to commit to change out the module inside the dizzy, but after that you have a solid spark to burn unspent fuel and a better ignition system. The one thing that I found on my 91 DD was that the MSD coils are not that outstanding. I have wasted two of their coils (From China) and now I am running a GM coil and it is working just fine.

[nbpro]

I've also heard about those coils not being not that outstanding. Recommending the kit that I did just gets you everything of the same manufacturer. is all
As the gentleman above said, replacing the distributor parts inside will probably be fine. Doing the complete timing setup, carb, advance curve, etc.

[80SPORT]

Unless you have special hi speed/high load ignition requirements you will see little if any performance gains with the MSD...

A new GM HEI is one of the most reliable ignitions available;when we ran MSD on race boats we always had a complete backup system wired in becase of the high failure rate.

[piecesparts]

With the cost of fuel these days, anything that will create a full burn of what you put through your carburetor of EFI system is a gain in this day and age. I run a MSD 6 AL on my basically stock 350 in my 91 Silverado. I get 20 MPG daily with an engine that has well over 290,000 miles on it. I can say that the HP increase was not greatly improved, but the reliability and the general every day performance is nothing to argue with. Good acceleration, smooth driving, and easy starts.

I have a 385 stroker in my show truck and I am not running a MSD setup on it, but I have considered it more than once. I have a HEI setup from the Carburetor shop init and it has stood up well over the years.

[sierra4x4]

I added a MSD 6a ignition to a stock 427 that I had in my truck and I couldn't believe the increase of low end torque and it started way better. I would recomend a MSD box to anyone even if you run a stock engine.