I read through every article here that search for "MSD dyno" could bring up and I can't find any real numbers. I have also searched the web to no avail. Does anyone have any real numbers as to the hp gain on a FA using an MSD6 or so system? Also, any numbers on mileage would be helpful. I am just curious. It seems to be a huge debate but there isn't any real numbers to sway either way.

 

I put in a direct fire msd on my totally stock 12a and ran it for about a year. I couldn't really tell any power difference (seat of the pants) or drivability difference. I wasn't having any problems before I installed it though. It did soak so much power from the electrical system that the headlight motors wouldn't go up even though the headlights would come on. I had to upgrade from the 55amp alternator to the 70a to fix it. It's supposed to keep the spark plugs cleaner but I haven't really checked that.

 

There is no quantifable evidence that a MSD system will increase maximum power.

It can in theory improve fulf burning and decrease pollution. According to qualitive evidence its more reliable in heavy load situations, but this is not noticeable during normal street operation.

It makes the engine bay look better.

 

its not the power it gives you it is how much more you can advance the ignition without detonateing...

 

MSD's only do what they were intended to do which is provide better spark - which should in turn:
1) improve idle
2) better start up
3) improved driveablilty (smooooth)
4) reduce unburned fuel (pollution), increase gas milage
5) improve plug wear

HP gains? Non that I've seen, felt, imagined, or otherwise

 

Actually, the MSD provides a higher current, more reliable spark. Nothing else.

The combustion cycle has a large degree of variability, cycle to cycle. The air flow behavior varies, the AFR varies, the local concentration of atomized fuel varies, the pressure within the chamber varies, and the arc across the spark plug gap varies, sometimes there isn't even enough current to create a spark at all.

All of these factors and more contribute to cycle misfires. It happens quite often. The charge from the MSD, being more consistant and higher current than the stock disributor, improves the chances for the spark to ignite the mixture in the combustion chamber. The reduction of misfires is what improves idle and reduces unburned fuel. But only noticeably in a car that had a poorly working system before. For the same reasons though, there would be a power improvement in that case.

Replacing a good working stock distributor system with an MSD (as I did) won't help much with power, fuel ecomomy or drivability. Combustion, once sparked, is totally related to the AF mixture and the amount of time it takes the mixture to burn. The spark plug starts the reaction, but can't help past that.

One area where the MSD will help anyone is with spark plug self cleaning. The hotter spark helps to self clean the spark plug as it does a better job of keeping the carbon from cooling and collecting on the plug.

 

Higher Current = Higher Voltage = Spark able to jump further

Higher Amperage = Higher Amperage = Hotter spark...


Which one is it?


Jeff

 

The MSD won't do anything to help prevent detonation. This is a function of the air/fuel ratio and the amount of time it takes to burn. In a higher pressure environment, the mixture wants to burn faster, if the pressure builds up in the chamber and the chamber isn't in the right part of the cycle to expand and release it, metal parts will give out.

 

Amps are a unit of current. Amperage doesn't exist.