What are the gains from MSD igniton?
07-30-02, 01:13 AM
#1
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What are the gains from MSD igniton?
So I got my exhaust, next will be the Yaw carb, after that id imagine electric fan, but is the igniton worth it?- most of the results ive herd werent so impressive-anyway what are your experiences and any thing else you guys would recommend?-thanks
07-30-02, 03:47 PM
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I upgraded my whole ignition recently to the MSD 6A, Jacobs wires, 3 new MSD High Vibration coils, NGK B9EV's, new Mazda cap and rotor.
I was not impressed. I saw no difference. I have not yet tested it in cold weather though.
I was not impressed. I saw no difference. I have not yet tested it in cold weather though.
07-30-02, 10:06 PM
#7
For the dollar, I don't think you could spend your money any better. I noticed a power increase but the most noticable result was the smooth climb through the RPM's, longer lasting plugs, better gas milage, and a rock solid idle. I happen to have 2 MSD's right now and one's for sale - I fryed one a few months ago and sent it in for warrenty replacement. Took them forever to get it back to me so I bought another one - that should be testiment enough that they are a great upgrade to your ignition - I couldn't wait to pull that ignitor set up and get back to the MSD. If anyones interested, I have a 6AL for $150 canadian ($100 US) - new rebuild with completely new guts and all the accessories (+ receipt from factory and strickers too!!!). Sorry for using your thread for a want ad but the topic came up and I had to exploit - PM if interested.
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07-31-02, 02:35 PM
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EliteHardcoreCannuckSquad
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Don't waste your money unless you've got it to burn... if you've got a rough idle, hard starting or what not, replace your sparkplugs, cap and rotor, and set your timing. There ya go... nice smooth idle, good power, without a couple hundred down the drain.
Oh, and the electric fan is not worth it either (at least in terms of any power gain), unless you get something for cheap.
Here's the route for power on a 12A: exhaust, better carb, porting. The other little (but expensive for what you get) stuff is nice, but don't worry about it until you have the real mods done.
After the exhaust and carb, assuming you don't want to build your engine, I'd waaaayyy rather sink my money into suspension mods and wheels/tires, if I were in your position. Those mods *will* make a noticeable difference on the road.
Oh, and the electric fan is not worth it either (at least in terms of any power gain), unless you get something for cheap.
Here's the route for power on a 12A: exhaust, better carb, porting. The other little (but expensive for what you get) stuff is nice, but don't worry about it until you have the real mods done.
After the exhaust and carb, assuming you don't want to build your engine, I'd waaaayyy rather sink my money into suspension mods and wheels/tires, if I were in your position. Those mods *will* make a noticeable difference on the road.
07-31-02, 03:16 PM
#10
Old [Sch|F]ool
Originally posted by SilverRocket
Don't waste your money unless you've got it to burn... if you've got a rough idle, hard starting or what not, replace your sparkplugs, cap and rotor, and set your timing. There ya go... nice smooth idle, good power, without a couple hundred down the drain.
Don't waste your money unless you've got it to burn... if you've got a rough idle, hard starting or what not, replace your sparkplugs, cap and rotor, and set your timing. There ya go... nice smooth idle, good power, without a couple hundred down the drain.
I was replacing plugs every 2500 miles, cap and rotor and wires every 5000-7500 or so, timing was always dead-on... sure it would run acceptably when warmed up but in the winter it was a total bitch.
07-31-02, 03:26 PM
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Hey, I'm sure it was bad in the winter, I won't argue with your experience. I believe it. Personally though, I drive my car in the summer/fall/spring only. I guess I automatically assume this when people ask questions... in my mind, it's a crime to drive a nice RX-7 in the winter
Anyways, that's where I'm coming from - I and others I know have no problems with the stock ignition and I can't imagine why you'd want any better than what it provides when in proper condition (for the mildly modded cars we're talking about anyways).
For a guy looking for power and summer driving, I still say there are better places to look before MSD and e-fan.
However, I'm sure that if what you're looking for is easy winter starting (which is so far from what I'm looking to do with my car I don't even remotely think about it when talking about this stuff), I have no doubt the MSD may be a nice piece.
Anyways, that's where I'm coming from - I and others I know have no problems with the stock ignition and I can't imagine why you'd want any better than what it provides when in proper condition (for the mildly modded cars we're talking about anyways).
For a guy looking for power and summer driving, I still say there are better places to look before MSD and e-fan.
However, I'm sure that if what you're looking for is easy winter starting (which is so far from what I'm looking to do with my car I don't even remotely think about it when talking about this stuff), I have no doubt the MSD may be a nice piece.
Last edited by SilverRocket; 07-31-02 at 03:29 PM.
07-31-02, 03:57 PM
#12
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If you cant start in cold weather and your timing and plugs are fine, look into your carb and choke not ignition. I dont get it. If you car idles rough, something is probably wrong with your idle circuit in the first place. Replacing the ignition system sounds like a bandaid fix to me. I've always ran the stock ignition and never had any problems starting, accelerating, redlining, idleing... even with power way beyond stock.
07-31-02, 05:21 PM
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On the other hand, peejay's taken a gutted stock 12A with his mods into the 14's and everybody else hasn't..........
RXcetera and I are running those times. Both with stock ignition
07-31-02, 05:34 PM
#17
Super Newbie
Originally posted by mar3
I know he's mentioned 14's with a goal of 13's before WT was dead. Or was it V8kilr? One of those guys, but I'm thinking it was peejay...
I know he's mentioned 14's with a goal of 13's before WT was dead. Or was it V8kilr? One of those guys, but I'm thinking it was peejay...
07-31-02, 06:02 PM
#18
Old [Sch|F]ool
LOL
Besides, this was when the car was DEAD STOCK... I put the MSD on a couple months before i did the engine swap.
The carb was adjusted right - in warm weather it would have a 3000-3500rpm idle with the choke pulled all the way out.
As for winter driving... I *love* the way the ol' SA handled the snow. It was 95% as good as my 4wd Subaru was. Dead-nuts predictable when sliding the roads at 70-75mph (I was taught to learn to slide, instead of bothering to find traction ) and I never once got it stuck.
Besides, this was when the car was DEAD STOCK... I put the MSD on a couple months before i did the engine swap.
The carb was adjusted right - in warm weather it would have a 3000-3500rpm idle with the choke pulled all the way out.
As for winter driving... I *love* the way the ol' SA handled the snow. It was 95% as good as my 4wd Subaru was. Dead-nuts predictable when sliding the roads at 70-75mph (I was taught to learn to slide, instead of bothering to find traction
) and I never once got it stuck.
07-31-02, 06:03 PM
#19
Old [Sch|F]ool
Originally posted by mar3
On the other hand, peejay's taken a gutted stock 12A with his mods into the 14's and everybody else hasn't..........
On the other hand, peejay's taken a gutted stock 12A with his mods into the 14's and everybody else hasn't..........
It wasn't gutted, it wasn't stock (except for the carb), and I didn't get into the 14's.
07-31-02, 06:21 PM
#21
Old [Sch|F]ool
Sure, no doubt you could... the ignition isn't for ultimate power, the ignition is for driveability! If you don't care about driveability then don't bother.
07-31-02, 07:48 PM
#22
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If you don't care about driveability then don't bother.
Define what you consider driveability. I can't think of anything lacking with the way my car runs right now (RB Dellorto, RB exhaust) It idles nice and smooth, starts easily, and does just about everything I want it to. I just don't see why I would want to improve on something that is already just fine.
07-31-02, 07:49 PM
#23
I don't know guys - sounds like different results from different people. I can tell you this... I fryed my MSD this summer and went back to the ignitor (with the performance coils and wires) and the car ran like **** compared to the MSD. It was so disappointed, I went out and dropped another $300+ Canadian to get another one rather than wait for the blown one to return from the factory. I just couldn't wait - I was so spoiled by the MSD, I couldn't drive with a stock set up. I'll say it again, best bang for the buck (and I run RB header/Exhaust, Koni's and Tokico shocks/springs, upgraded wheels and expensive rubber. The MSD was peanuts compared to these mod's.
07-31-02, 08:26 PM
#25
Old [Sch|F]ool
No low-RPM hiccups or bogs especially when cold.
The ability to start the engine in the dead of winter and go back inside while the engine warms up, or brush the snow off the car while the engine warms up, without having to sit in the car and keep blipping the throttle to keep the plugs from fouling.
(Don't give me any BS about "the best way to warm an engine up is to start driving it right away" - impossible to drive with a cold engine because the lack of defroster heat means you can't see out the windshield until the engine warms up anyway)
Plus, and this is not insignificant - the engine becomes MUCH more tolerant of worn plugs. I could leave the plugs in for 7500 miles or more without degraded performance, because the ignition'd just power through the crap. It's nice not having to order new plugs every month...
The ability to start the engine in the dead of winter and go back inside while the engine warms up, or brush the snow off the car while the engine warms up, without having to sit in the car and keep blipping the throttle to keep the plugs from fouling.
(Don't give me any BS about "the best way to warm an engine up is to start driving it right away" - impossible to drive with a cold engine because the lack of defroster heat means you can't see out the windshield until the engine warms up anyway)
Plus, and this is not insignificant - the engine becomes MUCH more tolerant of worn plugs. I could leave the plugs in for 7500 miles or more without degraded performance, because the ignition'd just power through the crap. It's nice not having to order new plugs every month...