some Q's about msd 6a's
 

I have noticed that a few people have the msd 6a ignition and I was looking into getting one myself. Well, today I went to my local parts store and saw one on display on the wall and I asked him if they were vehicle specific and how hard is it to install on my car. He had absolutely no clue (where are all of the knowlegable rotorites???) so I posponed from buying it today.... If I did buy it, I was going to get matching plug wires as well and new plugs. So what's the deal with these???

1) ARE they vehicle specific or universal?? If it is what model do I need? (the 6a, 6aL, etc.)

2)is there any noticeable power gains with this setup? Is it worth the money???

3)Is it hard to install? I consider myself to be FAIRLY mechanically enclined (I installed my reman. engine myself.....)

4) do I need anything extra besides this setup (ignition) to get the ignition up and running?

Oh, by the way my car is a 86 gx and these are my mods;

pacesetter header
no cats
RP catback
electric fan
K&N cone

I have 16,000 KMS (kilometers not miles) on my mazda remanufactured engine and just recently got them to do a compresstion test. it read 120 psi +- 2psi on each apex seal on the front and rear rotors so I know my engine is in good shape for mods..... I NEED MORE MODS!!!

thanks, Rob

I got both the MSD 6A and the Super Conductor wires. Its a universal ignition box and is real easy to install. Performance gains?...smoother revvs with no misfires, but besides that I don't think my car got any faster!

Heres my experienece:

1.Get the MSD 6A. The 6AL has a rev limiter that is useless unless you get 3 of them. One for the leading coil, and one each for the trailing.

2. You may or may not notice any power gain on the "ass dyno".
- I did notice a crisper throttle response, especially under 3k
RPM.
- My fuel economy did improve by almost 1 MPG. That alone will
pay for the MSD over time.
- My idle was steady before installation so I can't say it
improved it.
- I have not needed to turn the key twice to start the car since
the installation. It seems to cure the known flood problem.
Even after sitting for a month, it fired right up!

3. EASY AS HELL TO INSTALL. One wire to the + battery terminal, One to the - terminal. Unhook the 2 wires with ring erminal ends, at the top of the leading coil and cut off the ends. Butt connect the ends to two wires(instructions will tell you which wires in all cases). Put ring terminal ends on the other two wires and attach to coil. Viola!

4.NO

My opinion is that for $130, it was worth every penny.

Mike

Right now I have a Jacobs box on my leading coil.
I'm thinking of buying 2 MSD's for my trailing coils.
Anybody tried 3 ignition boxes?

People who run 3 boxes usually run 2 on the leading and 1 on the trailing.

1 box leading, 2 units for trailing... The leadings coils fire at the same time.. the trailing coils do not...

I had always heard 2 leading 1 trailing, but I may be wrong because I've never actually done it.

what is the advantage of running a 3 box system, could someone explain the difference betweem coils and ignition boxes?

I bought an MSD 6A- Well, I noticed a slightly smoother midrange (2000-4000) or so, no power difference, and my Idle actually got a tad rougher!!! (But I have ported engine, so my idle sucks anyways)

I noticed much more difference with the MSD8.5mm wires. Not so much in power, but MUCH smoother- I would definatly recommend the wires, but I wouldn't consider the box a priority unless you were running 50lbs of boost on a 12:1 compression engine:)
It looks cool under the hood though!