Any advantage to installing an MSD inition box #6AL in a 292 with 270s cam, 3x2s, headers. petronix ignition? I dont race it or anything like that. I have no idea. Just been told it will be better with it. Your 2 cents please.  Thanks

55Birdman  Hickory NC

I think that the petronix will give all the ignition power that you need for street use, unless you just have $700 that you don't know what to do with. The MSD looks kool, but I don't think it would be worth it in my opinion, with that said I have a complete MSD setup that I plan to use on the race car.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

If you use one of their Flamethrower coils and gap your plugs up to .045 to .060, you'll get a noticeably better low end and idle. You don't need the 6AL for the street, the 6A will work fine and is less expensive. I have a 6AL on the red '57, never loads up, even with cold plugs on the street. Also they're pretty bulletproof and plug mainteance drops way off. By the way, Crane make a version of the same thing for less money. Both are available with built in rev limiters in case you miss a shift. Not that you ever would but........

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

I never miss a shift. I got a automatic. LOL

55Birdman  Hickory NC

I think the MSD ingition a pretty good item and I have one triggered by the Pertronix unit. As Frank says it really fires under all running conditions and also helps start when flooded. You need to have really good quality wires and the large distributor cap is said to be helpful although I don't have that. 

It has one other fun feature,  occasionally it will set off the alarm of an adjacent car when you start yours.  It seems to affect 'vettes most and always makes me laugh!!

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

I am asking about the control box only. Not a distributor and all the rest. I was told just the box was a good thing to do. Just trying to find out. I was told unless I was racing the MSD dizzy was wasting money. what box do you have? BTW I am switching from 3x2s to a Blue thunder  intake and a 390 CFM carb.

55Birdman  Hickory NC

Earl, I don't have the distributor, just the box and the coil. I run an original Ford distributor with a Dura spark setup.

  The main feature of an MSD or a Crane is that at lower RPM's, below 3000 or so. it fires the plug 6-8 times per cycle. This reduces misfires and helps low end torque. Do you have to have it, no. But if you put one on, you won't ever want to take it off. Again, look at a 6a or the Crane unit, they are less expensive than the more common 6AL, which has vibration proofing for race cars. 

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Summit has their own brand. Any knowledge with theirs? Should I stick with known product?

55Birdman  Hickory NC

I juess that I should put my glasses on before I try to answer a post, I misread your question and though you were asking about replacing the dist with a MSD unit. My bad!

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Thats cool.  Your answer sounded as if you were talking about the diz. Wanted to be sure. I do not want the msd dizzy for sure. I am just ignorant when it comes to the msd ignition boxes. Thanks

Frank do you have a part # for the coil?

55Birdman  Hickory NC