How much HP will a MSD 6AL box support

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How much HP will a MSD 6AL box support.
January 9 2006 at 2:42 PM
No score for this post Keith (Login woopow)
from IP address 129.230.241.5

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How much HP do you guys think a MSD 6AL box will support? I called MSD and they said the only rating they had for the box was based on compression ratio. I just stepped up to a 300 hp setting on the fogger and I'm wondering if I'm leaving any HP on the table due to the 6AL box. According to them, I really wouldn't notice that the box was not putting out enough spark. But if I changed the box I would see a HP gain. This is on a 521 BBF with about 11:1 compression. To me if you spray enough Nitrous and fuel into the cylinder you are basically increasing the cylinder pressure just like compression ratio does. But at what point is too much?

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Author Reply

Danny
(Login danthefordman)
24.59.209.79 Re: How much HP will a MSD 6AL box support.
No score for this post January 9 2006, 3:07 PM

I was running a 6AL box on my turbo BBF making about 1200 HP at 15#'s boost, switched to a 7AL2 and did not notice any difference. The thing that made the most difference was the plug gap. I was running in the upper 30's and had to close to mid 20's to stop breaking down at the higher boost levels.

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Jason Pierce
(Login jpierce55)
172.163.64.34 Re: How much HP will a MSD 6AL box support.
No score for this post January 9 2006, 4:13 PM

I don't buy into big differences from ignition modules. I know a guy with a 750hp supercharged 347 and using nitrous. He used a Crane HI-6 and stepped up to an 8 and seen no difference. Considering his build you would think something would be seen if anybody did.

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Byron
(Login ByronRACE)
64.81.64.127 Misfiring?
No score for this post January 9 2006, 5:51 PM

If you are not currently misfiring, no ignition box improvements are necessary, nor would they improve power at WOT.



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Rob
(Login 67stang1)
216.203.18.200 Re: How much HP will a MSD 6AL box support.
No score for this post January 9 2006, 6:28 PM

Running gas the 6AL should do the job, you would only really need to step up if you were running insane comp ratios. The bigger boxes are only needed for super high boost, when using alky for fuel or both. When I switched from a 8-71 to a 12-71 I had to change the ignition from the 7AL2 to the 10 Plus

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Propane Steve
(Login 71f150)
201.1.162.14 Ignition and HP levels
No score for this post January 9 2006, 8:55 PM

I'll keep it short:

The module says when to fire.
The coil/capacitor(s) say how much is being fired.
Voltage ionizes the plug gap.
Ionization in the gap allows the current to conduct across the gap, giving a spark.
The energy imparted by the spark and the local ionization causes the combustion process to begin.

For two CDI modules that put out identical voltages to the plug - you will notice no difference unless one module fires multiple times. Even then the difference wont be much.

The smaller the gap - the less voltage is required to cross it.
The more compression, air and fuel, the more voltage is required to cross the gap.

A higher rating coil will give you a hotter spark - that is, a spark that is 'hot' across a normal gap and 'normal' across a larger gap. Too much spark eats plugs. (Ever seen electronic erosion?)

In a purely combustion sense (ie port flow, comp and air fuel ratios etc. aside), how well the energy is imparted into the air fuel mix is what dictates HP output.

I hope this helps some.

Cheers,
Propane Steve

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GERRY
(Login pudster1)
152.163.101.9 msd digital 7
No score for this post January 9 2006, 9:05 PM

only way to go baby

IF YOU DONT LIKE MY OPINION DONT ASK

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Keith
(Login woopow)
129.230.241.5 Thanks for the input.
No score for this post January 10 2006, 1:49 PM

I think for now I'll just close the gap a little. The plugs I've been running come gapped at about 25 thousands. I've been opening them up to .035. I'll just leave them at .025. I haven't felt/or hear it miss yet at a 250 hp level. I'll probably end up with a Digital 7 box, just can't let lose of that much money for a potential no gain in HP or ET. Still struggling with the "driving it on the street" a little thing. Soon to be a high 8 second footbraked street legal car. Street, as in to the car shows and back.

Thanks again.

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Jason Pierce
(Login jpierce55)
172.171.164.20 Re: Thanks for the input.
No score for this post January 10 2006, 4:46 PM

I like my Crane HI-6 you should consider it.

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