tim burks

im in the final stages of ordering parts for my 6.0, and wanted some info on keeping the coil packs vs going distributor. reason im on the fence is:
1. my coil packs are shot, ill have to buy all 8 new
2. ill have to buy a new laptop to tweak the timing

so whats yalls opinion

fast89stang

iTrader: (2)

I like the option of being able to pull timing anywhere I want. I guess you can with distributor set up you can too, but a lot more costly.

ATwelveSec02Z28

iTrader: (17)

What are your plans for the end result?....

Street driver, and a little track? Track Only? etc etc.

Going to a distributor has a bunch of advantages, but its costly, and if theyre not needed the 6LS is a better choice.

tim burks

street with some strip, from what ive got on paper, I can keep the coil packs use a 6ls, wiring harness, and a new laptop thanks to the kids and ill be 1500 or so in it with all new parts. or distributor and have roughly the same amount tied up give or take a few.
Ive sen where to run the distributor you have to have a stewart brand water pump, but also was told you can use a factory water pump and use spacers to get everything lined up, that true?

ATwelveSec02Z28

iTrader: (17)

I would stick to a 6LS.

With a distributor you can run spacers for the water pump but have to fab up the belt drive for the water pump and alternator.

It is a fair chunk more money when you add up the front cover a distributor and a programable ignition box and coil. A dampener that fits and pulley system etc. it snowballs fast.

Distributors are great if you have the need to use the functions in ignitions like a power grid. This will be more for strip only cars that need the tuning capability

tim burks

Thanks for helping me decide, gonna just go with a 6ls box

dogsballs

distributor been great for me as a strip car. zero issues with timing and spark, very simple, set and forget. by the time i sold the manifold and injectors, coils, it wasn't that much more.

ZONES89RS

iTrader: (25)

One of the many things I love about my LS engines is the fact I don't mess with no damn distributor anymore.

speedtigger

iTrader: (16)

X2. I have been thrilled with my 6010.

1981TA

iTrader: (7)

here's another vote for "no distributor." Coils packs at the bone yard should be fairly cheap and common, I think. My cars spends a lot of time between 3K and 6K rpm on plain Jane truck coil packs.

UOP

I'm planning on running the Summit ET series next year and found out the 6LS box isn't on the NHRA approved product list. I've sent an email to the div4 office but haven't heard anything back. It would suck to go through the expense of becoming an NHRA member only to find out I can't compete.

That said, I'm loving my 6LS (6012) box. Way better than messing with a distributor.

stang_kllr

iTrader: (6)

i like the 6010 but I don't like that I cant pull the amount of timing that I really want to. im running 2 kits, equaling a 350 shot. I want to be able to pull more than 15* of timing. im going with a distributer, or im also looking into the GRID.

stang_kllr

iTrader: (6)

On another note, im curious about the 6010 being approved for nhra. please post up when you find out.

UOP

Still no word, but it's not looking good. I haven't been able to find any information on the web that says I will be able to compete with my 6012 box, and if I must swap to a distributor I'm screwed because I have no room for one.

Btw, this is the NHRA Approved Product list I've been talking about. It's current as of 11/4/14, even though the ignition box section hasn't been updated since 2012.

http://www.nhra.com/userfiles/file/NHRAAcceptedProducts.pdf

UOP

On a side note, I found something interesting while searching the web. It seems that MSD isn't the only game in town anymore. Daytona Sensors has released a box to compete with the 6010/6012 called the Smartspark LS (p# 119001). They're calling it an upgrade to the 6LS and it looks to be able to do anything the MSD box can do and more (like individual cylinder tuning).

Also, stang_kllr, this box has 3 programmable inputs for retard (each with 20 degree max retard). I wonder if they could be stacked to give the retard you need on each stage. Might be worth looking into.

Link
http://www.daytona-sensors.com/SmartSpark.html

Instructions
http://www.daytona-sensors.com/download/SmartSpark_LS_Instructions.pdf

TTur1996

Not positive about the 6010 but the 6012 you can do individual cylinder timing.

70styleVega

Another alternative to the MSD 6010/6012 is the MegaJolt Lite Jr DIY Standalone EDIS-based ignition.
http://www.autosportlabs.net/MegaJol..._Users_Welcome!

The original Megajolt was developed in parallel with Megasquirt about 20 years ago. Because it is Ford EDIS-based, it must be triggered by a OEM crank wheel and sensor. The EDIS can fire GM 2.2L dual coil packs (wasted spark mode), in addition to Ford coils.

The MegaJolt Lite Jr, like MegaSquirt, has to be user programmed and seems very capable. It can be adapted to 4, 6 or 8 cylinder engines. It is compatible with carb(s) or EFI. It can also be customized for nitrous, turbochargers or superchargers. I am personally considering this for my 6.0L street Vega. It also has a base price under $200 and the supporting parts are readily available online, and in auto parts stores and salvage yards.

speedtigger

iTrader: (16)

Damn, that Smartspark looks very promising. Price is good and it has data logging.

Pop N Wood

iTrader: (1)

If I am reading their website correctly at over $500 for the Smartspark box + harness + USB interface it is considerably more expensive than the MSD box.

Still less than the FAST controller at over $600

3pedals

iTrader: (3)

yes at over $500 for all the stuff included with the MSD, its pricy. I am looking at a Megasquirt efi box to control my next carbed LS