Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

To MSD or not to MSD?

Old Feb 14, 2005 | 01:57 PM
  #1  
Gen IV's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Default To MSD or not to MSD?

Been looking at installing an MSD ignition but I've read a lot of mixed reviews. Some great, some terrible. MOst of the bad ones said they became faulty after about a year or so. Looking at a lower end module, money's tight. Anyone had any good/bad experiences? I have a 99 T/A LS1, headers, exhaust, K&N, muffler, lowered. Preciate it.
Reply
Old Feb 14, 2005 | 02:30 PM
  #2  
moyam01's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Default

The LS1/LS6 coils aren't even out yet. I called and they said that they should be avaliable in March. I asked about the ignition box they said that they will make to go with it, and they said that they don't have a date. So you'll have ta wait till someone actually gets their hands on these things before before they can actually tell you.
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2005 | 04:15 PM
  #3  
WILWAXU's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,378
Likes: 1
From: League City, TX
Default

We have cars making 1000+ hp with the stock coils
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2005 | 04:25 PM
  #4  
dogger's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Myerstown, PA
Default

I just have one question y? msd puts out 45k volt's as per what they advertise from msd. stock ls1 coil set up put's out 50k to 55k.
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2005 | 04:40 PM
  #5  
Taco's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 724
Likes: 0
From: Athens, Alabama
Default

From what I understand the MSD coils are supposed to spark Multiple times (hence the name, MSD=Multiple Spark Discharge) thus cleaning up any unburned fuel left in the combustion chamber, per cycle of the engine.

Not saying they're better, worse or indifferent, just stating that might be why some would want them.

Taco
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2005 | 06:36 PM
  #6  
equandt's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
From: Wish-consin
Default

I had a 6A unit on a SBC car I used to use on the street. The 6A unit worked great when it was on. It would every now and then go dead...and then later it would magically start working again...it may have been a heat thing but it was mounted on the fire wall away from all heat sources.

NACAR runs two units with a switch on their cars because of the reliability problems.

Unless your making big, serious HP above 7000+ rpm, I wouldn't use it.
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2005 | 07:08 PM
  #7  
D Rock's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, NC
Default

Their may be gas milage increases to come from a multiple spark discharge system, I know that is usually the case on older cars.
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2005 | 07:11 PM
  #8  
slow's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,150
Likes: 7
From: Orlando
Default

money's tight = no MSD

stock ignition is great on these cars.

Ryan
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 18, 2005 | 08:37 AM
  #9  
peteZ's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
From: SW MI
Default

The only time you might need to upgrade your ignition is for lots of N20, boost, or insane compression ratios. Spend the $$ on other mods.
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:18 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE