at what point is an ignition box needed?
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: Catlettsburg, Ky
at what point is an ignition box needed? ok, so far I've done pretty much every bolt-on I can think of, minus a set of underdrive pulleys:
gasket matched heads, 503, pro-mags, 918's, LT's, ORY, Cut-out, EWP, CAI, TB, elbow, 30lb/hr injectors, LT4 KM, 8.5mm MSD wires, Blaster 2 coil, custom tune, etc etc etc... you get the point!
my car traps 114mph, coincidentally, a 6spd, with 4.10's, and some short 25.x" tires means I'm turning right at 6500rpm, the limiter is set at 6800.
from the time I cross the beams for the 1/4mile mph, till the end of the track, it seems to start breaking up a little... I know we're talking 60ft here, but still, that's bound to hurt the mph and possibly the time just a hair.
is it time to go for an aftermarket CDI box? if so, what is the best bang for the buck? I would imagine a digital unit would be light-years ahead of an old analog (msd 6a or 6al unit), but if an analog box could be had for cheap, would it be worth putting on?
gasket matched heads, 503, pro-mags, 918's, LT's, ORY, Cut-out, EWP, CAI, TB, elbow, 30lb/hr injectors, LT4 KM, 8.5mm MSD wires, Blaster 2 coil, custom tune, etc etc etc... you get the point!
my car traps 114mph, coincidentally, a 6spd, with 4.10's, and some short 25.x" tires means I'm turning right at 6500rpm, the limiter is set at 6800.
from the time I cross the beams for the 1/4mile mph, till the end of the track, it seems to start breaking up a little... I know we're talking 60ft here, but still, that's bound to hurt the mph and possibly the time just a hair.
is it time to go for an aftermarket CDI box? if so, what is the best bang for the buck? I would imagine a digital unit would be light-years ahead of an old analog (msd 6a or 6al unit), but if an analog box could be had for cheap, would it be worth putting on?
Well, I had an MSD 6al when I had my LT1 trans am, I installed it with the idea of creating a better and more efficient burn, resulting in better response and it did actually made it feel that way.
When I was at 375 RWHP I had nitrous so I had an igniton box. Did back to back runs on the dyno, one run with it plugged in, 1 run with it unplugged and I didn't gain or lose 1 hp...
I think the ignitions boxes are great for nitrous and retarding timing, but dont really see much gain vs stock. I took mine off a while back and noticed no difference.
I believe that the only thing that helps an lt-1 ignition system is upgrading the plug wires. I had an accel 300+ digital ignition box and the only thing I think it did was shorten the life of the opti-spark. Your opti is probably starting to fail at those rpm's, the only cure I know of is the Dynaspark or maybe the msd opti. They have better bearings in the rotor for high rpm events. I know the dynaspark is good over 7000 rpm, it's been proven, but it costs 615.00. A brand new gm unit will only last 3-5yrs if your spinning it much over 6500. Maybe even less if you race it frequently.
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Launching!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 245
Likes: 1
From: Clover, South Carolina
Ignition box is very helpful at giving you more control. Used with nitrous applications, it becomes very handy.
They can also be handy in high horsepower applications. They can sometimes allow you to run a larger plug gap. Of course this is dependant on the plug wires and plugs themselves as well. If you have ALOT of velocity coming in from the intake port in the head to the combustion chamber, then a box can help out....sometimes.
They can also be handy in high horsepower applications. They can sometimes allow you to run a larger plug gap. Of course this is dependant on the plug wires and plugs themselves as well. If you have ALOT of velocity coming in from the intake port in the head to the combustion chamber, then a box can help out....sometimes.
I didn't notice any power gain with my 6AL, I got it purly for the peace of mind of a reliable and easily adjustable rev limiter. Plus the addition of a 2 step makes launches fun (if you could get traction)!
Thread Starter
12 Second Club
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 0
From: Catlettsburg, Ky
the opti on the car is about 4 months old and is a BRAND NEW GM unit- cap and button included.
it's only slightly apparent in the top of 3rd (1/8th mile) and the top of 4th (1/4 mile) that it does this.
I was thinking the ignition just wasn't giving the coil a strong enough power source, to jump the gap of the plug under those conditions (high RPM). I am running a set of TR5's (not 55's) gapped at .045" I believe.
could the plug and the gap have something to do with it by chance?
it's only slightly apparent in the top of 3rd (1/8th mile) and the top of 4th (1/4 mile) that it does this.
I was thinking the ignition just wasn't giving the coil a strong enough power source, to jump the gap of the plug under those conditions (high RPM). I am running a set of TR5's (not 55's) gapped at .045" I believe.
could the plug and the gap have something to do with it by chance?
