Guest jjohart Posted November 30, 2003 Share Posted November 30, 2003 Hi, last time I was at my mechanics' shop, he was pushing using MSD ignition and coil, saying I'd get quicker off line performance and torque. I am from the old school that this will make about as much difference as throwing two matches simultaneously into the same can of gas! Any reason to recast my rote learning? I assume it would take a whole range of other changes for aftermarket ignitions to make any real difference! John-83 280ZXT stock ignition and efi, I/C and 3" exhaust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil1934 Posted November 30, 2003 Share Posted November 30, 2003 MSD is single spark after 3000 RPM anyways, so only advantage would be more spark at idle to keep from loading up plugs, but if you are not running rich, that's not a problem. I have swapped several points to Pertronix and that's good, but beyond that I don't think the cost is justified. I'm doing a blown engine now and converitng to a Mopar ign. box for $32 instead of a couple hundred for MSD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted December 1, 2003 Share Posted December 1, 2003 I dont believe the MSD helps any with how fast your car is. What it DOES help with, in my personal experience, is to make the car easier to start, especially when cold, have a smoother idle, cleans up if not eliminating any problems with misfire, and lessens the effect of running too rich, which some cars will do if set up for speed no matter what you do. If you're running a turbo it also helps with more consistent spark under the vastly increased pressure in the cylinders under boost at high revs. My MSD made a big difference in these things when installed on my turbo motor, unfortunately it died recently I am very eager to get another one installed soon, the improvements I experienced are worth the meager price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 Um.. Phil: whats this about a Mopar ign. box? Would this work on my stock 280z? I have a 'dual point' distributor, and its got some issues. I was thinking of converting to a fully electronic (MSD or similar) but it's a lot of $$$. Is this a 'pull something out of a scrap yard Crysler)' or are you doing a Mopar engine?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 datsun lover - easiest cheapest alternative I could recommend to you to get rid of your points is to get an electronic dizzy out of an '81-83 ZX. They aren't too expensive, can be found in abundance used, and dont need to be 'figured out' to work. Well they sorta do, I forget exactly how you have to wire the module... it was easy though and I'm sure 10,000 guys here could tell you how to do it in a heartbeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil1934 Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 My project is a 470 Mercruiser, 224 CID. I put a Mopar reluctor and pickup in the distributor. I have to agree that if Datsun has an electronic distributor, get it. i was just saying I think the only difference between racing boxes and late model hi energy ignitions is advertising. You always hear an HEI won't pull past 5000 or so, but you never hear anyone who personally had the problem. While I have burnt out a couple Mopar boxes and a couple Ford boxes, it seems MSD has the same record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 yep my MSD lasted about 3 years and went out... if it weren't for the fact that it really did greatly improve the way my car runs (mind you my car doesn't run 100% perfect.. kinda rich and misfires a lot) I would pass on getting another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted December 2, 2003 Share Posted December 2, 2003 If you buy a ZX distributor, it will usually have a module already on it. I know a couple of people running earlier 75-78 EI dizzys with Chrysler module, and that works too. I'm sure you could hook up the ZX dizzy with a Chrysler module, but why bother when the Nissan one works fine? If the stock module goes bad then consider switching to something else, because the Nissan unit is $$$ to buy new from Nissan. I've gotten 3 or 4 from JY's and never had a bad one so that is an alternative too. I got 30 mpg on a long road trip with SU's and MSD on a 2.8 with cam and exhaust. Also I've found that it will completely hide rich idle conditions, if you check by reading the plugs. I think they're worth the $$$, FWIW. I think Bastaad basically has it right on MSD. I originally bought my 6AL for the rev limiter, but learned to love its functionality. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsunlover Posted December 3, 2003 Share Posted December 3, 2003 Ok.. well, as for finding a 280zx Dizzy in my area, .1% chance. And getting one shipped to me would get expensive (I would think) I will post a wanted add in the buy/sell forum and see what happens. As for the Mopar swap, I just like the sounds of that because I have some friends in local scrap yards and it would be very cheep. (Chryslers are just scrap weight to these guys) Does anyone have a 'parts required list' or instructions to tell me how to do this swap? The other thing is, a good friend of mine who helps me with my car all the time is a HUGE Mopar guy and he'd love this. Just so he could say "Heh.. See; you need chrysler parts to make a Datsun run right! " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted December 3, 2003 Share Posted December 3, 2003 you can usually find used ZX dizzies from individuals who will more or less guarantee you it's in good working order, for about $75. They're not TOO big... I wouldn't expect more than $15 to ship. If you hold out you can probably nab one for $50 or less... someone here might cut you a deal on one. on MSD... first one was just a 6A... I can't wait to get a new one, getting the 6AL this time... gonna be much happier knowing I got a safety margin with a rev limiter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.