Would an MSD or similar help with power on my motor

[blueroo]

My 170 gets the job done for the most part. It can run with traffic, it's mostly economical (25mpg city/18 mpg highway with the 3 speed) and it's moderately quick.

It runs 13s...to 60. And it um, kinda got beat by a minivan.

There's a lot of things I would like to do to increase the performance but I don't have the time or money. I'm considering modifiying a Duraspark to use in place of the stock distributor/Ignitor combo, but I'm not quite there yet.

I'd also absolutely love to go to fuel injection using triple Tempo/Topaz CFI throttle bodies and Megasquirt, but I can't do that yet either.




So about an MSD, Second Strike, etc? Would that add enough power to notice it in the seat of the pants, or would said money be put to better use somewhere else to increase power without tearing into the motor?

 

[66 Fastback]

I have an MSD on a few cars. It helps the idle and keeps from fouling the plugs. Seat of the pants I could tell a difference in a car that I installed it in. But that car has dual carbs and runs rich and was fouling plugs. So anything to stop the misfires should yield more power. I don't foul plugs like I used to, but the MSD can be harder on the caps and rotors.

It sound's like your car is tuned and running well. I doubt it would be much improvement. A 2 bbl carb might give you a bit more bang for the buck.
Doug

 

[blueroo]

The problem with the 2V carb is hood clearance...due to my car being a Fairlane I can fit a straight Monte Carlo Bar in and it will clear the fuel line and air cleaner (which I believe Falcons and Stangs cannot do) BUT strangely I don't have enough hood clearance for a taller carb than the 1100 (which I believe Falcons and Stangs do have enough room)

I really want the Classic Inlines dual out header, but again, funds do not allow so I've contemplated making my own but I have no clue how to start and I only have access to 110 and 240 volt MIG welders

 

[Platinum_Racing]

I put the MSD Blaster II ignition coil on my truck. After the coil, a new cap and rotor, a set of Autolite Platinum plugs, and some new wires I noticed a great difference in throttle response. The engine also runs smoother with less misfires, and smokes less. The best part about a new MSD ignition coil is it only costs about $45 and takes about 20 minutes to install. All you need as a 3/8" drive ratchet, a 9/16" socket, a 5/16" nut driver and possibly a 3/8"drive extension.

 

[jamyers]

I think it really depends on the condition of your engine, and it's state of tune to begin with.

On a well-tuned stock engine an MSD box will help, but I don't think it'd make enough difference for you to outrun that minivan (i hear ya, bro).

Now, if you've got a high-mileage engine that likes to foul plugs, it'll keep the plugs cleaner and working a LOT longer.

All in all, I like MSD ignitions, and you can get them off ebay for $60-80 pretty easily.

 

[addo]

I'm sure the MSD boxes have been "cracked"and schematics are on the web. Could be cheaper to build a copy!

 

[XPC66]

My experience with the ubeaut spark setups, is they are a lot of money for little if any gain on stock engines.

This is not to be confused with swapping the points type with the hall effect or reluctor type, with inbuilt variable dwell. Apart from much better starting, there is usually noticeably better pull, cleaner plugs and none of that pesky maintenance. I keep a small bucket of reluctors, pickups, TI coils and ignitors from the Denso dizzys, which I retrofit into the points dizzys when building up an engine.

For the 170, I'd investigate whether you can retrofit the points with the guts of the Toyota 5ME dizzy and hook it up to the remote ignitor. I'll have a look at my 170 dizzy on the weekend as see if it is plausible.

 

[blueroo]

I'd rather not swap Toyota guts, or any Toyota parts into my car. I'll swap Mopar parts, GM parts, Honda parts, Subie parts, parts from anything EXCEPT Toyota parts into my car. I have had nothing but bad experiences with my mom's Camry, but that's off subject

 

[XPC66]

Bias because of the Camry aside, the 5ME is a nice engine, however it's not the engine I'm suggesting you investigate, but the Nippon Denso dizzy bits.