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Cleaning out my garage today I found a box (maybe from the previous owner, he left a lot of stuff) with an MSD 6A 6200 ignition box, 2 MSD Blaster 2 Coils, and some other part. There was a receipt in the box from 2004 so the whole thing is probably 14 years old. It doesn't look corroded or anything.
Is this something I can use with my truck (390 FE all stock other than the headers). How would I go about testing it to see if it is still any good?
Looks like a speedo cable there. You might have a speed shop that could test the unit for you. It's a good thing if it works, helps with starting, low speed cold start, emmisions etc in addition to high performance
Are you planning to drag race your full size pickup truck?
Do you think you will spend a lot of time past 6000 RPM?
If the answer is no, don't bother. There is nothing to be gained, and you will lose reliability.
M - My S - Spark D - DIED!
That's interesting, I though MSD boxes did most of their work under 3000 rpm, but I really know nothing about them. I wouldn't have considered putting it in other than it's free.
Looks like a speedo cable there. You might have a speed shop that could test the unit for you. It's a good thing if it works, helps with starting, low speed cold start, emmisions etc in addition to high performance
Thanks. I'll see if I can find a speed shop, hadn't considered that.
Is your current ignition points or electronic? You will see improved points life with an ignition box added in. You may or may not see any improvement over a duraspark ignition. The MSD (multiple spark discharge) part of a MSD box may help smooth out a rough idle and may prolong spark plug life. The capacitive discharge will provide a hotter spark but that may not make a difference in a low compression engine.
Also there are Chinese ripoffs out there. Info on MSD site. There are some cautions about them.
Completely disconnect them before any welding.
Do not use a booster/charger to start the engine, Charge battery first and disconnect.
Use a heavy dedicated wire for the power.
That's interesting, I though MSD boxes did most of their work under 3000 rpm, but I really know nothing about them. I wouldn't have considered putting it in other than it's free.
They normally perform best at 0rpm while you are swapping back to a duraspark module on the side of the freeway at 2am with a crescent wrench and a leatherman.
No disrepect but the Ford Duraspark has a really bad rep for failing.
That is true *only* if you are using one of those cheap aftermarket ignition modules or if you try to use a "hotter" aftermarket coil. There are still many vehicles on the road using the stock DuraSpark ignition system. A genuine MOTORCRAFT ignition module costs twice as much, but it is twice as good.
Ford used the DuraSpark ignition for almost FIFTEEN years, right up until the early 1990s on some vehicles. Even AMC used it for about 10 years. They wouldn't have used it that long if it had a "bad rep for failing."
Fair enough, allthough we see a lot of post about them here.
Sure, but you have to put it in perspective.
These vehicles are at least FORTY YEARS OLD now, and almost all have well over 150K miles on them by now. And being full size trucks, most of them were worked hard and left outside in the elements. How much more reliable can you get than that? Nothing lasts forever. It is highly unlikely that a MSD or any other aftermarket ignition system will be as reliable and last as long as a stock Motorcraft DuraSpark ignition.
These vehicles are at least FORTY YEARS OLD now, and almost all have well over 150K miles on them by now. And being full size trucks, most of them were worked hard and left outside in the elements. How much more reliable can you get than that? Nothing lasts forever. It is highly unlikely that a MSD or any other aftermarket ignition system will be as reliable and last as long as a stock Motorcraft DuraSpark ignition.
QFT. For the longest time I was under the impression aftermarket parts were simply better because the original one broke at some point. Fortunately I took a deep breath, firmly pulled my head out of my **** and realized that the original part had lasted however many thousands of miles and that these things tend to happen (not throwing shade at anyone just felt sort of silly once I figured it out).
Another thing to consider when you're coming to an enthusiast forum is the concentration of information, good or bad.
ONe thing to consider. the Duraspark technology is 4 decades old. They were optimised for emmissions. I think we all know what a debacle 70s emmission controls were. Due to less efficiency they problable caused more fuel consumption and polution instead of less. Multiple spark technology is very good and burning all the fuel and having cleaner emmisions.
I think it depends on your use. Originallity or performance. I've had very good use from MSD products, but again my engine is anything but stock.
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