After my first fillup with the new MSD 6a installed, I have to say I'm pretty pleased. Driveability definitely has improved and it feels like it has more power - the latter could be wishful thinking, though :-). Since it's gotten pretty hot down here in Houston, I've had the A/C on all the time during this tankful. My gasmileage has stayed the same as for the last tank without A/C, though (15.5mpg, mixed driving). I've never checked for how much gas consumption my A/C is responsible, but I guess you can account 1-3 mpg to the MSD6a if it fully compensates the A/C.
My next inspection is due soon, so then I can let you know how much better the combustion has become.
So far it's two thumbs up.
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1988 F-150, V8, 5.0L (302ci), 5spd, SuperCab. Shorty headers, K&N filter, MSD 6a ignition, Accell 300 8.8mm race wires, Accell supercoil, Accell rotor+cap, Bosch +4 Platinum plugs, RanchHand bumper. Soon: Dual exhaust.
http://brembs.net/cars/FordPU.html

 

bjoern - thanks for the post, ive been looking for this kind of info for awhile now. im interested in a capacitive discharge system but wanted to know for sure that theyre all theyre cracked up to be. does it start faster and run smoother also? make sure to keep us posted on the gas milage. im interested to see the results. thanks

 

I didn't notice any change in idle or startup. But I had the Accell equipment and the Bosch plugs pretty new, so I guess there wasn't much to improve on. The only thing that might have improved slightly is idle with a warm engine, when the computer leans out the mixture. I noticed it was running a little rough then before, but haven't noticed it recently. I'll post my next few fillups to this thread to let y'all know how things are developing.
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1988 F-150, V8, 5.0L (302ci), 5spd, SuperCab. Shorty headers, K&N filter, MSD 6a ignition, Accell 300 8.8mm race wires, Accell supercoil, Accell rotor+cap, Bosch +4 Platinum plugs, RanchHand bumper. Soon: Dual exhaust.
http://brembs.net/cars/FordPU.html

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 30-Apr-01 AT 12:23 PM (EST)[/font][p]The second fillup was even better than the one before: 16mpg with A/C - that's a record from the 13mpg I was getting without A/C in November.

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1988 F-150, V8, 5.0L (302ci), 5spd, SuperCab. Shorty headers, K&N filter, MSD 6a ignition, Accell 300 8.8mm race wires, Accell supercoil, Accell rotor+cap, Bosch +4 Platinum plugs, RanchHand bumper. Soon: Dual exhaust.
http://brembs.net/cars/FordPU.html

 

wow, thats really good...have you been driving the same as you used to? as we all know your right foot has more to do with efficiency than most modifications do. if you havnt changed your driving style, thats quite impressive, i think im gonna have to order mine up in the next few weeks here

 

That is impressive. I have a MSD 6a on my 93 F-150 302. I do believe it was the best mod I have done so far. I think I noticed 2mpg on the highway with the wires blaster coil.

 

I might need one for my truck

 

I fixed some other stuff since November as well that helped the gasmileage (see website): sparkplugs, rotor+cap, coil, wires, fixed vacuum leak. The actual mpg increase was from 15.5 without A/C to 16.0 with A/C. If the dual exhaust that I'm planning to install gives me another mpg with A/C, my mods have yielded ~5mpg altogether.

79supercab4x4: yes, I always shift gears very early with only very gentle acceleration (=baby) :-)

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1988 F-150, V8, 5.0L (302ci), 5spd, SuperCab. Shorty headers, K&N filter, MSD 6a ignition, Accell 300 8.8mm race wires, Accell supercoil, Accell rotor+cap, Bosch +4 Platinum plugs, RanchHand bumper. Soon: Dual exhaust.
http://brembs.net/cars/FordPU.html

 

I recently changed the fuel filter and am now up to 17.5mpg with A/C.

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1988 F-150, V8, 5.0L (302ci), 5spd, SuperCab. Shorty headers, K&N filter, MSD 6a ignition, Accel 300 8.8mm race wires, Accel supercoil, Accel rotor+cap, Bosch +4 Platinum plugs, RanchHand bumper. Soon: Dual exhaust.
http://brembs.net/cars/FordPU.html

 

Ok, now I know I am going to have to do some of that kind of work to my truck. I replaced the fuel filter about 6 months ago. So that part I have done at least. Now where's that summit catalog, I've got to look for some parts.


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
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1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

Hello, all, I'm about to take the MSD plunge. It looks like blaster coil, 6a, and wires are on order, but how about plugs? I've seen that some folks are running Bosch Platinum +4's, which I currently have, but these ignition systems usually call for gap adjustments. I'm not keen on preplacing those expensive plugs, and it seems like people are getting good results with the Bosch units. Any ideas on what's best would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

Also, which wires are best? Where are the best deals for all this stuff?

Mtn. Scott
1989 F250 351w
4X4--Looking for more power/mpg!

 

I'm running Bosch Plat 4's in mine with the MSD6A and Blaster Coil, but...after I've been towing for a while I get a little miss when I pull from a dead stop. I've been reading elsewhere that the MSDs and Jacobs ignitions do not recommend the platinum plugs because the plug is designed to hold heat to burn quicker. The heat retention along with the hotter spark causes a quicker melt down of the plug itself. They recommend the standard Autolite or Motorcraft plugs. I know mine ran better with the regular split fires and I'll move back to them as soon as I get a chance to change plugs again. A very impressive plug is the NGK copper core. We run it in our race car and it does a terrific job. Also, make sure you run your gap about .005 wider than stock specs and if you want added power, side gap the plugs. The plugs won't last as long, but they will give you more power and better gas mileage.

'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik

 

Hey Slik! could you please explain how to "side gap" plugs?

 

Side gapping is simply cutting back the plug electrode so that it exposes the anode. You can either cut the upper electrode back to where it exposes the entire top of the anode or just a portion. I try to leave have the anode exposed as you look directly down on the plug. This opens the spark and actually allows more of the flash of the spark to be exposed to the fuel which will give you some additional power. There was a site that explained side gapping really well with some good pictures, but I've misplaced the URL. I just use my Dremel tool with a cutting wheel to cut back the electrode.

'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik

 

I just found the site. It's:

http://performanceunlimited.com/illustrations/sparkplugs.html


'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik