[updated:LAST EDITED ON 05-Aug-02 AT 02:53 AM (EST)]All ignitions have the possiblilty of going bad. I burnt out the stock ignition so I went with MSD. Yeah the MSD went out once and it was replaced for free, instead of having to buy the stock ingintion at 50 bucks or so when they burn out. I have another truck with a MSD that has lasted for over 6 years without any problems, and my brother has had one for 2 or 3 years whithout any problems. You cant really garuantee that any electrical product will last for ever, a little voltage spike and there toast. Im not gunna tell you which is better or what to buy, but I can tell you my experiences and what I choose to buy.

Chase

*edit* Im sure If mallory paid contingency, racers would be burning out their ignitions as well.

1979 F-250 4x4
71 460 Holley650, MSD OFFROAD, L&L Headers
C6-B&M Transpack
Dana HD44Front/60Rear
35 inch Goodyear Implement Tires
4 inch Skyjacker System
Much more to come
[link:www.tarleton.edu/students/jwillms/ChasesOldFord.com|My Truck]

 

Mallory say's that the Hyfire III box #630 will take the place of the factory box. This should answer your question I think.
Jimmy

 

Both the Mallory and the MSD will completely replace your stock Duraspark box. The MSD has ~6 wires to hook up, and then you have a stand-alone system, I imagine the Mallory is the same way. TK

The TorqueKing

 

lxman1,

thanks for ALL the help. I think I will go with the Mallory Hyfire.

 

hi
i would definitly go with the mallory unit! no matter what you see in comparasons at shops or in magazines, you must try it for your self. i have used both mallory and msd (not the same that your using, but similer units). mallory is made in the U.S.A, so get your facts straight before you post them. you can use what you like but if you like clean and more accurate spark at a wider range of volts go with the Hyfire. msd is owned by richer companys so you see more of them on the track because they can afford to give out more but look at "big daddy don G." he used mallory and look at where the right parts got him!

 

I agree and don't forget, Eddie Hill, first in the 4's!!!!!!!!! with all Mallory. I believe that almost all of the fast top fuelers run Mallory.
Your quite welcome for all of the help.
Jimmy

 

Ok, let's talk about top fuel. Guess which comapny has fired Kenny Berstein to 6 NHRA World Championships, including being the first driver to win world titles in both Top Fuel and Funny Car? That's right, El Paso Texas' MSD Ignition, Autotronic controls corporation. 'nuff said!

'77 F100, 302 (the aftermarket Prodigy), C4
Cadet Second Lieutenant John F. Daly III
South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel
The TorqueKing

 

one more thing, I'm not going to say that the Mallory isn't a good performing unit, but the differnce between the two boxes is completely useless. Dyno test after test prove that a digital signal means nothing to the rear wheels, and the power difference between the two is negligable (unless you compare the MSD with a oil-filled coil to an E-core fired Mallory, which they like to do in head up comparos). One thing that I'm certain of, is that MSD makes a MUCH better distributor for street vehicles. Although the Unilite is supposed to be the most accurate trigger ever, one small voltage spike and your $90 Unilite module is toast. The salesman at Jeg's revealed to me that he sells no less than 5 of them per day. The only part on the MSD's billet magnetic pickup distributors that could ever go bad is the reluctor assembly. $20 to replace, and nobody's ever heard of someone ever needing a new one.

The point is, for ignition controls, use whatever makes you happy, the only difference will be the price. Distributors are for another day, and another thread. TK

 

i think that u should definatly go with the mallory ignition. i accually put the mallory in my 76 f250, and it has worked great so far. i thought about going with the msd, but i heard how the spark never ends, and how the spark only goes up to like 3500. go witht the mallory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

spark ends????? Both MSD and Mallory both use a multiple spark series that lasts for 20 degrees of crank rotation at 3000 RPM or below. Above that, niether box just quits, it sends a single strike that lasts for 20 degrees of crank rotation, so there's no dropoff in performance. Both boxes do the same thing. I'd like for anybody to show me a dyno sheet proving that Mallory is better, because it isn't. I've seen many tests that fail to show a significant difference. I won't say that MSD is any measurable amount better, because they're both the same products. I prefer MSD boxes because they sell a very clean adaptor to directly hookup the the MSD distributors, which are the supreme street distributors.

Let's ALL get our facts strait here. Buy what you want, they're all the same product. If you really wanna find out what makes them tick, call the tech department at Mallory and ask them why their product is better. Then, call MSD's tech dept, and you'll find out everything you ever wanted to know. I can't speak for Mallory, but any popular sanctioning body sponsored racing event will attract the MSD road techs, who will help you in the pits to get your ignition tuned hard. If you have a problem at all with any of their products, they'll mail you a replacement immediately. The same may be true of Mallory, but you should run whatever makes you happy, because there is NO SIGNIFICANT POWER DIFFERENCE between them.

I run MSD all the way, 6A box, Blaster II coil, and a Pro-Billet Distributor. Can't get any better.

'77 F100, 302 (the aftermarket Prodigy), C4
Cadet Second Lieutenant John F. Daly III
South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel
The TorqueKing

 

I had an msd 6al with an msd distributor. The msd box failed on 4 different occasions. I sent it back each time to msd and they repaired it free. The distributor worked fine for almost a year (4500 miles) Then it totally disintergrated. I sent it back to msd and they told me it would cost more to fix it than a new one would cost. i bought a new blueprinted and curved stock distributor from Nelson Specialties in Mooresville, NC. With the new distributor, I picked up 2 miles per gallon. This engine is a 351w in my 1962 F100. Last fall, the msd box failed again. msd said they could not repair it so I bought a new Crane box and coil. Have had no trouble from it:-X12

 

well, i really don't give [font color=red]Edited by adminstration for language & insult violation regarding FTE policy[/font]torqueking says,

i know for a fact that msd fires multiple spark until like 3500 rpm, than it goes back to normal. mallory does not stop, it fires multiple spart "forever" so to speak. my father worked for msd for 6 years, than he quit, and is now working for mallory, and he says if you are a smart guy, you will go with mallory. this isn't a friggen arguing site,


but i'll bet the guy who posted this question is just having a good ol time watching you guys fight. say what ya got to say, without being as *** about it, or stay off the site!!!!!

original message has been documented

Please, EVERYONE, adhere to posting criteria No profanity or insults


oh, and torqueking, that white truck looks like a two wheel drive piece of crap.

no offense

800hpf250

 

Why Waste all the time and money on an aftermarket igniton??? just upgrade to a tfi!!

 

That would require a computer and a bunch of sensors, wouldn't it? Just use the Mallory part number from my previous post and it will plug right in. The TFI still uses the same basic magnetic pick up that the Duraspark does anyway.

 

The difference between digital and analog doesn't have to do with power output. It has to do with power consumption. An analog CDI (MSD or Mallory) requires alot of power. If your electrical system isn't putting out at least 13.5 volts, the MSD analog's performance drops way off. By using digital, power consumption goes WAY down. My mallory put out a decent spark at 11 volts (Just had to test it). Digital has other advantages too. Cheaper to build, quicker adjustment to input signals, produces less heat, and much lighter.
Downsides are; not as durable (mine still works tho'), and when you blow out a digital board, you can't just replace a couple of parts to fix it. A competant electritian can fix a analog unit. Analog to digital is like an abacus to a computer

If you are going to go with Mallory, buy the 6852M unit. It is a direct digital replacement for the MSD 6a box, and cost significantly less ($125 or so). The Mallory 697 is the old analog box, and the 685 is their High-perfirmance upgradable box. I have the 6852M box, and it was really easy to hook up. It is a simple CDI multi-spark box, with no frills (i.e. rev-limiter...).

Also, get the MSD adapter (part# 8869) that allows you to plug the CDI directly into your Duraspark. That way, if the CDI unit frys, you can plug your old Ford ignition unit back up in about 10 seconds and get home.

Mike C.

P.S. Mallory is located in Carson City NV (Off by about 15 miles)
and my Mallory CDI unit has "Made In the U.S.A." on it