I was just wondering if anyone has any complaints about either MSD or Mallory ignition. I am debating whether to get the MSD 5 or the Mallory Hyfire VI-A. I am thinking the Mallory b/c of it's digital and it is capacitive discharge and it's only a little bit more money.


I have heard good things about MSD, but have never had any experience with either brand.


thanks for any help

 

I installed a MSD 6A (& blaster 2F) on my '79 with a 300 using the old DII dizzy. I know, a 300 - but I noticed a definite difference over the existing stock module and coil. The engine seems to turn over with a lot more umph, and revs much smoother. I have definelty noticed a performance improvement - nothing night and day, but an improvement. The MSD instructions were straight forward( with a nice bag of hardware). I have one complaint and one concern: 1) The leads off the box were way to short to install in the old module location - had to buy extra wire to extend several wires longer 2) The MSD setup runs off 12V, if your altenator starts failing and doesn't put out enough voltage you may be stuck -whereas the stock setup draws a few less volts to run. I just changed my plugs & plug wear was no different than pre-MSD. I personally can't speak for Mallory, but from what I understand you can have it all in one unit - nice & clean...I have an extra connector (still in box) for the DII magentic pickup connection if you decide to go MSD + I have a lot of color coded wire too if intrested. Good Luck

 

A Mallory is an imposter MSD. The digital signal means nothing. There has been dyno test after dyno test to prove that the analog signal of an MSD is actually more powerful. The MSD is the original, and if you go to any NHRA event, you'll see the MSD techs all over the place, trying to help their customers. Mallory is made in Japan, or China, or some other place. MSD is made in Texas, and I can promise you that all the power gains, or current gains, or whatever they claim is all bogus. The one test that I saw is where they tested the current at the spark plug gap from 6A to Hyfire whatever similarly equipment the imposters make. The determining issue is that they tested the Mallory with an E-core ignition coil versus the oil-filled coil on the 6A. E-core coils make over twice the current, so they were not fair on their testing criteria. MSD made the first CD ignition control, and all others are imitations. Whatever power gains that Mallory claims are bogus, so buy American, the original. I have one, and whenever I have had questions about it, I called them to find out how helpful and knowledgable their tech staff is. I'm a very satisfied customer, and I can't stand to see ripoffs made in China. TK

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

 

Thank you for all the help...I think I will go with MSD.


But actually MSD did not make the first CD ignition...the Japanese have been putting them on motorcycles since the 70's.

 

The MSD only multi-fires below 3500 rpm. The Hyfire will give you a longer hotter spark throughout the entire rpm range. I've used both and got better performance and miliage from the Mallory.

 

1970's sounds about right, that's when they invented it. I don't know about who they sold it to, but I do know that they hold the patent. The MSD gives mulitple sparks at 3000 or below, above that it sends one single spark that lasts for 20 degrees of crank rotation. They're almost all the same, after all, Mallory didn't invent anything, they just used the near identical MSD design, but they make 'em in Japan to save them some money. The real contest was proven in a recent issue of Car Craft, where they tested all of the ignition control modules head to head on an engine dyno. All 5 popular boxes were within 3 HP of each other, proving that there is no significant difference. I can't even remember which one was the highest, but the margin of error on an experiment like that is much more than the difference, so they're pretty much all the same. I just choose to buy American. TK

 

The Mallory's are made in Reno, Nevada. The company is now owned by Mr. Gasket. Used to be owned by Super Shops until the owner decided that he was tired of fooling with the companies and pulled all of his money out and closed the doors. Erson cams is another company in the same deal.

 

ok thats all good but msd does make a direct swap module.

 

thanks for all the help

Would the Mallory Hyfire VI-A ignition be a direct swap with my duraspark module????

 

It could be, get with your local Mallory dealer and see if they offer the direct plug-in for the duraspark wiring. I know that they have it for the late model TFI system.

 

Autotronic Controls Corporation, the designers and makers of MSD was founded in 1970. They started dedsigning a new fuel system that was supposed to help fuel economy. When they where designing it the fuel mixture they were using was to lean for points and other ignitions, and thats when they started using capacitive discharge. I cant tell you where the japs got it from though, maybe they had spies at ACC. Since MSD has won more championships than any other brand Ignition, I will continue to buy from them. My experience with the staff gives me no reason to look into other Ignitions, they are very knowledgeable and very helpfull.

Chase

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]

 

In 1967 I bought a capacitor dischange ignition box built by an engineer at TRW. I had a switch that would select it or the stock system. At idle, you could see the increase in rpm when the CD was selected. Still used the points but with a tiny amount of current going thru them so they would last a long time.

 

The racers use MSD because they pay contingency money and Mallory doesn't. Week after week, there is at least one car in NASCAR that has to switch ignition boxes because one of them fails. They use MSD, Are you going to keep a back-up system on your ride? The longest race that they run is only 600 miles. I drive alot more that that.
I sold Mallory products for over 5 years and only had 2 Hy-fires that went bad. That's good enough proof for me!!

 

Thanks for all the help.


But I am still wondering if the Mallory Hyfire will TOTALLY replace my durasprk module??

 

Hey, I have a call in to Mallory. I'll let you know as soon as they get back with me. Jimmy