MSD Ignition again

[mjb67]

I know there's a thread here:

http://www.stag.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?19553-msd-ignition

But it's quite old and started to get sidetracked :-)

I've been thinking about what ignition system upgrade to do. I've got an unmodified Mk 2. I'm seriously thinking MSD Ignition at the moment as it can all be done with a bit of rewiring, no need take anything off the car or modify anything permanently.

Stag157.7 are you still happy with your MSD Ignition? Do we know if anyone else has tried it on a Stag?

You said you had a Mk1, did you bypass the resistor?

Have you had any trouble with timing lights given the multispark?

Do you have a twin points dizzy and if so have you left both sets of points in? Does the MSD box care about the dwell from the dizzy?

Where did you mount the controller box?

I've got lots more questions :-) But anyway, lets talk about MSD ignition.

[wilf]

I have used MSD spark boxes on numerous cars.

Very powerful sparks, doubt a Stag ever saw the like........

If using points, you trigger from just one set, you can leave the other ones in but disconnected, the MSD does not care a jot about distributor point dwell settings, it will fire form the instant of opening.

You will need an MSD compatible coil, (MSD Blaster 2 will be fine) no ballast, in fact connections to the coil will be directly from the MSD box, not from the existing loom. Only thing that might need a bit a work is the tacho drive, as the MSD output is very much a square wave, and some tachos don't like that, but can easily be modified to accept it.

Timing with the below-3000-rpm multispark means some strobe lights won't work, but my trusty Gunsons "Professional" unit works fine, and even the dial-back system is OK.

[mjb67]

Thanks Wilf that's very interesting.

Would there be any grounds to hope that points wear would be reduced, since they would be switching a lower current?

[wilf]

Indeed, you should be able to forget all about the points for pretty much ever.
.

[wilf]

Forgot to say, you will need a permanent (i.e. pretty much direct to battery +ve via a big fuse) positive feed, and there is a white IIRC wire that can be used as an immobiliser via a hidden switch to ground.

Then an ignition switched positive feed and a big fat secure earth. Sensing leads to the points, output leads to the coil and humungous sparks are us.

The box can go inside the cockpit, a good idea to mount it on the anti vibe bobbins if they still supply them. Rev limiter set at the right rpms and you have a built in over rev protection.

Can you tell that MSD ignitions have been good to me over the years?

[mjb67]

Thanks Wilf that all sounds sensible. I was hoping to sort out a bit of a tune up and an ignition upgrade as my next couple of jobs, but today the indicators stopped working so everything has to be reprioritised!

[mjb67]

Fixed indicators but now I've realised that I have no vacuum advance and I want to get everything standard working before starting to mod it.

Just noticed that Tony Hart's racing Stag has MSD Ignition.