MSD and does this sound right

[S Schroeder]

Howdy (thats cowboy for "Dearest BBS Posters")
I took the stuttering 72 to a new shop. I have been having a problem with the car running on 3 cylinders when you initially leave a stop. It then cleans itself out and runs like a champ. It is a 2.o with dual 44's, apropriate cam, and euro pistons. The new shop said that changing the plugs made a world of difference, but are concerned that the plugs may foul again. I am running a stock 2.o distributor with points. They have recommended that rather than using smaller jets that I put a comp-u-fire inside the distributor and purchase an MSD 6 to give it a hotter/multiple spark below 3000 rpm. I know lots of you have used various electronic ignitions - does this sound appropriate? Any and all feed back is greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Scott S

Ps. 60 days to ski season - anybody coming out this direction and want to play in the snow?

[This message has been edited by S Schroeder (edited 09-25-2000).]

[This message has been edited by S Schroeder (edited 09-25-2000).]

[Germain]

I don't buy that multiple spark theroy (yet). It is was too expensive and noone can prove it does anything useful, and common sense tells me its pointless. UNLESS - it sparks the plug everytime there is a compression with fuel. As we know, there are times that the plugs do not spark under normal conditions. This can be fixed cheeply and effectivly. Also, removeing the horrid points I've come to hate in older cars. I recomend the optical pickup unit that Crane makes. It will insure proper fireing and should cost about $70.

[Dave Bell]

I think that it is common knowledge that a hotter spark will help you when you are running rich and have a tendency to foul out the plugs.

The multiple spark stuff does seem a little like snake oil to me... but I have an Crane Multi-spark in my 914.

Long and short.... I wanted the hotter spark of electronic ignition... figured, spend the extra $$ and get the multi-spark also... it can't hurt. I also invested in the hotter coil to get full impact.

Having said all that... my take is that the electronic ignition can only help... but the getting the fuel air mixture right in the first place is still the best approach.

- Dave

[This message has been edited by Dave Bell (edited 09-25-2000).]

[HarveyH]

I have a 74 2.0 liter with 96mm P&C's, cam upgrade, and 40IDF's, all done by the PO. After I bought the car I was researching recommendations for rejetting, and all three of the Weber houses that I called recommended going to a multi-spark CD system before trying to dial in the carbs. My first upgrade was to install a Pertronics point replacement which made a signficant diference in ease of starting. After a few months of that I made the jump and added a Crane HI-6 and PS-91 coil with 8 mm silicone wires. Again, a significant diference in performance, better low and mid range, less popping and spitting from the carbs, and generally more tractable operation. I've since done a bit of rejetting, but the operational changes from the jet changes were nowhere near as noticeable as the ignition upgrades.
Harvey

[rich]

I have to agree with Harvey. I built a hot BMW 2002 motor 14:1 compression with duel 40mm Webers. I used the MSD with a the Blaster coil. Before I added the hot ignition the engine started hard, and fouled plugs. After the ignition I was able to fine tune the motor. And the thing explodes to life after about half a crank and rocks the garage! The motor revs clean and crisp with a crack of the throttle. I've got 275/16/50 comp T/A's on the rear and the motor lits those big color crayons up right out of the garage with no stutter! Be sure you use the correct advance curve for the carbs.

[Bee Jay]

I've got a Corvette with a highly modified, and carbed 350. Cam, aluminum ported heads, headers, high rise intake manifold, the works. After I added the MSD, and the idle smoothed out, gas milage went up, and it revs much quicker and higher. Fantastic snake oil. I'm putting a MSD in the 914 when I get it back.
Bee Jay

[John Rogers]

I use an MSD-6 and the Compufire on my 2.8l race engine and it has cured the start-hard problem and does seem to run a little cleaner, but I only care about full throttle. I would give it a try and as far as I know Summit Racing is probably the cheapest source. Our rule of thumb is 40's = 2.0l, 44's = 2.4l and 48's = 2.8l, but they'll probably work with some jetting work. Good luck.

[Germain]

I think we all agree that a "hotter" spark is helpin the engine run. By hotter I think we mean a higher voltage coil is producing the spark. The multiple spark systems are a waste of money. Yes no harm can come to the car from installing them, but the pocket book suffers. You can get an optical ignition with a super duper one bazillion volt coil for your car too. You don't need the MSD units. Think about putting the extra $100-200 into a better performance upgrade.

[S Schroeder]

Thanks to all - VERY appreciated. Germain and Rich - who makes the hotter coil (Blaster). IS there a balast resistor involved?
I owe you all a beer - maybe a couple!
Scott S

[Dave Bell]

I got my Crane Hi-6 and the PS-91 Coil both from Summit Racing.. someone else already recommended this place. The Crane unit has various rev limit options that you can select via little switch/dials on the case. It also has several selctions for a retart input..... I hope to use that option on my other 914 when I attempt a Turbo upgrade.... can't wait for that.... No Ballast resistor needed on the PS-91 when it is connected to the Crane unit.

Also, you may need the tach adapter depending on what tach set up you have in your car. Read the on-line info from Crane or what ever manufacturer you go with. The tach adapter changes the low voltage tach signal into a higher voltage pulse I believe. I needed it for my car.

And you will need new spark wires, the helical wound heavy stuff used for high voltage ignitions... you can also get that from Summit. I believe I picked up the MSD wires.

One note on the mounting the PS-91 Coil. I first mounted mine to the fire wall along with the Hi-6 ignition unit. That little coil chirped like a bird every time it discharged a spark and the fire wall acted like a sounding board and amplified the chirping into the cabin of the car.... just about drove me nuts when I first hooked it up. I then bolted the PS-91 coil to the place the old Bosch coil was bolted and that quieted things down.

I was suprised to hear all of the testimonials for the Multi-spark ignitions. I am running the FI system still on my car, so I saw less improvement, since I was not running rich... but if the carb guys say it helped them a lot, I would take that as good advice since you are running carbs.

When this topic came up sometime back, based on my questions, I got all kind of responses saying that it helped them pass smog.

Good luck

- Dave

[Germain]

The coil I have is the PS-91 coil from Summit, part number CRN-730-0091. It seams to be a good coil, I have no complaints.

The reason the MSD cleans up ignition for smog laws is that the multiple spark burns more fuel. The first spark causes the explosion, the next ones just get the misc vapors.

I think the people with multiple sparks that have carbs that claim it helped are 100% correct. I think the non-multiple spark optical pick up would have helped just as much.

[tmk]

I have a 2055cc engine with 40mm Weber's cam etc. I ran a 050 dizzy with the points in it for all most a year. It always started right up and ran good with no flat spots from 2000 rpm up to red line. It was set up on a Dyno by a good tuner. That is the only way you can tune in a set of Weber's. Any other way and you are only guessing. Take it to a shop with a chassis Dyno that know Weber's or pull it out and put it on a engine Dyno and get it right. I now run it with a printronx in the dizzy just so I don't have to mess with the points. I don't feel any deference with it just don't have to adjust the points any more.

TMK
73 914S 2.1L

[rich]

I think the "Blaster coil is a MSD product. It's recomended on the Blaster coil label to use an MSD in conjuction with the coil. I'm still using the points in a tunable mallory distributor. (Adjustable Mechanical advance curve) If you use points you'll need to run a double ballast resistor or the high output coil will fry points, lots of points! Ask me how I know.

BTW: I used the coil with out the MSD 6A. After I installed the MSD I noticed the the biggest difference.

[PeteD]

It is very easy to see just how much the MSD system adds to starting, idle, acceleration, and emissions. With one installed, it is just a matter of swapping a few wires to go back to standard ignition (points to coil, no MSD). Drive the same car with MSD, rewire, and drive it again. Day and night!

Don't overlook the quality of your spark plug cables though. I was absolutely astounded by the dramatic change going to MSD spark cables made. Even hotter acceleration, smoother idle, better, easier starts.

The Blaster is an MSD product. The Bosch Blue coil works quite well with the MSD 6A ignition.

For the whole skinny on MSD systems for the 914, read the tech article, http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/mult_MSD_install/mult_MSD_install.htm