Buying an MSD DIS 4 - questions

I have been looking around for a DIS 4 for my 96 3.8 Camaro. Have any of you installed this on this type of engine? If so do you know if it requires the tach adapters? They go for like $50 each and i am trying to see if I can afford the set up right now since the box and interface modules are already expensive. I dont want to get it in there and then have to buy it later all they while my tach doesnt work. Thanks ~ Erik

dont waste your money on the set up they are junk and not worth anything

dont waste your money on the set up they are junk and not worth anything
Agreed.

Damn, $340 peice of junk!

Are there any ignition mods that are worth it?

Damn, $340 peice of junk!

Are there any ignition mods that are worth it?
no, there a FWD cars in the 9.5's in the 1/4 mile..... with stock coils/wires.... note really worth anything at all

So have any of you two tried it out and see for yourself or are you just saying its junk with no experence? The reason I say that is because on firebirdv6.com one of they guys actually tested it with and without the MSD DIS 4 installed and he got 2 tenths better in the quarter mile and a noticable improvement in gas milage. you can see the results here http://mods.firebirdv6.com/msd/ Now 2 tenths is important on a race track but Im only doing street driving so I dont really care too much about that. Im not looking for a big horsepower gain, just maybe a better responce and better gas milage. Out in Cali its 2.50 a gallon. I have owned MSD 5 and 6A's before and noticed a difference. It helped out especally on older cars with gas milage, throttle responce and to a certain extent, power. From the description I have read that the DIS 4 is an MSD 6A box for a distributorless ignition. It does the same thing, fires 3 sparks up until 3000 RPM and higher than that just 1 big spark. It will also help with emissions, since it has a CARB# its legal and just with better combustion it should help pass California smog test. Now no one answered my question. For those of you who have this installed on a V-6 3.8 F-Body,do I need a tach adapter with this? I actually already bout this for a good deal $250 for the entire set up. It comes with the box and the 3 coil interface modules for a V-6 camaro. It should be everything I need but it doesn't come with the tach adapters. I looked at a list of cars that are know to require them and the only GM car on there was a Saturn. So I dont think I will need one but just want to make sure. I have an 85 firebird that didnt need one for an MSD 6 but my 89 firebird did... its kinda funny that way.

So have any of you two tried it out and see for yourself or are you just saying its junk with no experence? The reason I say that is because on firebirdv6.com one of they guys actually tested it with and without the MSD DIS 4 installed and he got 2 tenths better in the quarter mile and a noticable improvement in gas milage. you can see the results here http://mods.firebirdv6.com/msd/ Now 2 tenths is important on a race track but Im only doing street driving so I dont really care too much about that. Im not looking for a big horsepower gain, just maybe a better responce and better gas milage. Out in Cali its 2.50 a gallon. I have owned MSD 5 and 6A's before and noticed a difference. It helped out especally on older cars with gas milage, throttle responce and to a certain extent, power. From the description I have read that the DIS 4 is an MSD 6A box for a distributorless ignition. It does the same thing, fires 3 sparks up until 3000 RPM and higher than that just 1 big spark. It will also help with emissions, since it has a CARB# its legal and just with better combustion it should help pass California smog test. Now no one answered my question. For those of you who have this installed on a V-6 3.8 F-Body,do I need a tach adapter with this? I actually already bout this for a good deal $250 for the entire set up. It comes with the box and the 3 coil interface modules for a V-6 camaro. It should be everything I need but it doesn't come with the tach adapters. I looked at a list of cars that are know to require them and the only GM car on there was a Saturn. So I dont think I will need one but just want to make sure. I have an 85 firebird that didnt need one for an MSD 6 but my 89 firebird did... its kinda funny that way.
that was tested with the 3.4 motor it does help .... i had this on my 3800 running 16psi from a big turbo and i took it off...... its junk mine only last 1500 miles before it gave out i know poeple on there 2 and 3rd boxs

get some rear gears.... the only diff it made in my car was idle a little better with the big injectors and that was it

no you dont need a tach adapter and if have all my wiring still hooked up if you want it $25 plus shipping for the 3 CIU's prewired for the 3.8

if you want my box... you can send it back to MSD for repair add another 25 plus shipping

that was tested with the 3.4 motor it does help .... i had this on my 3800 running 16psi from a big turbo and i took it off...... its junk mine only last 1500 miles before it gave out i know poeple on there 2 and 3rd boxs

get some rear gears.... the only diff it made in my car was idle a little better with the big injectors and that was it

no you dont need a tach adapter and if have all my wiring still hooked up if you want it $25 plus shipping for the 3 CIU's prewired for the 3.8

if you want my box... you can send it back to MSD for repair add another 25 plus shipping

Actually I just went back and read it, it said the test vechile was 1997 firebird 3.8 V-6.... not the 3.4. So this was tested on a similar vechile to mine. Thanks for being honest about why they are junk. Its always good to hear others experence about them. So do you know why they dont last very long? Heat, vibration? Maybe if you mount it inside the car instead of in the engine compartment? What usually goes wrong with these? How long have you owned yours for? How much do you think MSD will charge to fix it? How long do they take? Sorry for the 20 questions. I probally will by yours and send it out. I PMed you with my email address so check that. Thanks ~ Erik

Stock ignition is more than good enough for just about anything you want to do with your car. As was said before, there are FWD W-bodies running in the 9s on factory ignition.

- Justin

Actually I just went back and read it, it said the test vechile was 1997 firebird 3.8 V-6.... not the 3.4. So this was tested on a similar vechile to mine. Thanks for being honest about why they are junk. Its always good to hear others experence about them. So do you know why they dont last very long? Heat, vibration? Maybe if you mount it inside the car instead of in the engine compartment? What usually goes wrong with these? How long have you owned yours for? How much do you think MSD will charge to fix it? How long do they take? Sorry for the 20 questions. I probally will by yours and send it out. I PMed you with my email address so check that. Thanks ~ Erik
i had mine mounted on rubber behind the drive head light for cool air.... (stock stuf not there lol) it was 30* outside going down the Highway at 65 MPH and it just died the car shut off..... lucky i had the bye pass with me !!! i put my hand on it soon as i got out of the car and it was cold

I do not agree that they are junk, but they are better for cars running nitrous or forced induction. MSD makes good products. It's really just not as necessary for a NA car.

Does anyone have a box they want to sell. Let me know on price. I will buy a non-working box if it is repairable and I can send it to MSD. Thanks