Ignition boxes

[84firebird]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone used an ignition box here? and then what types are good ones to buy and which are crap?

Basically, I've heard too many horror stories about these things crapping out and the car not starting again until they are disconnected, but i want one, specifically a multiple spark discharge one, I was looking at the mallory hyfire 6-A or 6-AL

any input?

[mrmint69]

Msd is the one i bought. I think the only reasons to use one is supercharged, turbo or nos. No real horsepower gains.

[2000GTP]

If you have a bolt-on or stock motor, there will be no gains from the box as noted above. In my case, I went with the Mallory 685 Hyfire box because it has both a built in window switch and timing retard function which I use in conjunction with my nitrous setup.

[01Z]

I was reading my Hyfire manual and just noticed that I can test my window switch settings without the engine running. Mode 7 not only sends a manufactured tach signal to that output it also triggers the window voltage signal. With a digital window for settings (no pills or tiny toggle or rotary switches) I can't think of a better set up. The thing can be had for $220 or less for bargain hunters. To me, it's the deal of week.

[2000GTP]

Originally Posted by 01Z

I was reading my Hyfire manual and just noticed that I can test my window switch settings without the engine running. Mode 7 not only sends a manufactured tach signal to that output it also triggers the window voltage signal. With a digital window for settings (no pills or tiny toggle or rotary switches) I can't think of a better set up. The thing can be had for $220 or less for bargain hunters. To me, it's the deal of week.

I didn't know that either, good to know that you can test the window switch before actually using the nitrous.

[84firebird]

thnx for the input, but you seem to agree that there arent any power gains unless it's a power adder application and it's needed.... the reason i was lookin at them is that i sent an email to mallory (who made my distributor) about ignition issues, and the tech guy said the higher voltage output of a hyfire 6-al might help me?!?

all i've got is a rebuilt 350 sbc with carb, cam, basically nice stock heads (487 castings 2.02/1.60 valves), headers and intake, nothing too extreme... and certainly no power adders, compression is 9.3-1 static soon to become about 9.8-1 when i put in smaller head gaskets, a lunati 00010 cam with 230*/230* @ .05"... i mean bigger than stock but nothing like you guys are talking about.

am i missing something or is the mallory tech guy just trying to sell an expensive shiny toy?

[2000GTP]

What kind of issues are you having? If you are having ignition issues, installing a box is only a band aid to another problem. Otherwise, you may find yourself spending two hundred bucks and still having the same problems.

[84firebird]

well, fouling plugs and spitting gas out the exhaust, didnt really matter what timing or jetting, also at high rpm it pretty much dies, like the cam isfor high rpm and i cant rev above 5200 for %@#&

[byrons1502]

is your springs good. i like msd by the way

[rskrause]

As others have stated, stock or mildly modded LZT1 or LS1 motors will see no gain but even there, certain features may be useful. From the info given, I can't tell what kind of ignition the poster currently has. It looks like he has a Gen I SBC. Many of these have HEI ignition, which has problems over ~5,000rpm, for example. So, he may need a different ignition.

What do you have currently?

Rich

[mdacton]

I have run that lunati 010 bracket master cam before....its nasty
It is a race cam, make no power down low and the h.p. curve on the dyno was a 45* angle kept going up to 7k

What dist. do you have now?

[84firebird]

springs should be good unless my head guy didnt put the right ones back on,

it's a 1972 350 rebuilt
-distributor is a mallory 8548201 with an accel super coil. (basically a stock replacement HEI, I have just ordered a new ignition module msd says should help)
-the rest is the basics, double roller timing chain, headers, msd wires, roller tip rockers, weiand xcelerator intake....

but yea it's an HEI and it has problems over 5000.... lol i agree, what kind of distributor would be recommended if his ignition module doesnt fix anything?

for the cam, I can see that being true, i get beat out of the hole by everything but once i get around 4500 i can hold pretty good,
lunati recommends a stall and gears, i currently am running 3.23 or 3.43 depending on what stock was, (havent read the tag), and a 2400 stall I have a set of 4.10s and an install kit sitting in the corner, but since i cant rev i dont want to screw myself...

thanks for everything guys,
I'm hoping this is just a simple issue with the ignition somewhere.
Josh

[rskrause]

MSD PN 8365 works well.

Rich

[84firebird]

wwoooo, $380 nice pricetag too, so i should stay HEI then? or would it be beneficial to go with something else since it's gonna cost $400 anyway?

[rskrause]

The MSD would work fine with a mild motor.

Rich