I'm looking at getting the MSD Ignition coil for GM Cars (pn 8226), do i need the different wiring harness that SummitRacing says i do?

 

Mine was plug and play, no harness.

 

You'll need the harness if you install the MSD ignition box.

 

any box or a specific one?

 

That is not the coil you want for a 1996. You want the #8231, single connector coil. You don't need anything else just to replace the coil.

 

it says that it is an OEM Blaster, i want the upgraded one, is the 8231 the upgraded one and just has a funny name?

 

I replaced the coil on my 97 to try and fix my high rpm miss. I also wanted to "upgrade" at the time but i couldn't find a MSD Blaster anywhere. All i could find was 93-95 Blaster coils. I don't think MSD even makes 96-97 upgraded coils. Did some research and everyone says there is no need to upgrade the stock coil anyways because it has plenty of juice for even high HP cars. Replaced it anyway with and OEM GM coil. But still didn't fix my miss, and probably never will.

 

It's the only one MSD makes for single connector applications. As was previously said, the 96-97 coils are pretty good as stock and installing the MSD one really won't do much for you.

 

What about on a '94? Any advantage of the MSD 8226 over the stock coil? I'm going to be replacing my distributor and I'm wondering whether I should go ahead and get a new coil, wire & coil module? My service manual seems to make no reference to an Ignition Control Module. Would that be the coil module? Does MSD make one of those?

Anyway, do those parts wear out over time and would you replace everything while replacing the opti if the car was over 100K and had been sitting for an extended period?

 

The ignition module and coil are in a hot place. There are some instructions on how to move one or both a little off the cylinder head. It's never bad to reduce the high temperature to these parts. You might want to check shoebox's web site.

 

Thanks for the heads up on that, 01Z.

I may have spoken prematurely when I said the service manuals make no reference to an ignition control module, but they seem to use the terms ignition control module and ignition coil module interchangeably. I haven't seen an "ignition control module" referenced in any diagrams, but they do refer to an "ignition coil module".

Anyway, what other ignition components would you seasoned professionals change out while replacing an opti? The coil & control module aren't that expensive and I'm curious whether you guys think it would be a good idea to replace them while I'm in there. I guess the MSD Control Modules are their ignition systems and I'm probably not interested in going that route, but I would consider an OEM control module and MSD coil & wire. Or, would I be better off going OEM across the board? Does anyone know if the MSD coil comes with the grease pack referenced in the service manuals?

Thanks.

 

I run a MSD blaster 8202 with a 6a box on a 97SS 383 LT1. The blaster coil is much larger than the stock coil. I attached the coil+bracket near the water pump drivers side of block to 3/8 fastener on the head. The coil wire fit easy to the optispark. Mounted the 6a on the front rad support drivers side. Also, I used the MSD 6a wire interface harness, and, also run a variable timing control. I moved the PCM coil trigger to the driver side fender (lengthened the wires). The air pump was relocated deep in the drivers side motor compartment (had to move due to D1 mount).