How many of you have been having good luck with a higher output coil and an ignition box such as the 6AL? Any problems after you put them on?

Please throw out any input you have!

 

I put mine on at 104k Have a 111k now with no problem I use the stock coil too. if you go with the msd coil keep the stock on in the car with you I have heard they are bad about going out.

 

I am going to post my OPINION!!!

I have to be careful. As I have found in the past, this very topic will raise some serious debate. And some people take it way to far and get way bent out of shape at my opinion on this issue.

The Optispark, the Dwell Module (which controls the duration and energy of the spark), and the ignition coil (which generates the spark) are all a system that has been designed. While on paper, the idea works great, as most of us can attest, Opti Spark's Suck! The ignition system on an LT1 was designed as a closed, single spark system. IT WAS DESIGNED! Not thrown together like a HEI, which runs on intake vacuum. It was ENGINEERED around the optical sensor, the crank position sensor, etc, etc, etc. When you take and put an ignition box on the opposite side of the ignition module and cause the optispark to do something it wasn’t asked to do, you put undo stress on the optispark. I have likened it to over clocking a computer CPU. It's bad. Even if it works for you. It was not what the electronics were designed to do.

An engine was meant to rev, but (as a lot of people who have made this mistake will tell you) if you don’t build the engine to take juice, or a supercharger, or even a turbocharger, then the stock components are living on borrowed time. Even if the engine goes a million miles, and you never have a problem with it, there are ten guys who have had issues. And needed to have their mill rebuilt. Which I might say is probably the number one reason why guys go stroker, because the engine is going to need to be rebuilt anyway. Think about it.

The same thing goes with the Ignition system. Some guys put them on and say they go faster, some guys put them on and feel no difference . And yet other guys will put them on (once again this is my experience) and spend the rest of the month trying to figure out why their optispark went bad, or why their ignition module frizzed out. Or why the car misses at high RPMs.

It sucks, but it's the truth (as I see it). The only RIGHT way to enhance out ignition system is to replace it with an HEI (which I have seen done), or convert it to and LS1 ignition style system, which would have less of a problem with an MSD box. But that is another discussion for another Forum. Neither of these options are very cheap, or very easy. But unless you are blowing the spark out with forced induction, you probably couldn’t benefit much from and ignition system. Once again if you think about it, the Stock ignition system has a Larger issue with longevity, but not power. if you strap an ignition box to it and you either go faster or your miss fires go away. That is because the ignition had an issue that you were unaware of, and this box has now masked it. Because all the ignition system can do is spark. More spark only lowers the chance of miss fire, but it will not make the explosion stronger. It can’t ADD HP. it can only help the engine perform properly; all the while pushing the ignition system in ways it wasn’t designed for.

The views & opinions expressed here are only that, VIEWS & OPINIONS. if you disagree fine, that is ok by me. EVERYONE is entitled to their own opinion . if Aftermarket ignition systems work for you then I am happy for you. This will be my only post on this subject. If you wish to ask me a question in regards to this subject, PM me.

 

well the thing is that i need a timing retard box and spark rev limiter. the digital 6 has both, or a 6al with a retard box will work as well. so im kinda on the fence here.

the LTCC incorporates both into the system, but then i have to drop way too much money for the box, coils, etc.

 

There have been several long discussions about this. A search should give you all opinions out there.

The only thing the MSD or any other box does is send a few more spark requests to the coil. So the only thing that has any kind of extra "stress" is the secondary ignition side of the system.

The ICM is before the MSD, so nothing changes for it. There is no effect on any electronics at all. The only thing that might wear more is the coil, cap and rotor, due to more iterations of spark.

I don't believe optsparks suck at all. Take an old top mounted HEI and see if it will go 100k+ miles with no maintenance, like some people have gotten out of their optis. Not gonna happen. The design is very good, IMO. It's just in a delicate place. IMO, people whine about the optis way too much.

 

Well said. I agree completely.

 

I think the opti is pretty good. Had mine for 74k miles w/o problems before the cam swap. I just think the location is bad.

Jeff D.

 

I agree. The opti is a very efficent device but the placement is quite poor. Is just too difficult to get too and too easy to mess up with a drippy water pump.

 

Dunno if this helps or not, but after the cam went into the car the car just ran rough and wouldnt rev too well. With the 6al box it was smooth and rev to 6500+

 

When my Accell Digtal 300+ went South, it took the ignition module, wiring harness, the Accell coil and the opti with it. I felt better throttle response with the box on, but I can live without it, for the 465$ it cost me to replace it.