which ignition system would you choose for your hot vw?

[wolfswest]

I've been watching on the internet for a msd setup.  The site is dummy proof so I get an good explination about their products.

which box is the most suitable for a beetle?  You have the 6a and the 6al and 7 series and...  I think if I buy a msd setup I go for the 6al....  Right choice? 

And then for the coils...  you have a blaster coil, a 2, a 3, ... coil...  Which one is the right choice? 

And the most important question, will I feel the difference...  You get much b*llsh*t about 1000000000000 volts and blablabla but will it improve my ET's ?   

Dem

[John Rayburn]

I run the 6a with a Bosch red coil. I set my plug gap at .060 and it loves it. I don't know that it will add power, however it will allow a freer reving engine and you will need to richen things up. I went to an MSD box in the early nineties because of the oxygenated fuels. I would have to run it so rich, that if it idled too long, I'd foul my plugs. The MSD took care of all that.

[wolfswest]

I run the 6a with a Bosch red coil. I set my plug gap at .060 and it loves it. I don't know that it will add power, however it will allow a freer reving engine and you will need to richen things up. I went to an MSD box in the early nineties because of the oxygenated fuels. I would have to run it so rich, that if it idled too long, I'd foul my plugs. The MSD took care of all that.

Well, I'm not hoping for a giant hp increase but I hope the engine runs "smoother"  When I drive it for a distance at low rpm's and I want to rev it, the plugs aren't working "right", the engine holds back a few seconds and then I'm gone...  Also the same as John, when the car idled for a while it is a real bitch to rev it correctly...  I hope I solve that with a msd system... 

Dem

[Torben Alstrup]

Depending on your set up, you will typically see 4-6 hp increase. But the bottom end torque will improove noticeably. Your idle will get better, and your emission will drop.
A blaster 2 is fine.
T

[pupjoint]

saw in the mag they have the new 6AL-2, digital version of the old 6AL, looks like they responded to Mallory's digital boxes, took them quite a while to do it though

[Tobi/DFL]

Hi Dem,

I would recommend a Mallory HyFire VI box as it offers more for less money than a MSD 6 AL! You already have a two-step, a start retard etc. and you don´t need RPM chips! I´m useing the mallory box with a Treuhaft 010 dissy with a Unilite module and it works just fine.
Bye,

Tobi

[wolfswest]

Hi Dem,

I would recommend a Mallory HyFire VI box as it offers more for less money than a MSD 6 AL! You already have a two-step, a start retard etc. and you don´t need RPM chips! I´m useing the mallory box with a Treuhaft 010 dissy with a Unilite module and it works just fine.
Bye,

Tobi

Thx for the information Tobi.  I will look on the internet for more information about the mallory box and the treuhaft dissy etc...  I probably will buy it this winter so I can still watch out for different options...  Did you buy it in Germany or in the us?

Dem

[Bewitched666]

Msd,Mallory or Petronix for me.

In the 80's i used the Jacobs system

[Tobi/DFL]

I bought all the ignition parts (besides the dissy) at Summit Racing.
The Treuhaft/Scat/Mallory dissy is not really hard to get. Just have a look at the samba.com ads.

Hi Dem,

I would recommend a Mallory HyFire VI box as it offers more for less money than a MSD 6 AL! You already have a two-step, a start retard etc. and you don´t need RPM chips! I´m useing the mallory box with a Treuhaft 010 dissy with a Unilite module and it works just fine.
Bye,

Tobi

Thx for the information Tobi.  I will look on the internet for more information about the mallory box and the treuhaft dissy etc...  I probably will buy it this winter so I can still watch out for different options...  Did you buy it in Germany or in the us?

Dem

[Trond Dahl]

(EXCEPT THE DIGITAL 6 - THOSE DON'T WORK!!!)

What issue's have you had with the Digital 6 Steve??  Mine has behaved fine so far!

I'm wondering the same thing, as I have a set on the way from vwparts...

[Steve D.]

I've never ran a digital 6 box, but I've known several people that have, and they have all had problems with them.  One shut the car off and wouldn't restart after the first 5 miles on the car.  Another randomly started dropping cylinders.  Others made the motor feel like it was loading up with fuel at high 6+ rpm.  Every one of these cases ended with the owners going back to their old 6A or 6AL boxes.   I'll say it right now, MSD makes some great products, but their digital series are just to finicky for me to trust.  The Buick turbocharged V6 crowd is going through the same problem with MSD's DIS4 ignition- popping, loading up, cutting out- once the car is back to stock GM ignition the car is back to making power.  I will say, however, that this Sunday I walked around Fontana and I think I saw a DIS-4 ignition on the floor of the Red Baron, so maybe it's working for them.

If you have a Digital 6, then run it- I just wouldn't reccommend it to anybody in the market for an ignition right now.

Remember guys, this is just my two cents, and last I checked it wasn't worth any more than anybody else's...   except the europeans- with this exchange, I think theirs is worth four and a half cents or something like that.

[Zach Gomulka]

Bosch 010 w/ Pertronix fired off by a MSD box hidden under the rear seat

[Austin Larsen]

i like the new MSD digital programmable ignition systems
for a distributor i believe u can machine down a MSD BBC or SBC distributor to make it into a VW distributor which spaces out the terminals more for running more advance,
if u could get a ProMag44 for a 4 cylinder id prob run that
other than that im going to run a CPC setup off my Fast EFI

[Rennsurfer]

Bosch 010 w/ Pertronix fired off by a MSD box hidden under the rear seat

Now THAT'S cool! Best of all worlds.

[ESH]

... Remember guys, this is just my two cents, and last I checked it wasn't worth any more than anybody else's...   except the europeans- with this exchange, I think theirs is worth four and a half cents or something like that ...

[Zach Gomulka]

Bosch 010 w/ Pertronix fired off by a MSD box hidden under the rear seat

Now THAT'S cool! Best of all worlds.

I think so , too. That will be the setup in my '67 "street" car. I want the classic look, but also a 2 step, rev limiter, and so on.

[louisb]

Bosch 010 w/ Pertronix fired off by a MSD box hidden under the rear seat

Change it to Mallory and that is my plan.

--louis

[Harry/FDK]

I run the MSD Distributor with Crane Fireball Hi 6 Box and Coil. No RPM plug-ins !! (check out Jegs for fair pricing)). If needed you can weld-up a truck on the emergency lane

[JS]

I run a Bosch 050 with a 6V coil with points. Never had any problems, works great.

[benssp]

I run an MSD 6AL with a 009/pertronix ignitor and a Blaster 2 coil at the moment, I've got a Pertronix 2 distributo to go on but am unsure of what springs i need to fit yet...


oh and i've got to finish the car yet!

will let you know in a couple of years how I get on

[Trond Dahl]

(EXCEPT THE DIGITAL 6 - THOSE DON'T WORK!!!)

What issue's have you had with the Digital 6 Steve??  Mine has behaved fine so far!

I'm wondering the same thing, as I have a set on the way from vwparts...

Got the new MSD digital 6 installed and tested out on SCC in my friends car... Had no problems whatsoever with the ignition and I'm very satisfied(so far) :-)
(with MSD distributor and Blaster 2 coil)

[Neil Davies]

I had a MSD dizzy, 6AL and Blaster 2 coil, with a 2 step in my old racecar. With no charging it sapped battery power - had to stick it on a charger between runs to keep it tip top.

[Tony M]

I love my 010 dist w/msd 6al box - easy to keep up - check the point gap every 5k - has never changed.