MSD 6 or 7

[bobtile]

Looking for opinions on my ignition system.
I currently have a 6al and has been with the car for at least 10 years. Nothing appears to be wrong with what I have.
I have a friend that has been pushing me to but a 7 series box so I started looking into reasons why I should do it.
Aside from program ability, which I don't suspect I will ever use, I have read that cylinder pressure is a determining factor.
Up until this year, the motor has been at 11:1 compression.
This year I stepped it up to 13.5:1.
Like I said, I don't seem to have any issues with what I have.
Should I consider going to a 7 series and what should I expect from it if I do.(a side from a lighter wallet.)
Thanks for any input.

 

[69sunfireGTX]

Unless you plan on going fuel injected or setting it up so you can a run a timing curve I would stay with what works. Save your money.

 

[moobster]

...what should I expect from it if I do.(a side from a lighter wallet.)
Thanks for any input.

Every 60#'s lighter, is a tenth quicker.

 

[Sweet5ltr]

Looking for opinions on my ignition system.
I currently have a 6al and has been with the car for at least 10 years. Nothing appears to be wrong with what I have.
I have a friend that has been pushing me to but a 7 series box so I started looking into reasons why I should do it.
Aside from program ability, which I don't suspect I will ever use, I have read that cylinder pressure is a determining factor.
Up until this year, the motor has been at 11:1 compression.
This year I stepped it up to 13.5:1.
Like I said, I don't seem to have any issues with what I have.
Should I consider going to a 7 series and what should I expect from it if I do.(a side from a lighter wallet.)
Thanks for any input.

6AL-2 will provide you with programmable timing curves. Great for a street car, don't see it serving a purpose for your application.

 

[Mike Gaines]

I have the same question...is the 7AL worth the money for a car with 12-1 or even 13.5-1 CR....or is it horsepower that matters...if so do you need a 7AL with only 750HP ?
Let's hear from the guys.

 

[dvw]

We run my sons turbo car at 21 psi with a 6AL. My car runs 7AL2 because it was donated to the build.
Doug

 

[biomedtechguy]

6AL-2 will provide you with programmable timing curves. Great for a street car

I looked through the installation and user manual, but I don't see the "programmable timing curves" part, which I may have overlooked.
The reasons why I bring that up is I am thinking for now, but especially for my stroker motor, having the flexibility to craft timing curves by selecting a preprogrammed curve would be great, as long as more power would result from say using 110 octane race fuel vs 92-93 octane pump gas. It would also come into play for nitrous.
In other words, have a curve for 92-93 octane, and then a more aggressive curve than ALSO produced more power for race fuel.
Is anyone doing this?

 

[66Satellite47]

I have the same question...is the 7AL worth the money for a car with 12-1 or even 13.5-1 CR....or is it horsepower that matters...if so do you need a 7AL with only 750HP ?
Let's hear from the guys.

IMHO, not HP, it's the max RPM and to a much less degree CR, under 14. My experience with the MSD was with the MSD 404 BC. The 7 series replaced the 404, the spark output seemed really close. Seems to me if you go much over 7,000 RPM the 7 series comes into play. Just my opinion. My antique 404 was firing just fine @ 8400 RPM until the valve train exploded. Bottom line, sure seems like a 6 series is good to & past 7,000 RPM.

 

[hangn0ut]

I had a 7 box,the analog one,big red box. Worked just fine. Then I "upgraded"to a digital 7. Had some really cool features and ran better it seems. But that lasted all of 10 minutes. Then it would not start. No spark. Spent many hours messing with it. Went through the entire electrical system. Especially the grounds. Even sent the box back to Autotronics. They said it was good. Was so pissed I stuck a mag in the car. Locked out of course. Ended up with a digital 6. Works fine. And that 7 is boxed up,sitting on some shelf.

 

[Xp29h]

I ran the 6al-2 programmable in my charger with a 512 stroker (lower cr cr is 9:8 which is lower than what you’re talking about) It died on my out on the road. The 6al-2 program stuff I thought was minimal and really wasn’t going to do much for me. I’m now running the 6al and no issues at all. It’s a street car with a big motor that looks like a little ole 383!