What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

shop guy said i have spark overkill ????

RootBreaker

RootBreaker

3/4 ton status
 Premium
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Nov 29, 2001
Posts
6,998
Reaction score
1,423
Location
Williamstown, NJ USA
I went to the shop where my truck is and they said the vacuum advance is not working on my truck. They asked me if I really like my dizzy and I said it is a brand new msd so it should be working. Then they said what I have in the truck is total overkill.... but it is all paid for so I don't see why not use it.. I told them I just originally wanted a rev limiter. He is saying if I just put a normal hei dizzy in, I can get rid of all the other stuff and sell it all. He also said there are other ways to get a rev limiter and I would save money.

Have you ever been told that it is overkill? is it really and is he right? Should I ditch it all?

I have
MSD dizzy - http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD/121/8362/...Vcf4JeTQtSH_DOCdwNiPOweO8CGK7Ld_aohoCqKbw_wcB

msd 6al with rev limiter
http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD+Ignition/...2UuLoEM4TW7AVx686xNVQTi4FYaph2rLCjxoCtrvw_wcB


msd adjustable rpm module
http://www.jegs.com/i/MSD-Ignition/121/8671/10002/-1?parentProductId=

msd timing control module
https://www.msdperformance.com/products/rpm_timing_controls/timing_controls/parts/8680


do you think this is overkill? he said a stock hei will do fine with my truck as I am not running anything radical.

thoughts?

motor is
1991 caprice police 350 - 2 bolt main hydraulic roller lifters
1996 Tahoe heads
Weiand Action +Plus™ Vortec Intake manifold
qjet
full tube headers
comp cams Xtreme 4x4™ X4258HR hydraulic roller cam - http://www.compperformancegroupstor...CC&Product_Code=08-409-8&Category_Code=HRX4X4
 
An hei would be fine, and they make an hei module with an adjustable rev limiter. Nothing wrong with using what you have though...did he offer to buy it?
 
no offer to buy it...

so should i ditch all this or keep what i got? thats my concern now. I dont know enough of this stuff... hah
 
Total overkill. HEI is quite good all by itself even for engines much more modified than yours.
 
so anyone got links to a rev limiter that would work? i still have the hei piece that goes into my msd dizzie so I could essentially go backwards and take all this out but want to know what i need first...
 
So couple questions

Is the msd not working?
And what is the reasoning behind "needing" a rev limiter?
 
msd is working... well the rev limiter is if i punch it you can hear it kicking in....

so need for rev limiter... im not a rock guy and with a stick I tend to put it in a gear, floor it and hold on. Dont want to over rev the motor and have the motor go BOOOM!!
 
The MSD is overkill however it should work fine for your application. Sounds like the guy that's working on your truck isn't familiar with the distributor and how it works to properly diagnose why it's not advancing. IIRC they have a "stop" inside of the distributor that limits the advance. Obviously the diaphragm or a vacuum issue could be causing this too.
 
Big fan of no broke don't fix it

So bad driving habits aside
:rolleyes:


Simple would be HEI with a two step
 
Yep I agree with Skunked. Call msd yourself






This coming from a guy who ran dual point ignition in race cars up through all this modern technology :dunno:
 
bent72 said:
Big fan of no broke don't fix it
Click to expand...


I have a complete (brand new in the boxes) MSD setup for my BBC sitting on the shelf that I haven't installed for this very reason. I would have to carry an HEI backup on trail runs if I decided to run it. I don't trust those damn boxes.
 
skunked said:
I have a complete (brand new in the boxes) MSD setup for my BBC sitting on the shelf that I haven't installed for this very reason. I would have to carry an HEI backup on trail runs if I decided to run it. I don't trust those damn boxes.
Click to expand...
Failed 2 in our Super Stocker before putting points back in. Actually gotten away from msd for that reason.

Did watch the engine shop spin my accel 37 series dual point to 11k on the scope. Never missed. I can live with that
 
bent72 said:
Failed 2 in our Super Stocker before putting points back in. Actually gotten away from msd for that reason.

Did watch the engine shop spin my accel 37 series dual point to 11k on the scope. Never missed. I can live with that
Click to expand...

11K is good :saweet:

that's why most teams had two boxes, one failed, flip a switch and your back firing. I had one fail and I missed a semi final race, that was the end of MSD in that car.
 
so don't even go with a rev limiter? just go back to hei and be done? not like I wheel anymore anyway. May someday get to trail ride but nothing radical.
 
It'll stop reving when the valves float, then lift. Problem solved

You should be fine without one, really.
 
RootBreaker said:
so don't even go with a rev limiter? just go back to hei and be done? not like I wheel anymore anyway. May someday get to trail ride but nothing radical.
Click to expand...

For your application I would probably fix the MSD. I don't see why it shouldn't work.....but if it's easier for you to go back to HEI then do that.

I like to KISS wherever I can simply because my rig is intended to be hours away from parts stores. I carry spare HEI parts and I'm good.
 
HEI has been shown to be reliable to about 6500 rpm. It's usually the heads and cam that make things start to suck by 4500 rpm.

I never had issues running points back in the day. I had a 68 Dodge Dart and swapped in a later 318 with electronic ignition. Had no idea how to get it to work, so I swapped in a dual point dist from a 340 and called it good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom