Ignition advice

I converted my 8-71 from gas to methanol this year - so I'm new to what's necessary. What I'm looking for advice on is whether I can run the ignition I have now or if I need to upgrade before I put the car on the track. I'll try to give appropriate information necessary, let me know if you need more:

525ci Pontiac
8-71 20% OD
Enderle Bird with 110 pump
13:1 static cr

I'd been running an MSD digital 6 on the gas motor - will this fire the plugs in this new combination if I put a warmer plug in and a little more timing? It's rated at 135mj. Or do I need to upgrade to a 10plus box?

Also, I've always run spiral core wires with MSD stuff. Do I keep the spiral cores? I've looked into mags and understand you want a solid core wire with them as a spiral will kill the spark energy. I do not have a crank trigger at this time, it would still be firing via the factory location distributor - is that a hugely bad idea? I wasn't aware of timing issues with the gas motor and this setup.

Thanks for any help.

 

Thanks Mike, I'll upgrade to the 10plus.

I think you misread my post on the crank trigger. I do not have a crank trigger at this time. I've been running a single point housing with a Pertronix kit installed for years. I'm looking to find out if I can run this with the 10plus or if I have to have a crank trigger. As mentioned I'm not aware of any misfiring or spark scatter problems with the gas motor and this Pertronix trigger setup. Is it just a question of the crank trigger potentially being more reliable?

Thanks again.

 

Switching to the crank trigger would not be much money and would provide more accurate timing. Your current one runs off the cam shaft and is subject to flex distorations. I also recommend the 10 Plus (700mj) if your in the market to upgrade. Since you already have a digital unit you might give MSD a call and see if you can keep the digital features for retards and rev limiters and just use the 10 Plus to drive the coil. It's being done.....just don't know the tech details.

Blessings.........Ron Clevenger.

 

ok i'm going to ask a stupid question how do you run a mag with a crank trigger? I thought the points fire the mag or do you remove the points and the trigger fires the mag , its a super mag thanks

 

M S D. as far as i know you cant do it with a mallory. in the msd ,the pick up is in the bottom so you put a wheel on the crank with magnets and a pickup that ties in to the top portion of the mag. talk about precise timing. i have never seen such a steady timing control before. no fluctuation from idle to high rpm. just one more reason to run a msd.

 

Thanks all for the advice - the archives on this website have been extremely helpful. I ordered a 10plus today. It has a stage and high end limiter, but I'll check with MSD on how to utilize some of the other digital features. I think I'd like to look into the ICT functions next year, especially with being only hat injected. When I get to that point I'll likely get into the crank trigger setup. There's only a few more weeks of racing up here in Wisconsin and I'm just looking to get it on the track once or twice this year.

 

Should have mentioned to keep close watch on the coil wire and plug wires with the 10 Plus. They do break down with that much energy load faster. Once they get a weak spot it will torch a large gap inside the insulation even though they will look OK on the outside.

Have fun before the snow............blessings........Ron Clevenger.

 

Something else to keep an eye on, the spring contact on the rotor. They can take quite a beating, and eventually will erode and get a hole in them. Beware!!!! Try the crank trigger; you'll love it. Its steady and reliable.
Henry

 

I hear you Henry. I've always made a habit of putting a new rotor in just about everytime I have the distributor out for anything.

I will be looking into the crank trigger for next year. I don't know for sure, but with a blown Pontiac it'll probably be another piece that isn't as readily available as it would be if you were running per say a Chevy...