Has anyone had some experience with an MSD upgrade? The application will be in a 3.2liter Porsche 84 Carrera motor. Should the spark plug/distributor wiring be upgraded?
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Has anyone had some experience with an MSD upgrade? The application will be in a 3.2liter Porsche 84 Carrera motor. Should the spark plug/distributor wiring be upgraded?
if you are going to spend that kind of money on a new MSD, do it right and do it all over. Coil, distributor, wires... don't spare anything or you will not get the results that you have read about. I asked the same question and the resounding answer I got was... if you are gonna do it... do it right. I will once a grand falls in my pocket, otherwise I am drivin n smilin right now.
The gas mixture in your cylinders doesn't care if it's set off by a spark, or a nuclear blast.....If you are not going to punish the engine, there is probably a better way to spend the money...
Leon C.
Leon C.
I think Leon likes electricity.
On the MSD box, I think put it up under the dash. Use steel pipe clamps to the sqare tube. Just to get it out of the engine compartment and to cool, dry environment. Yes, use good wiring. It should have come with it. I bought the 6al plus to have a dial in on 2 RPMs and the start and higher RPM retard.
Howard,
I believe you are keeping the MOTRONIC? I would suggest you contact Richard Clewett, Clewett Engineering for an electromotive system that is compatible with the motronic. You may actualy wind up spending less total money and I guarantee you will get a fabulous product. I "think" that electromotive integrates with the motronic (but Richard will know for sure). At which case you lose your distributor completely. The 3.2 already has a crank position sensor, I'm just not sure that you can tap into that for the electromotive.
As you are single plug, the system is a little less money (just one coil pack and one set of wires plus the ignition box). The box is very high quality and has no issues with being mounted in the engine bay. I took ours apart before I put it in, the entire electronic circuit board is inside of a gel-like substance is probably impervious to anything this side of submarine depth water.
http://www.clewett.com/
Richard Clewett will know the answer and have the parts you need.
As a final comment, let me add that the MSD is a waste of money on your car. It is nowhere near the quality of the stock MOTRONIC system you already have. Sorry. But that is the truth. Your MOTRONIC system is extremely difficult to improve upon. Unless you are getting really crazy with the heads and camshafts (and you aren't) the MSD will give multiple hits below 3,000 and could improve idle and low speed driveability. That is the only possible area of improvement over what you already have. But most people who go to the effort of head/camshaft work on a 3.2 engine go to a twin-plug system which allows (on a 911) about 10 degrees less advance. Less heat, less drag, etc.
angela
I believe you are keeping the MOTRONIC? I would suggest you contact Richard Clewett, Clewett Engineering for an electromotive system that is compatible with the motronic. You may actualy wind up spending less total money and I guarantee you will get a fabulous product. I "think" that electromotive integrates with the motronic (but Richard will know for sure). At which case you lose your distributor completely. The 3.2 already has a crank position sensor, I'm just not sure that you can tap into that for the electromotive.
As you are single plug, the system is a little less money (just one coil pack and one set of wires plus the ignition box). The box is very high quality and has no issues with being mounted in the engine bay. I took ours apart before I put it in, the entire electronic circuit board is inside of a gel-like substance is probably impervious to anything this side of submarine depth water.
http://www.clewett.com/
Richard Clewett will know the answer and have the parts you need.
As a final comment, let me add that the MSD is a waste of money on your car. It is nowhere near the quality of the stock MOTRONIC system you already have. Sorry. But that is the truth. Your MOTRONIC system is extremely difficult to improve upon. Unless you are getting really crazy with the heads and camshafts (and you aren't) the MSD will give multiple hits below 3,000 and could improve idle and low speed driveability. That is the only possible area of improvement over what you already have. But most people who go to the effort of head/camshaft work on a 3.2 engine go to a twin-plug system which allows (on a 911) about 10 degrees less advance. Less heat, less drag, etc.
angela
Angela, I appreciate you input and as I've been doing due diligence, you're right about the MSD. In a stock 3.2 , Porsche/motronic provides more than enough spark voltage than I can use for my application and its a multiple spark. The wires have all tested out as new. I GAIN nothing. I'm leaving for the IM BBQ on July 5th, to meet up with the "faithful" and see my "baby". Very excited about getting to the Northwest. Henry has given me the use of his speedster for at least part of the weekend. Just to wet the appetite. Sorry you and Steve wont be able to make it.
Howard,
I've been excited about your build from Day One! Can't wait to see your car when it is done. If you are planning on driving it home, and care to take the scene route through southern Oregon, give a shout. You are more than welcome to stay with us and I'll even yield garage space to that jewel of a car.
angela
I've been excited about your build from Day One! Can't wait to see your car when it is done. If you are planning on driving it home, and care to take the scene route through southern Oregon, give a shout. You are more than welcome to stay with us and I'll even yield garage space to that jewel of a car.
angela
Angela, Your very kind. I'm tring to figure out a way to get the necessary time off to make a cross country trip. My problem, is that I'm self employed and therefore things dont run too well without me being there. I could make the trip in four days? But I want to "SEE" the country. I would prefer a month! Maybe I can scoot down the coast. Idon't anticipate that the car will be ready this summer. Henry is running behind. No matter. It will be worth waiting for. He's doing several 911 builds thisa year, which, as you can imagine, envolves more custom fabrication than the VW based cars. Thank you so much for your input/support these past months.