Choosing the Best Ignition Box


We’re all crazy about our spark. It’s that remarkable little guy who makes our engines purr as they should. And with nearly 900 different options available you are covered when it comes to making that spark the best it can be. It can be difficult to choose the right kit or components to help you make the right decision.
Box No. 6AL
The ignition box acts as an amplifier for the coil, resulting in a higher spark. For an overview of the differences between some of the MSD boxes. In reaction to the failed technology of points, HEI has been around since the mid to late 1970s. Vendors offer a variety of electronic ignition options, ranging from Ready to Run MSD and Mallory systems to Crane conversion systems, which require only the removal of the old points and condenser, the installation of an ignition module on a conversion plate, and the routing of a couple of wires. For a clean look, everything in these kits is designed to fit under your OEM distributor cap.
Choosing the Best Ignition Box
The use of breaker points to interrupt the low-voltage high-current through the primary winding of the coil is a disadvantage of the mechanical system; the points are subject to mechanical wear where they ride the cam to open and shut, as well as oxidation and burning at the contact surfaces from the constant sparking. They must be adjusted regularly to compensate for wear, and the opening of the contact breakers, which controls spark timing, is subject to mechanical fluctuations. Furthermore, spark voltage is affected by contact efficacy; poor sparking can result in reduced engine efficiency. That is, as soon as you install a set of points, they begin to lose performance.
These issues are addressed by electronic ignition. The contact breaker points in electronic ignition systems are replaced by an angular sensor of some kind – either optical, where a vaned rotor breaks a light beam, or more commonly, a Hall effect sensor, which responds to a rotating magnet mounted on the distributor shaft. The sensor output is shaped and processed by appropriate circuitry before being utilized to activate a switching device, such as a thyristor, which switches a big current through the coil.
When it comes to coils, you have a few alternatives to pick from. Most experts will advise you to stick with the manufacturer of the other components you utilize. This is acceptable if you purchase a kit. MSD, Mallory, Accel, and Crane are all viable options, but the best advice we can give is to read some reviews and chat to folks who have similar setups to what you’re considering.