What aftermarket ignition system?

zenboy99

Founding Member
May 12, 2002
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Madison, WI
I'm thinking this might be the next best mod for me since I have the stock ignition system and a ton of miles. I really have no clue what too look for and whats good. I remember hearing that there where some problems with the MSD 6A system. What should I look for? and what system would be the best for a H/C/I mustang?
 
MSD 6A series is awesome. It fires your plugs 4 times per rotation up to like 3000 rpms. After that there not enough time so it gives it one powerful spark. I have a 6AL myself and I love it. After a while I'm gonna upgrade to a MSD 7 Plus Digital.
 
zenboy, I've also heard of problems out of the MSD boxes.

I've heard only good things about the Crane HI-6; that's the one I plan on going with when I buy an ignition.

Plus if you get the kit from Summit, it comes with an aftermarket coil and the Mustang wiring harness/adapter to make for an easy installation.
 
I was looking at that one too, the Crane HI-6S is the one that comes with a coil and is $159.95. The Crane HI-6 is digital and is $219.95 without a coil, anyone know how big the difference is between these two?
 
I can't say how MSD does on every application, however MSD has been around the longest and as with every product there can be a problem. I would trust MSD over any other ignition system. MSD 6AL is also nice. It has a Rev Limiter that cuts the spark like every other rotation or something like that instead of cutting your injector pulse with your stock rev limiter. A must in my book.

I would say MSD6AL
 
I really didn't think it would add too much hp, but a friend of mine with a N/A 5L got 6rwhp and 9rwtq with a Crane HI-6. I looked through my old Mustang magazines and found an old 5.0 Mustang article where they added an ignition system to a 5L with H/C/I and gained 7rwhp. I figure since I'm still running the stock coil, I could upgrade the whole package.
 
zenboy99 said:
What was wrong with the Accel unit? Were you using the 300+ model? That was the one I was looking at.

Yes, it was the 300+. I would get a surging at around 2000 rpm under light throttle. If I got on it though, the engine made a completely different sound and if felt stronger than with the Crane. One thing I like about both the 300+ and the Crane is they are smaller than the MSD. The battery hold down can be moved abou an inch closer to the strut tower which allows the boxes to be mounted between the battery and the headlight which is a nice cool spot.