Re: RE: Your Pain Don't Kill Our Gain...!

From: Jon Steiger (stei0302@cs.fredonia.edu)
Date: Wed Jun 10 1998 - 02:22:33 EDT


At 07:46 PM 6/9/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Jon Steiger wrote:
>
>> >> > >
>> >> > > << Not to mention the MSD that dropped more than a tenth and gained a mph or
>> >> > > so>>
>> >> > >
>> >> > > I don't know if I'd believe that one.
>> >
>> >then... why are all the serious, FAST cars at the drags running MSD 7AL,
>> >etc...?
>>
>> Because they're turning high RPM's. It is my understanding that an
>> aftermarket ignition doesn't do much of anything for speed until you
>> start getting up over 5,000-6,000 RPM. Personal experiences of fellow
>> DML'ers seem to bear out this theory.
>>
>> >
>> >In my experience I found the MSD (or
>> >> > > Jacobs) creates a loss in both ET (.2) and power over all.
>> >
>> >don't feel msd is causing loss... i run it and LOVE it! :) jacobs...
>> >yes
>>
>> You already stated below that you haven't done or seen any before/after
>> ignition installs with documented dyno/strip changes. Ignitions such
>> as MSD definitely do make the truck smoother running, but maybe not
>> faster. It might be easy to confuse smooth with power...
>>
>> >> but I have yet to hear from anyone on the DML who has not experienced a loss
>> >> after installing an aftermarket ignition.
>> >
>> >ets are subject to many variables
>>
>> That's true. However, Bill loses 2 tenths consistently on the track
>> with the MSD. He's got his ignitions wired to a simple toggle switch,
>> which allows him to make runs in the same weather conditions. Another
>> list member has documented a decrease when using a G-tech to calculate

>> rear wheel HP. Thats a pretty good deal of supporting data, which
>> greatly reduces the chances of random error.
>>
>
>i don't buy none of this BS! and don't intend to and neither should
>you...
>
>until all these nay sayers... back up these "problems" with a Scientific
>Approach and
>at least eliminate the variables and set the test up so that anyone
>following their steps can dupicate exactly their results everytime...
>
>don't bad mouth the parts if you can't install it or blame the parts for
>variables that are uncontrollable; humidity for one! track conditions
>for two...
>
>and remember... one person's pain... may just be another's gain

   I'll certainly admit that our trucks can and do differ. Two seemingly
identical trucks coming off the line can turn very different times. That
might explain why some people claim a gain, and others claim a loss. It
is for that reason that I'd never tell someone not to buy an MSD, but I'm
certainly going to tell them about the experiences that others on the list
have had. If they'd like to try it, Jacobs (and probably MSD too) will take
'em back if they slow you down. They'd be out the shipping, but that may
be worth the risk. (I'd try it out myself, but I am highly sceptical that
it will lower my times; at this point, its not worth the shipping charges
and hassle to send it back.) When I intall nitrous, I'll get the chance
to try it out myself.

    I am not bad-mouthing these ignitions, simply relating results of
others on the list.
  
   I find it rather ironic that you're accusing us of being unscientific,
when you've admitted that you haven't done or seen any dyno or strip
tests of aftermarket ignitions yourself. With a dyno run, almost ALL
of the variables can be eliminated. Do one pull, flip the switch, do
another pull, repeat as nescessary. Same weather, same everything...
Doesn't do anything for 1/4 mile times of course, but it would stand to
reason that if the engine is making more power, it'll probably go faster
in the 1/4. Its not perfect, but its better than nothing...

  I'll admit that we haven't done any dyno testing to back up our power
loss claims, but we DO have a heap of evidence that points in that
direction, specifically Bill Tierney's extensive experience with the
MSD, both on the track and on the street. IMHO, if anyone should be
doing this type of testing, its the manufacturers themselves. If they
would like us to buy their ignition systems for more power, they should
be able to show that they actually do make more power. I don't intend
any disrespect to you, but I put a lot more weight in Bill's personal
experience and testing than your seat-of-the-pants feeling. I don't
really have any choice; the bulk of the evidence is in Bill's corner!

                                       -Jon-

  .--- stei0302@cs.fredonia.edu ------------------------------------.
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