Two questions for the veterans

[DIY ON THE FLY]

Good evening Ramites! i have two more questions for you all.
I have recently been looking at installing a MSD 6AL ignition box in the near future. Before doing anything to my truck i like to do a lot of research and know all the pros and cons.
QUESTION 1:
-Does anyone have experience to tell me yay or nay on installing one?
-Have any of you put an MSD 6AL on any of your vehicles?(preferably trucks!)
-What would be the ideal setup as far as engine upgrades with and without the 6AL?

QUESTION 2:
My truck has around 107,000 miles on it. I live in utah where winters are cold. My pulleys squeake like crazy in the cold! it it time to replace my tensioner and pulleys? I recently replaced the serpentine belt on my truck but didn't look at doing the pulley's or tensioner when i replaced the belt. If it is time to replace them what is a good brand to go with for pulleys and tensioners?

I'm open to any suggestions and questions, i'm here to learn from you all and really appreciate the help. Thanks

 

[Joe w.]

Have you ever replaced the water pump that maybe what is causing your belt to squeak? What type brand of belt did you buy? I hear Gator is the best. I have never delt with the MSD

 

[Mohpar]

Good evening Ramites! i have two more questions for you all.
I have recently been looking at installing a MSD 6AL ignition box in the near future. Before doing anything to my truck i like to do a lot of research and know all the pros and cons.
QUESTION 1:
-Does anyone have experience to tell me yay or nay on installing one?
-Have any of you put an MSD 6AL on any of your vehicles?(preferably trucks!)
-What would be the ideal setup as far as engine upgrades with and without the 6AL?
Thanks

I'm assuming you know what the 6AL does basically? From my understanding it improves the duration and quality of spark in the higher RPM ranges. If you have a modified engine that revs high or above the limit, this can ensure you have continuous quality spark to combust the gas in a more efficient manner. At the very least, a quality ignition setup (good wires, plugs, cap, rotor) would be a must have.

Additionally, you can set a rev limit to compliment your higher stall torque converter for drag/street racing. Example: set the rev limiter to 2500 on the 6AL box, when you flip a wired switch, it will let the rev limiter free from 2500 when the light turns green.


I have not installed it, however, it is on my list for the summer. I have yet to find a video online where someone explains in detail how to install it for our generation trucks. Plenty out there for other hotrods and imports, I'd assume the steps are basically the same.

That said, I think it's a great addition to even a mildly built engine. But probably not much use to someone who just daily drives their truck.

 

[Saltillo Express]

I had a 6AL box on several of my gen 2 rams. You'll dig it. They run better from the improved spark. Seems like Summit was making a knock off box that did the same thing and was cheaper. Not sure if it's still available.

 

[DIY ON THE FLY]

Have you ever replaced the water pump that maybe what is causing your belt to squeak? What type brand of belt did you buy? I hear Gator is the best. I have never delt with the MSD

I haven't replaced the water pump, I'm pretty certain the pulleys are struggling in the cold. I'll check the water pump though. I bought a gator back belt, continental actually bought out Goodyear and owns the gator back patten nowadays.

 

[DIY ON THE FLY]

I'm assuming you know what the 6AL does basically? From my understanding it improves the duration and quality of spark in the higher RPM ranges. If you have a modified engine that revs high or above the limit, this can ensure you have continuous quality spark to combust the gas in a more efficient manner. At the very least, a quality ignition setup (good wires, plugs, cap, rotor) would be a must have.

Additionally, you can set a rev limit to compliment your higher stall torque converter for drag/street racing. Example: set the rev limiter to 2500 on the 6AL box, when you flip a wired switch, it will let the rev limiter free from 2500 when the light turns green.


I have not installed it, however, it is on my list for the summer. I have yet to find a video online where someone explains in detail how to install it for our generation trucks. Plenty out there for other hotrods and imports, I'd assume the steps are basically the same.

That said, I think it's a great addition to even a mildly built engine. But probably not much use to someone who just daily drives their truck.

That's exactly what I have found, lots of people putting them on hot rods and whatnot. Once you install one let me know the pros and cons you see. From what I've heard most results are pros. I've upgraded all my plugs wires rotor ignition coil and distributor cap to aftermarket parts.

 

[Merc225hp]

I'm assuming you know what the 6AL does basically? From my understanding it improves the duration and quality of spark in the higher RPM ranges. If you have a modified engine that revs high or above the limit, this can ensure you have continuous quality spark to combust the gas in a more efficient manner. At the very least, a quality ignition setup (good wires, plugs, cap, rotor) would be a must have.

Additionally, you can set a rev limit to compliment your higher stall torque converter for drag/street racing. Example: set the rev limiter to 2500 on the 6AL box, when you flip a wired switch, it will let the rev limiter free from 2500 when the light turns green.


I have not installed it, however, it is on my list for the summer. I have yet to find a video online where someone explains in detail how to install it for our generation trucks. Plenty out there for other hotrods and imports, I'd assume the steps are basically the same.

That said, I think it's a great addition to even a mildly built engine. But probably not much use to someone who just daily drives their truck.

Been there done that, yes i used a msd box. What's posted above is spot on, mid to high rpm there is gains but not in the lower rpm range. Not worth the money in my op for a dd As for installing one you can get a wiring harness thats makes it almost plug and play.

 

[Saltillo Express]

Here's the summit box. $147 not bad.

Summit Racing® Multi-Spark Digital Capacitive Discharge Ignitions SUM-850610 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing

 

[Merc225hp]

MSD Digital 6AL Ignition Controllers 6425 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing he asked about a MSD 6al as i said not cheap.

 

[Mohpar]

Not worth the money in my op for a dd As for installing one you can get a wiring harness thats makes it almost plug and play.

he asked about a MSD 6al as i said not cheap.

Are you saying the gains were just negligible ? What did you end up doing with yours ?

 

[Merc225hp]

At low rpm it did nothing, at high rpms yea it helped, sold mine long ago saw no need for it.