BBC plug life

Chad Rhodes · 10-12-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Do not use anything from the HEI system. Please, remember that HEI was designed for a time when 5500 RPM was high RPM, and 300HP was a lot.

Buy an MSD distributor and put the Comp poly gear on it, all your distributor problems will go away. It plugs straight in to your box, no place to have a problem.

The MSD 7AL 3 simply has all of the rev limiter features built in. It has a burnout limiter, a stage limiter, and a high side limiter. If you do not need all of that, then consider a different 7AL.

Get the Pro Power HVC coil, it works great with the 7 series ignitions, without problems.

I've been through all of that. We fought the "mix and match" ignition BS for a year, then we took all of the crap off, put a complete MSD system on, and we do not worry about ignition problems anymore. Put in a matched integrated system one time, and be done with it all. No compatibility issues, no guessing, just race. It's a great feeling.

Alan is correct. We have run the same setup for nearly 10 years now. Replaced the distributor once because of a horrendous engine failure but other than that, cap, rotor, and plug wires every year. And usually about 100 runs on the spark plugs, changed out of guilt, lol.

Ron Gusack · 10-12-2010, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad Rhodes

Alan is correct. We have run the same setup for nearly 10 years now. Replaced the distributor once because of a horrendous engine failure but other than that, cap, rotor, and plug wires every year. And usually about 100 runs on the spark plugs, changed out of guilt, lol.

This ignition will be about a grand when we're all done. It might take me a while to round up that much. I guess if I want to dance to the music I'll have to pay the piper.
I'm not thrilled with the Comp gear idea. I had one in my hand a while back and it made me shiver. Then I called Chris at Comp and he told me they have had some failures with it, but not many. I sent it back to Jegs.
I filed a little groove in the HEI housing to keep the gear lubricated. I know the MSD's have an O ring to seal up the distributor. Do you guys modify that at all?

Alan Roehrich · 10-12-2010, 04:27 PM

Nope, I don't modify anything. And the Comp gear in the car has been in the car for at least 3 years. We carry a spare, but have never used it.

If you're convinced that you're never going to need 3 RPM limiters, then don't buy the 7 AL-3.

We've got the same Moroso 40 series wires on the car we've had on for 2-3 years. MSD wires would be fine as well.

Adger Smith · 10-12-2010, 07:53 PM

At the RPM you are running a 6 AL with the big coil will save you money and do the job. Then there are no questions about No-E or footbrake classes. I have had the best all around luck with the -8 plugs w/ extended tips in BB engines. (when properly jetted) Remember the smaller the number in those plugs the hotter the plug. You could be just burning them up with chamber heat or killing them with heat caused Pre ignition/detonation. A cooler plug is always better to keep from glowing and causing pre ignition.

Ron Gusack · 10-12-2010, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

At the RPM you are running a 6 AL with the big coil will save you money and do the job. Then there are no questions about No-E or footbrake classes. I have had the best all around luck with the -8 plugs w/ extended tips in BB engines. (when properly jetted) Remember the smaller the number in those plugs the hotter the plug. You could be just burning them up with chamber heat or killing them with heat caused Pre ignition/detonation. A cooler plug is always better to keep from glowing and causing pre ignition.

I ran the B9ES plugs then went to the 7's and just put the 5's in on Friday. I cross the line at about 7200 in good air. Will a 6AL work at that RPM and compression?

Bob Verwold · 10-12-2010, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Gusack

I ran the B9ES plugs then went to the 7's and just put the 5's in on Friday. I cross the line at about 7200 in good air. Will a 6AL work at that RPM and compression?

Don't know if this is comparable or not but my small block (421, 14 to 1 on c-12) runs on a 6AL with all MSD parts. Dist, crank trigger,box, wires and coil and my plugs were in for about 2 1/2 years before the motor had a miss, changed plugs and they have been in half of last year and all this and still working good.I'm using champion RC 59 YC plugs gaped at .035. And I do go over 7200 rpm.

67ss · 11-01-2010, 03:29 PM

The 6al will be fine. I use a 6al with an HEI distributor as the trigger. Have been using the same HEI now for probably 6 or 7+ years. I use the cap a dapt kit from MSD with a Blaster II coil and a MSD cover that has the wire hold downs. I have a 460BBC that runs 10.50's in good air, shift at 6400 and cross at 6700, but mostly run 1/8th mile. For me the HEI/6al setup has been just fine. A buddy of mine ran a 509 BBC shifting at 6600-6700 and crossing at about that in the 1/8th running 6.30's but he used a MSD billet distributor. Plenty of cars out there running 6al's and turning 7k. And like I said the HEI has worked for me up to 6700 but 7k+ I couldn't tell ya.

10-12-2010, 04:27 PM	#3
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,116 Likes: 1,573 Liked 1,831 Times in 415 Posts	Re: BBC plug life Nope, I don't modify anything. And the Comp gear in the car has been in the car for at least 3 years. We carry a spare, but have never used it. If you're convinced that you're never going to need 3 RPM limiters, then don't buy the 7 AL-3. We've got the same Moroso 40 series wires on the car we've had on for 2-3 years. MSD wires would be fine as well. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

10-12-2010, 07:53 PM	#4
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: BBC plug life At the RPM you are running a 6 AL with the big coil will save you money and do the job. Then there are no questions about No-E or footbrake classes. I have had the best all around luck with the -8 plugs w/ extended tips in BB engines. (when properly jetted) Remember the smaller the number in those plugs the hotter the plug. You could be just burning them up with chamber heat or killing them with heat caused Pre ignition/detonation. A cooler plug is always better to keep from glowing and causing pre ignition. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

11-01-2010, 03:29 PM	#7
67ss Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 29 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: BBC plug life The 6al will be fine. I use a 6al with an HEI distributor as the trigger. Have been using the same HEI now for probably 6 or 7+ years. I use the cap a dapt kit from MSD with a Blaster II coil and a MSD cover that has the wire hold downs. I have a 460BBC that runs 10.50's in good air, shift at 6400 and cross at 6700, but mostly run 1/8th mile. For me the HEI/6al setup has been just fine. A buddy of mine ran a 509 BBC shifting at 6600-6700 and crossing at about that in the 1/8th running 6.30's but he used a MSD billet distributor. Plenty of cars out there running 6al's and turning 7k. And like I said the HEI has worked for me up to 6700 but 7k+ I couldn't tell ya. __________________ Chad Harris 67 Chevelle SS http://mysite.verizon.net/harrisracing Last edited by 67ss; 11-01-2010 at 03:34 PM.