OK, I'm getting ready to start buying and I'm curios about an MSD tpe of performance ignition. I did a search on this site and came up pretty empty as far as reviews go. Thoughts? Part numbers?
In terms of dollar/HP, ignition is a big waste of time unless you are running serious FI power. On an NA Focus, spending money to do more than plugs and wires is a real waste, and only do plugs and wires during your tune-up interval. Spending the money on a Screamin' Demon or MSD coil pack is completely worthless, as you MAY see only 1-1.5 WHP, for your $150 spent. And buying an MSD ignition box is mostly useful for advancing and retarding ignition timing. Sure, some will say that a capacitive discharge (CD) ignition is better, since it stores more energy and hits with the spark more accurately and more powerfully, and that translates to more power and better fuel mileage. But this is largely inaccurate without FI or a very high compression motor, since boost and compression can sometimes "blow out" the spark in a very weak factory ignition system. But Ford actually managed to engineer a decent ignition system on the Focus, so we can run pretty big numbers with the stock coil still on the car. In fact, there are turbocharged cars making 350 WHP with that stock piece. So as for any ignition upgrades, leave the dollars unspent and buy yourself something like a set of cams or race header with that money.
Hope this helps.
____________________ Lookin' fast in the slow lane
