What do you suggest for a full race setup then? Mag?

What's your thoughts on mallory's sprint mag vs super mag?

I have a sprint mag with 24 deg adv....it needs to be gone through

I have the opportunity to also pick up a super mag setup for dirt cheap.

My ignition has been my sole point of failure everytime now. I just want something that will work. I'm sick of the headaches. I just want my shit to run. I know it will run like a raped ape...I just need an ignition to keep it running.

Honestly, I have never been a huge fan of mag's unless your talking full on drag racing, I am not convinced they handle heat very well, and they hate water...not to mention can be hard starters if you don't have the motor spinning before you hit the ignition. (too revolution dependant for me) Major PITA on a whitewater dealio.

Being from the whitewater deal, my stuff was always fully drenched in water and taking a crap....I once used a GM HEI with OK results, but module failures were their Achilles heel.

If you use an MSD 6AL or the tougher MSD 6T (more vibration resistant) and a billet distributor, set up right and waterproofed (use a dizzy diaper and dielectric silicone on everything), the motor will not stop running until you turn it off or the carb gets a good flushing with water...(got ways around that too.)

I will go out on a limb and say your ignition woes are caused by vibration and or water, too things common to a whitewater boat...BTW I do not like the Marine version because it is unrepairable and a wee bit more dough.

Mount the box on a vibration isolator and run a separate ground from the distributor body to the box, then also to the engine block, use the shortest possible coil wire, and run an ignition relay. As close to bulletproof as you can get.

I did have a series of MSD 6AL boxes take a poo right from the box, but MSD stood behind them stating they had a supplier issue..Never had a problem since.

One thing you have to realize is the power wires going to the coil primaries is over 500 volts of capacitive energy, it don't take long for things to heat up if there is too much resistance (read;wet)...The power going to the coil of a standard ignition system is around 8 VDC...Big difference.

This type of ignition system has been around for a long time, the capacitive aspect has been used by Ford for over 20 years (called Dura Spark) they had a huge problem with module failures when they went to the plastic inner fenders, the cure was to ground the box to the firewall...

If you want, I can put together a schematic of what I think you need, with part numbers and all. Lemmeknow...

GT

Some more...

The only experience I have seen with the box is a buddy of mine with an eliminator. We could not get that damn thing dialed in. Would run good then run like shit. He decided to take the carb to C&J Eng. and when he told them everything about his motor and ignition system, they told him to throw the pos box away. Problem solved and the boat runs awesome. Just my .02

Geez...   Getting rid of  Crazy  888's  ign. problems ...That big a deal ..Fck.   

I still think a mag for your application is probably best though Brad. Kinda hard to miss with that.

There's the answer right there.

so what about the debate between sprint mag vs super mag?

In my opinion, and the opinions of several hot rodders & racers I know, Mallory mags are undependable, and notorious for taking a shit at the worst time, that being said, here's what I do know:
The Sprint Mag is designed for longer duration racing whereas the Super Mag is designed for shorter duration racing, (think circle races VS drag races) i
f you want a good, long lasting, dependable mag, go with a Vertex, or a Joe Hunt. Regardless of what you use, you need to call Don Zig and have your shit gone through before you run it, it'll be the best $250 you ever spend.
http://www.donzig.com/mallory.html


Magneto Based Rev Limiters
http://etcrevlimiters.com/

If you read the info on Sprint Mags and the tech info that is on Zig's site, you'll see that you have the mag you need, the Sprint Mag is your friend, we had no idea what we were doing when setting the timing, I'm reading his info as we speak, I know this, if you send it to Don, and you tell him what you're doing, how you're running etc, he'll give you all the knowledge you could ask for, he doesn't like his shit to fail people. Send that farkin thing already. 

I don't know the diff between the spring mag and the super mag, but I know the Vertex's I have come in both internal and external "coils", and that may be the difference. Mine are both internal and I'm gonna run 'em that way and see what happens in the spring.

I think the external type is what you really want, should run cooler (They do run hot!). I think that's what Terry is running, but don't remember whether it's the Sprint or Super. Personally, I would beleive the SprintMag would be the one you'd want. That would likely be designed for more than 1/4 mile passes, if I were buying Mallory on it.

Also, dunno if you can even find a Vertex for Ford "385" engines, or if they ever made them. Would be worth looking into, they're pretty much bullet proof!

Ray

ive stayed out of this until NOW, its all a matter of what system you want to run..............................
i ran both and had good luck with both.................................. hell even sunk the boat and the 6al box was under water and ran great the next day..................

so what do you want to spend YOUR  money on either way your spending

oh yeah my mag is a super mag 2 and its locked out with the rev limiter from here
ttp://etcrevlimiters.com/

i know you are tired of chasing your tail, so whip out your wallet and be done with it........

i did have my box mounted on the head like you do and moved it to the bulk head with the rubber delio's for viberation.'

ok im off my soap box now continue on

ive stayed out of this until NOW, its all a matter of what system you want to run..............................
i ran both and had good luck with both.................................. hell even sunk the boat and the 6al box was under water and ran great the next day..................

so what do you want to spend YOUR  money on either way your spending

oh yeah my mag is a super mag 2 and its locked out with the rev limiter from here
ttp://etcrevlimiters.com/

i know you are tired of chasing your tail, so whip out your wallet and be done with it........

i did have my box mounted on the head like you do and moved it to the bulk head with the rubber delio's for viberation.'

ok im off my soap box now continue on

No Soap Box required Ralph! I think you just reiterated what I've said since this thread began, lol!  

And from a more reliable source!

I guess my point is, think the thought (or project) through. If theres a problem, I was taught by an old guy I worked for in High School (Way back when) part time repairing typewriters, copiers, and (Something foreign to those of you under 40) Adding machines, What caused the problem and always continue asking why until you solve it. Worn part?, part failure?, lack of maintenenace?, Abuse?, Misaplication?, or Design Flaw?

Beleive me, the last one was RARELY the problem.

Ray

Drama.....Fix the fkn thing...once and for all

bsbsbs :banghead

Now yer talkin Son. What other things did Don say? The point of my last post was the Sprint Mag had been in the boat running for 25 years. The MSD has a new "endurance" box to run longer durations and the rev limiter but at a cost of two grand most people wont be running them. The Sprints are relativly dirt cheap and run for ever.