What's a good CDI box value these days?

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dfarr67
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What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by dfarr67 »

Not really a msd fan, I do like the old Crane HI6 but they cannot be repaired so buying a used one is iffy- been burnt once already. The new generation (FAST?) is a little overpriced for me. App is 89 TBI, looking for better starting not miracles.

https://www.jegs.com/i/Intellitronix/556/150DL/10002/-1
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by BOOT »

Other than finding a good deal on a used MSD box, your prob looking at china junk.

Daytona Sensors is another option, not cheap tho. Never used them myself and even tho I'm not a fan of MSD I have a few boxes that'll last me for a bit.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by stealth »

Interesting that this came up..

I was in same boat... I'd look for a crane box and hope for the best.

Just bought a crane HI6R with the adjustable timing knob thing. New old stock .. never used

Found it on FB marketplace.

Hope I works...:)
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by nhrastocker »

stealth wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:38 am Interesting that this came up..

I was in same boat... I'd look for a crane box and hope for the best.

Just bought a crane HI6R with the adjustable timing knob thing. New old stock .. never used

Found it on FB marketplace.

Hope I works...:)
I believe the Daytona-Sensors group is the former Crane Cams ignitions guys.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by RevTheory »

Is a CDI the right way to go for better starts on a non-boosted, lower-compression/rpm engine? What about a kicked-up inductive spark ignition? D.U.I. maybe?
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by David Redszus »

RevTheory wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:32 pm Is a CDI the right way to go for better starts on a non-boosted, lower-compression/rpm engine? What about a kicked-up inductive spark ignition? D.U.I. maybe?
CDI is an obsolete ignition concept that should be replaced with an inductive coil over plug system.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by BOOT »

stealth wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 9:38 am Just bought a crane HI6R with the adjustable timing knob thing. New old stock .. never used

Found it on FB marketplace.

Hope I works...:)

I did that with a Mallory programmable dist from ebay, think it was $500 and I paid maybe $300ish. Definitely never opened but now I have a nice paper weight that didn't work from go and no1 can fix.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by BOOT »

David Redszus wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:55 pm
RevTheory wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:32 pm Is a CDI the right way to go for better starts on a non-boosted, lower-compression/rpm engine? What about a kicked-up inductive spark ignition? D.U.I. maybe?
CDI is an obsolete ignition concept that should be replaced with an inductive coil over plug system.
Show me one that cost the same as a cd box and is as easy to install, I'd rather have 8 coils!
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by dfarr67 »

Eventually moving towards 24X, just the cash for a built 4L60E is in the way- have everything else....in the meantime. Good wires, better GM module (last two aftermarket modules shut me down), oe coil, NGK plugs. BTW I've have cdi in the past- works great.....when it's working, I thought by now there might be better units available.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by Schurkey »

dfarr67 wrote: Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:21 pmApp is 89 TBI, looking for better starting not miracles.
'89 GM TBI?

"Better starting" is not something you'll get from a CDI box. I ran a MSD 6T on my '88 5.7L K1500 for awhile; (until it died and the engine stalled) when I switched back to the stock HEI in the parking lot, I couldn't tell the difference in starting speed, power, driveability, etc. I never bothered to reinstall an MSD box, or to get the 6T repaired.

Of course, this assumes that your ignition system is working properly; and the cap, rotor, plug wires, plugs, etc aren't old as Methuselah.

Does your fuel pump prime when the key is turned from "Off" to "Run"? Most vehicles prime for ~2 seconds; a few have a "Hot Fuel Module" that primes for ~20 seconds. No prime = fuel pump relay/harness issues; or a failed ECM.

If the fuel pump relay or the associated wiring harness isn't functional, the engine will crank and crank and crank until it builds oil pressure. The oil pressure sending unit bypasses the fuel pump relay to turn the fuel pump on. Many "hard starting" problems are somewhere in the fuel pump relay circuit; the only reason the vehicle runs at all is because the fuel pump is getting power through the oil pressure switch after it's built oil pressure.

Of course, just plain low fuel pressure from a failed fuel pump, or low voltage across the pump, can do that, too.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by BOOT »

Schurkey wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:39 pm
dfarr67 wrote: Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:21 pmApp is 89 TBI, looking for better starting not miracles.
'89 GM TBI?

"Better starting" is not something you'll get from a CDI box.
I noticed right away the better start up with my 77 Corvette course the HEI used the orig hot wire. That HEI had all the upgrades(msd module) including a dedicated ground and good condition consumable parts.

edit: Also only had bout 34k on the HEI before I modded it.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by Geoff2 »

Yes,
A lot of CDI ign boxes on cars that don't need them...or gain any benefit.
GM HEI is simply unbeatable for the average performance engine.

Great technical comparison here between HEI [ MDI ] & CD:

www.worldphaco.net
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by Schurkey »

Geoff2 wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 2:42 am Yes,
A lot of CDI ign boxes on cars that don't need them...or gain any benefit.
GM HEI is simply unbeatable for the average performance engine.

Great technical comparison here between HEI [ MDI ] & CD:

www.worldphaco.net
My experience--while limited--is that "if a MSD (or other "hot-rod" ignition box) is making a big difference" in the way the car runs on the street, the tune is way off. The megamultispark is compensating for poor fuel mix, (usually too-lean at idle) poor cylinder-to-cylinder fuel distribution, or some other correctable fault.

This may not be as true for a "race" car.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by dfarr67 »

Loosely based 89 TBI:

- EBL/7747- port mod
- 385cid, AFR heads
- FIRST TPI
- bank to bank fire

- small cap hei, 369 module, oe coil, crane wires. Never had a reliability problem with GM stuff- whether it's running as-new I don't know, MSD/Accel- I have had issues.
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Re: What's a good CDI box value these days?

Post by Schurkey »

dfarr67 wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:58 pm Loosely based 89 TBI:

- EBL/7747- port mod
- 385cid, AFR heads
- FIRST TPI
- bank to bank fire

- small cap hei, 369 module, oe coil, crane wires. Never had a reliability problem with GM stuff- whether it's running as-new I don't know, MSD/Accel- I have had issues.
What is a "FIRST TPI" "loosely based" on a TBI?

Bank-to-bank won't happen with a TBI (dual-plane intake), I don't know about TPI.

I still want to know about fuel pressure at prime and startup.
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