So you want hot ignition? Nearly everyone makes 'em these days, so who do you turn to? Assuming you've limited your shopping to a simple add-on spark-upgrade box, you're probably looking at ACCEL, Crane, Holley, Jacobs, Mallory, or MSD. You won't go wrong with any of them for basic power, but what about price? Size and weight? Ease of installation? This should answer those questions.
The following overview of 12 boxes offered by six manufacturers is organized like this: The first seven, listed under "street/strip," are what each company would recommend for a typical mild street car-we're talking an engine making about 300-400 hp, moving a 3,000-3,500 pound car down the road. The second ignitions are the next step up-the serious race boxes for 10- and 9-second or quicker race cars. These sure aren't every ignition box available, but between the street and race units we've covered the most popular ones for car crafters.
Shop, compare, and have a look at the tech tidbits we touch upon here. Then remember, the only way you can really go wrong on an ignition setup for an honest street car is to spend more money than you need to. Sure, the race boxes have their place, but any of the top-drawer "street" boxes shown should have enough juice to light your fire.
Street/Strip
Who makes it? ACCEL
What's it called? 200+
PN: 76200 (universal)
Ease of Installation: Very-there are only four wires to connect and two supplied harnesses to plug in. The box's small size allows it to fit almost anywhere.
Dimensions: 3 1/2x4 1/2x2 inches
Weight: 2 pounds
Maximum Operating RPM: 6,500
Claimed Voltage Output: Dependent on the coil
Claimed Spark Energy Output: Dependent on the coil
Features: As ACCEL's super basic ignition upgrade, the 200+ is a bang-for-the-buck winner. Although it's not a capacitive discharge box, the 200+ works with points or breakerless electronic distributors such as a GM HEI or Ford TFI system. The unit boosts the primary voltage to the coil as a function of engine speed. At idle, the 200+ doesn't place any added load on the coil, and as engine load and rpm increase, the unit begins to boost the primary voltage from 12 to as many as 18 volts at 3,500 rpm. The 200+ has a limp-home mode: If the box were to malfunction, the switch circuit automatically bypasses the amplifier, providing uninterrupted power to the coil. Besides the shown universal setup, the 200+ is available with additional bits to make it specific for the following applications: '74-'91 GM HEI (PN 76210), '84-'95 GM remote-coil HEI (PN 76211), and '84-'95 Fords with EEC IV including Mustang 5.0s (PN 76220).
Typical street or mail-order price range: $120-$130
Who makes it? ACCEL
What's it called? 300+
PN: 49300 (universal)
Ease of Installation: A little more work than the 200+, but specialized applications with custom-fit, plug-in harnesses and its small dimensions are a big plus.
Dimensions: 4 1/4x3x2 inches
Weight: 2 1/2 pounds
Maximum Operating RPM: 12,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 535
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 143 millijoules
Features: As one of the smaller boxes in this group of street/strip ignitions, the 300+ lives up to the adage of big things coming in small packages. The unit's digital brain delivers spark energy at a rate high enough for any street car making 400-500 hp. Less current draw from the battery is another benefit. The shown universal system comes with a splice-yourself harness, but many model-specific versions are available with plug-in harnesses.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $135-$200 (without and with coil)
Who makes it? Crane
What's it called? FireBall HI-6
PN: 6000-6420
Ease of Installation: The HI-6 is a universal box, but optional accessories make it easy to install in late-model cars, including GM HEI and Ford TFI systems.
Dimensions: 8x4 1/2x2 inches
Weight: 2 1/2 pounds for nonencapsulated versions. Encapsulated boxes (such as the HI-6R) are 4 1/2 pounds.
Maximum Operating RPM: 12,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 450
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 1,200 millijoules/sequence
Features: A capacitive discharge system, many versions of the HI-6 cover street, drag-race, oval-track, and marine applications. The built-in rev limiter works in 100-rpm increments up to 9,900 rpm, and is set using two rotary switches. During cranking and low rpm the HI-6 generates up to 12 sparks per cylinder firing. Other HI-6 tricks include an RISC (reduced instruction set computer) microcontroller that runs at 4 MIPS (million instructions per second) to give instantaneous response to inputs and provide the computing power to run Crane's sequential rev limiting program. The unit's power supply also maintains a constant ignition energy output even if battery voltage drops to only 6 volts. The HI-6 is 50-state legal on any '95-and-earlier, pre-OBD II vehicle under EO # D-225-52. The box works best with either Crane's LX (shown) or PS series coils.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $150-$170
Who makes it? Holley
What's it called? HP Annihilator
PN: 800-100
Ease of Installation: The Holley box connects to any OE or aftermarket distributor including points, HEI, or magnetic pick up. It can also be used with any make of magnetic crank trigger.
Dimensions: 6.20x4.20x2.55 inches
Weight: 4.55 pounds
Maximum Operating RPM: 16,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 525
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 135 millijoules
Features: Multiple sparks with the HP Annihilator are provided up to 3,000 rpm through 22 1/2 degrees of crankshaft rotation. The HP's microprocessor is very accurate at controlling the built-in rev limiter because it's not affected by temperature or humidity. The limiter works up to 9,900 rpm in 100-rpm increments and is accurate to plus or minus 10 rpm. The HP will work with any Holley Lasershot or aftermarket coil designed for capacitive discharge. As for power requirements, the Holley will run on as little as 10 volts-the system shuts off at 7 volts. The HP easily connects to any electric tach and is compatible with any 12-, 16-, 18-, or 24-volt negative-ground system and will provide enough juice for engines making up to 700 hp.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $150-$170
Who makes it? Jacobs Electronics
What's it called? Pro Street Ultra Team (a complete ignition package; comes with a Pro Street box, an Ultra Coil, and Energy Core plug wires).
PN: 372517
Ease of Installation: The Pro Street box and the Ultra Coil are not too big by themselves, but they'll have to be installed in separate locations in the tight engine bays of such cars as Mustang 5.0s and '62-'67 Novas.
Dimensions: (Pro Street box only), 9x4 1/2x- 2 1/2 inches
Weight: 12 pounds (Pro Street box only)
Maximum Operating RPM: 8,500
Claimed Voltage Output: 500
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 50-1,400 millijoules (adjusts as needed)
Features: The Ultra Team is not just an ignition box. A great way to get a complete system, the Jacobs package includes the Pro Street ignition box, Ultra Coil, Jacobs top-notch Energy Core plug wires, and a set of trick-looking wire looms. The Pro Street box is also available by itself, as are Jacobs' other boxes. Designed for street- or bracket- racing applications, the Pro Street box is good for engines running up to 8,000 rpm. The Jacobs computerized ignition sensor controls individual cylinders by analyzing each combustion chamber for optimum spark intensity and duration. The Ultra Coil has a very low primary resistance of only 0.45 ohms and is encapsulated in a tough aluminum case. The Ultra Team is 50-state legal per EO #D-19-21.
Factory suggested retail price: $514 (complete Ultra Team system).
Who makes it? Mallory
What's it called? Hyfire IVc
PN: 692
Ease of Installation: The Hyfire comes with a harness, and it's not overloaded with a million wires to attach. As one of the smaller boxes here, the Hyfire is not difficult to mount on a car.
Dimensions: 7 1/2x4 3/4x2 3/4 inches
Weight: 3 pounds, 7 ounces
Maximum Operating RPM: 12,500
Claimed Voltage Output: 450
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 100 millijoules
Features: A step-up from the Hyfire IVa (PN 697), the IVc adds two rev limiters-one a programmable engine-protection rpm and the other a staging control limiter. The limiters can be set in 100-rpm increments up to 12,000 rpm. Both the IVa and IVc are capacitive discharge, which gives stable, uniform output and spark duration to ensure complete ignition of the air/fuel mixture. The
Hyfire also provides plenty of spark at low speeds for easy starting. Also built into the box is a limp-home feature, and a special harness is supplied to enable the user to switch back to the standard ignition if required. Custom plug-in harnesses are available for several types of GM HEI, Ford Duraspark and TFI, and Mopar setups.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $190-$210
Who makes it? MSD
What's it called? 6AL
PN: 6420
Ease of Installation: The MSD box is average sized so placement is not a big problem. The universal nature of the 6A boxes are augmented by several harnesses for late-model applications so the units can plug in without cutting or splicing wires.
Dimensions: 8x4x2 1/4 inches
Weight: 3 pounds
Maximum Operating RPM: 15,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 460-480
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 105-115 millijoules
Features: The 6AL is one of the most venerable capacitive discharge boxes on the market. MSD says that the 6T version is a mainstay in NASCAR racing. Unlike the base 6A box, the 6AL includes a Soft-Touch rev control that protects from the usual blunders like missed shifts and broken drivetrain parts. While the plug-in modules work fine for setting the rev limit, they're a bit antiquated compared to the built-in rotary switches found in some other ignitions. The Soft Touch's rev-limiting action is smooth and precise with no backfires or roughness. The box comes with 3,000-, 6,000-, 7,000-, and 8,000-rpm modules; a full range of rev chips from 3,000 to 13,900 rpm are available in 200-rpm increments. Three available late-model GM harnesses and a Ford TFI harness eliminate cutting and splicing for 6AL installations. The 6AL is 50-state legal on any pre-'96, pre-OBD II vehicle under CARB EO #D-40-14.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $155-$175.
Race
Who makes it? Crane
What's it called? Fireball HI-7
PN: 7000-7220
Dimensions: 7 1/2x7x2 1/2 inches
Weight: 4 pounds
Maximum Operating RPM: 12,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 475
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 340 millijoules at 10,000 rpm
Features: Combined with the PS92 coil (PN 730-0092) the HI-7 cranks out enough beans for basically anything short of a Top Fuel car. As is typical for many hard-core racing boxes, the HI-7 has a clamp-style terminal block for signal connections. The PS92 coil is specifically designed to transfer the high primary energy of the HI-7 to the plug gap. With similar basic features as with the HI-6, the 7 has added safety updates because of the extreme spark-gap current produced. There are no exposed high-voltage points, and special insulating connectors are used on both ends of the coil harness. The HI-7 can be triggered by GM HEI, Ford, Mopar, and aftermarket distributors, as well as crank triggers. The unit will work with OE late-model electronic systems, as well as aftermarket engine-management systems that provide an industry standard 12-volt square wave points/module trigger signal. The HI-7 will work with power supplies as low as 8 volts.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $385-$400
Who makes it? Holley
What's it called? Strip Annihilator
PN: 800-200
Dimensions: Strip Annihilator box: 6.60x- 4.20x2.55 inches; Quickshot programmer: 4.60x2.75x0.90 inches.
Weight: Strip Annihilator: 4.55 pounds; Quickshot programmer: 3/4 pound
Maximum Operating RPM: 16,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 525
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 135 millijoules
Features: With several more features than the standard HP Annihilator unit, the Strip Annihilator is a serious race box, compatible with any brand and type of distributor-be it points, an HEI, or a magnetic pickup. This box has three rev limiters that can be random or sequential; each is adjustable in 100-rpm increments to any rpm. One is always active, while two are actuated by external switches such as a Line-Loc solenoid, trans brake, or delay box. Unlike the other boxes shown here, Holley's Quickshot programmer allows all the settings of the system to be adjusted through a handheld detachable unit. The two-digit LED readout, soft-touch keypad, and 5-foot cable make it easy to read while sitting in the car. Once programmed, the programmer can be removed and stored or left connected for its built-in digital tach. As with the HP, the Strip will run on as little as 10 volts, but shuts off at 7 volts.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $290-$310
Who makes it? Jacobs Electronics
What's it called? Pro 10
PN: 370605 (Ford EEC-IV application, shown)
Dimensions: 9x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches
Weight: 6 pounds
Maximum Operating RPM: 12,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 550
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 50-1,400 millijoules
Features: The Pro 10 is the top dog of the Jacobs boxes. The Mileage Master and Pro Street (the box highlighted above in the Ultra Team) are the two models below the 10. Available separately or in its own version of the Ultra Team, the Pro 10 is a full race box for drag, road, and roundy-round action, or even for a racing boat. Compatible with alcohol, methanol, and other race fuels, the box has a built-in rev limiter. While a Ford setup is shown (both Duraspark and TFI applications are offered), the Pro 10 is also available with connectors for all sorts of GM HEI internal- and external-coil applications, as well as several Mopar setups. Input and output LEDs on the unit help verify proper operation at a glance.
Factory suggested retail price: $389
Who makes it? MSD
What's it called? 7AL-3
PN:7230
Dimensions: 8x3 3/4x5 3/4 inches
Weight: 4 3/4 pounds
Maximum Operating RPM: 14,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 550
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 160 millijoules
Features: The 7AL-3 is based off the long-proven 7AL-2, but provides 20 percent more primary voltage than the 2's 480 volts. It also cranks out 35 percent more spark energy. While it's the most expensive box here, it's loaded with trick stuff. The unit's three-step rev control provides three limits controlled with plug-in chips-the first is for burnouts, and the second is for when the car leaves the line. The top-end race limit is the insurance you need for missed shifts or parts breakage. The supplied modules are 3,000, 7,000, 8,000, and 9,000 rpm. There's also a multistep timing retard with four modules that can be activated at different times by a variety of things such as a micro-switch on the shifter or a nitrous solenoid. For example, in multistage nitrous setups, a different retard amount can be introduced as each stage is activated. When shifting into top gear, a top-end retard could be activated for more mph. Unique to the 7AL-3 is a start retard that's beneficial to race engines with crank triggers or locked-out distributors. During cranking, the feature retards timing 25 degrees so the engine will turn over easier. When the engine starts, the timing goes back to the mechanical setting, thereby saving wear on the starter and the motor. The final option is an rpm-activated switch that will trigger a solenoid or shift light at a preset engine speed.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $510-$550
Who makes it? Mallory
What's it called? HyFire VII
PN: 667
Dimensions: 9x5x4 1/4 inches (height includes rubber shock mounts)
Weight: 4 pounds, 10 ounces
Maximum Operating RPM: 12,000
Claimed Voltage Output: 500
Claimed Spark Energy Output: 125 millijoules
Features: While the HyFire VII is a stout race piece in good company with this group of high-end systems, it's also 50-state legal under CARB EO #D-70-6. A unique part of this unit is its Toroidal inductor increasing spark duration throughout the rpm range. Also in the box is a proportional rpm-limiting circuit that has a numeric display with fingertip setting for rpm programming from 4,000 to 13,800 rpm. Rubber shock mounts are also included, and the box can be triggered by points, a Mallory ignition, an OE amplifier, a magnetic pickup distributor, or a crank trigger. Mallory's Pro Master coil (28880) must also be used with this box so the rev limiter will function properly. PN 667 works on V-8 and four-cylinder engines. For V-6 engines, order PN 667-6.
Typical street or mail-order price range: $270-$290
