Which is better the MSD 6AL or the Crane HI-6?

I have an MSD pro-billet distributor, blaster 2? coil, and currently an old MSD (it doesn't say 6A on it, but I'm guessing that's what it is)

Crane says the HI-6 is for engines running 10:1-14 compression. I'm not sure what compression ratio I have, because the engine was built quite some time before I got the car. It runs fine on 93, and has iron heads, so I'm guessing I'm less than 10:1. Crane says their rev limiter doesn't cause the backfiring and popping that the MSD causes, and supposedly their ignition/coil setup has a higher voltage spark.

The crane is 199, and includes a free LX92 coil.

The MSD is 195, and includes nothing for free. :D

I'm looking into ignitions because I want a rev-limiter, and my MSD is around 20 years old.

Which is better, and is the compression ratio going to be a factor in getting the Crane over the MSD? Are there other ignitions out there that are better than these 2 for around the same price?

THANKS!

go with the msd 6al,it has the built in rev- limiter where you can change chips.you have all msd so i would stay with msd

6AL

One other aspect to look at is the availability of spare parts and service. MSD has the advantage over most other aftermarket systems.

Id spend the money on the MSD digital 6. My neighbor got his installed and he absolutly loves it. Its got 2 rev limiters and top end retard, and a start retard. It also smoothed out his idle alot compared to his 6AL.

I run the Crane HI-6. It does not need any chips to set the rev limiter. You can change the limit in 100 RPM increments with a small flat blade screwdriver. :cool:

MSD is very popular but the Crane unit is very competitive with it. If you like the features of the one over the other, go with it. I like the adjustable rev limiter on the Crane unit because I can set it for 3000 RPM when I take my car somewhere for service. The box is smaller so I can mount it up under the dash inside the vehicle so it is kind of hidden. The engine compartment looks very close to bone stock that way as well.

You can't go wrong with either box though. smile.gif

-Mark.

I love my HI6 and my XR700 electronic converter. No chips to change to adjust rev limits. Really easy to install too.
I have the lx91 coil wchich is a step down for the 92. When I bought my stuff 6 years ago I was under the impression the 92 was for racing and the 91 was for street use....so I went with the 91. I have had the coil wire off of it to bump the engine over and it will send a spark more then an inch to the frame of the coil. Great power!! I would not want to be bit with these coils.

Well, there's nothing wrong with my coil, but that free offer almost sounds too good to pass up, and adjusting the rev limiter with a screw driver sounds nice too.

I'm leaning towards the crane just for those 2 features, but my only worry is that they say that you should be running at least 10:1 compression. I'm also wondering if I'll have to completely re-wire the system since I'm going from MSD to crane. Does anyone know if there is a big difference in the way that they are wired?

Decisions, decisions... :rolleyes:

I would say that most people have never run both so its hard to compare. The one advantage of going with the MSD is that they are all meant to work together and connect right up. With the Crane you will have to solder a few wires. No big deal, but there goes your free coil in extra time. I run the MSD 6AL and have never had a problem, but I'm sure you can find people that have had problems with both. My only thought is that if you have some kind of wierd problem in the system the Crane guy is going to say its the MSD and the MSD guy is going to say its the Crane box that is the problem. You know if you fry your pick-up in the dist. that's what they are going to say. That would be my luck. Then, when I had to go out and buy the MSD box anyway because the Crane didn't work right with the MSD I would have to put that "free" coil right up on the mantle or someplace just to remind me once again that I should have just bought the MSD in the first place rather than try to save $20 - $30 bucks. That's how it always works with me. I think the MSD is good quality stuff and in order for the others to get their product out there they have to make it cheaper or offer free stuff otherwise everybody would just go with the MSD because of their proven track record. Sometimes things just plain cost more because they are better. The free market is pretty good at getting it right over the long-term. If the Crane was measurable cheaper and better nobody would want the MSD. I'm no expert, but the guys at my local shop that have seen everything under the sun are still saying go with the MSD. Just my two cents.

Good point-- maybe it's better to stick with 1 company. Makes sense to me!

I went with the Crane Hi-6 simply because I found one on E-Bay for $75 dollars. Very easy to install, works with most any system, and has performed flawlessy to date.. One of the reasons I got the Crane over the MSD was that the rev-limiter can be adjusted so easily, whereas the MSD requires pulling & replacing a "chip".

I also like the fact that the Crane box is quiet, as I have heard that the MSD box makes a clicking sound/noise when it is operating..

I have nothing negative to say about MSD or Crane, I think it comes down to a personal choice.

I haven't heard anything bad about the crane units, but I don't own one
I have an all msd setup like spames, probillet, 6al, blaster 2 and some old school helicore wires
I will add to the mix in saying that I used an accel 300+ on my 94 Z . . . 300 is about how many HOURS of run time it survived lol

since you have the dist/coil already I'd stay msd . . . but that's just me

Everyone is crying about replacing a 'pill' for the rev-limiter.....

Just buy the MSD module that has 10 rev-limits and plugs into the socket for the single pill and you now have near the same adjustability.

Now what? " You only have ten adjustments "........ How often do you adjust your limiter more than a couple hundred RPM?

I have had problems with both companies, but much less with MSD (and that was years ago). Red apple, green apple......

Spames- I dont really know why it would be stated that a 10:1 compression is (almost) nessary. I would look at that as a resistance across the plug gap kinda thing (similar to Jacobs), which tells me it has limitations. I started out with a 6AL, then stepped up to a 7AL...and now I'm running a Digital 7 Programmable......and it was stated that a 7AL wouldnt live on the street. Huh! Kinda funny, never had a problem with my 7AL (w/pro power coil) on my daily driver for the 8 years it was installed. I have always been under the impression that the NASCAR guys ran certain devices for a reason.......I guess there must be a pretty damn good reason they run MSD.

Performance wise, they are going to be close. I think the edge going to MSD, due to the fact of the difference in operating principals.....capacitive multi-spark to the other.....resistance across the plug gap. As stated before, the resistance across the gap does have its limitations; capacitive multi-spark doesnt care....it just throws a phat spark....period. Which pretty much assures the fuel charge is going to be ignited.

Wiring is close to the same with small differences.....maybe 5 minutes difference in the installation time. No biggie.

There's always the Digital 6 as Novaguy73 stated......two limiters and a start retard.

Peace out-

Thanks everybody for your opinions/observations. That 10:1 requirement was bugging me, but I think I'm going to stay with the MSD. If I would have heard an overwhelming YES that one was hands down better than the other, maybe things would be different :D