Call me a slow learner….
I have a 396 BBC with iron heads, 9.5:1 comp. ratio (a guess), Torker II manifold (the old style), Holly 850 cfm 4150, a mid range cam (unknown numbers), solid lifters, and a stock ignition with a “flame thrower” coil. Would this setup require an aftermarket ignition? I’ll be changing the heads at a latter time, but I would like to see more from this motor. I am not a maharishi of motors; just a gear head that wants to beat the crap out of vipers tongue.gif ( right now i am about 1 second short). Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated!!!

Nothing short of all out competition "requires" an aftermarket ignition, I've run plenty of 11 and 12 second 1/4s with point ignitions.

There are a lot of benefeits to the aftermarket stuff though: the higher spark voltage and energy will reduce misfires and improve the burn, No degradation of spark or drift in ignition timing as the points wear, you don't have to change the points ever again, you can open up your spark plug gaps to unshroud the spark a bit which also improves the burn, you may notice a touch better idle quality and even a slight increase in mileage, etc......

You could use a stock or aftermarket HEI ignition in your application and reap all the bennies w/o laying out major dough for an MSD, Crane, Jacobs, Mallory...... ignition.

Paul D.