Should I go with the MSD MAG or Vertex?

Discussion in 'PSI Superchargers Tech Questions' started by hmarizetts, Jan 25, 2011.

  1. hmarizetts

    hmarizetts New Member

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    Anybody have any ideas on the type of ignition system needed or the best type to use for my methanol injected blown BBC. I was thinking between the MSD pro Mag 44, 20, 12 and the vertex. Not sure which one is priced right, where I can find a nice setup, and not to have over kill.
     
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  2. Comax Racing

    Comax Racing Member

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    Mag

    It really depends on your budget, in my opinion there isn't a blown bigblock Chevy that "really needs" a Promag44. A Promag20 yes, and they have all the electronic goodies you can run Eg. limiters, retards etc. But they are expensive. On a budget minded deal I would look at a Mallory Supermag from Spud @ FuelInjectionEnterprises
    he can set you up at a fraction of the cost. Problem with a Mallory mag is they are points based, which means its hard or impossible to run the retards, timers. ETC Revlimiters makes an electronic limiter for the Mallory deal that works great.

    I run the budget Mallory SMV with the ETC limiter and it works perfect, but I'm just a weekend warrior and I don't really need much else. As I said it really depends on budget and application.

    My 2 cents
    Corey
     
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  3. blown375

    blown375 New Member

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    If its not making a ton of boost... another good option that you may want to look into is a Mallory.
    You should be able to pick up a good use Mallory super mag III or IV at a reasonable price :cool:
     
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  4. SoDak

    SoDak Active Member

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    I like the SM IV's, no magnet to recharge but not the maintenance of the SM V.
     
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  5. hmarizetts

    hmarizetts New Member

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    I'm not real updated on the mag I have been reading up on it. all i ever use was MSD 7AL3 setup. Is their any other things I need to run this mag and if so where can I find wiring instructions for it.
     
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  6. hmarizetts

    hmarizetts New Member

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    never heard of this SM IV. who makes it?
     
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  7. hmarizetts

    hmarizetts New Member

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    Boost wise I plan on running no more than 15psi due to the 12.1 comp. I am still working the bugs out of this setup.
     
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  8. Comax Racing

    Comax Racing Member

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    An SMIV is a Mallory Super Mag 4, likewise an SMV is a Mallory Supermag 5 and so on.
    The higher the number the more amps the mag puts out. If you go to Fuelinjectionenterprises.com, there is a bunch of great right up's about the Vertex and Mallory mags.

    Corey
     
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  9. john348

    john348 Top Alcohol

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    since we are giving our opinion
    here is mine and it is just that an opinion
    I would get a 44 mag if the money is not the deciding point
    why
    it is the standard now
    yes you may not need that much
    everything is based on the 44
    you will have better resale value with a 44
    and most people i know that do this never ever look to go slower
    so as your combo advances your mag will still be good
    if money is tight i would go with a SMIII and send it to one of the mag gurus
    like Cerillo and have them hop it up to an 8
    but i bet by the time you have all the upgrades and stuff you will have almost as much as a good used 44
    again just an opinion
     
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  10. AFC357

    AFC357 New Member

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    I agree w/John here....WAY back when I got started in this SuperCharged "thing" I bought a SM3, then a 4, then a MSD12 and guess what, within 3-years from the SM3, I had a 44 on it!
     
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  11. hmarizetts

    hmarizetts New Member

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    Thanks for all the good information I now have a wide prospective to make a better decision. Once again thanks for all the help
     
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  12. SoDak

    SoDak Active Member

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    Let's give him some ballpark prices on a SM IV vs MSD 44, he's making 15 psi boost.
    It seems like we have about $700 into our used SM IV stuff/engine. Thats generator, coil, cap and wires, enough to make the engine run. A simple toggle switch is all thats needed to shut it off.

    Can someone weigh in on realistic costs for the 44, just the basics but everything to make it run?
     
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  13. ITS IN MY BLOOD

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    Vertex,.. Hopped up to 5 amps by Spud @Fuel Injection Enterprises,.$750-$900

    I have One of spuds 5 plus amp Vertex mags on my BBC,..3 YEARS, and Flawless.


    MSD 44 Start at $1600 and add things on from there.

    :D
     
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  14. AFC357

    AFC357 New Member

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    For what its worth, the respective times we were running with the progressions of mags (all in a BBC T/D) Were SM#3 - 6.80, SM4 6.60, MSD 12 6.40 and when we took the Dart 360's off and went Big Chief,,,,6 flat! This was all with a 8-71 blower
     
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  15. hmarizetts

    hmarizetts New Member

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    Signs

    If I was to buy a good used setup of any type of MAG, how could a person tell if it is ok besides the sellers word? I know they come with spec sheets if they are sent off for updates, but is their any signs to look for example burning smell, discoloration, etc.
     
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  16. john348

    john348 Top Alcohol

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    just another small thing i just remembered to throw out there
    if you buy a stock SM III it does not have rare earth magnets in it from Mallory
    I can't remember if the 4's were or not, maybe some one can tell
    we used to have to have them "recharged" every year until we changed the magnets out
    so which ever you buy make sure it has rare earth magnets in it
     
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  17. AFC357

    AFC357 New Member

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    The 4 doesn't need the "re-charge"
     
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  18. Mike Canter

    Mike Canter Top Dragster
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    One thing nobody has brought up is the Magneto Effect on timing. On a standard NON MSD mag especially with points the timing is going to retard 3-4 degrees as the magneto is loaded. This does not happend with a MSD mag with an Electronic Points Box because it is automatically compensated for. So if you run 32* on an CD Ignition then if you switch to a non compensated mag you will need 35-36* of timing at idle. An MSD mag you just put in your 32* at idle.
     
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  19. hmarizetts

    hmarizetts New Member

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    I am pointing more towards the electronic side versus points. in order to try and keep things very simple.
     
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  20. Money Shot

    Money Shot Member

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    MSD 7AL-3 and MSD-10

    Seeing that your not running much boost you may be better off sticking to your MSD 7al3 or MSD-10. I ran a MSD 10 on a 565 BBC with a 14/71 making 30lbs of boost with big chief heads. I know a couple of guys running the 7al3 on BBC making 2000hp.
     
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