MSD Ignition for a 3.4

[camaroman1181]

hey everyone,
i have a 95 3.4L T-5. I'm looking at getting the MSD coils and interfaces for my car. I tested my current coils and they are all seem like they are getting old (or at least according to the autozone test charts and the new ones i compared to... 125k miles will probably do that). In any case, ive searched on here and it seems that MSD is a decent upgrade for my motor. However, i was wondering if i needed to get the ignition box as well. it seems that most people have this with their coils. is it necessary that i get the box at the same time as the coils and interfaces? will i see a noticable difference if i just purchase the coils and the interfaces?
Also, im having an issue where if im at half throttle and apply full throttle, i really dont see any difference. Now i know that i have a 3.4 and teh power is anemic at best, but could this be a result of substandard coils? I religiously maintain my vehicle and it just had a full tune up less than 5000 miles ago. anyone have any suggestions as to what could be causing this? I thank all of you for your time with this matter
Phill

[FunkZ]

Unless you're having a problem with the existing coils, or you've really got to have the pretty red coils, don't waste your money.

Problem with an existing coil would be indicated by rough idle, fouling plug, misfire, etc.

Power-wise it doesn't do much at all, if anything.

[Ian]

Also, you dont need the interface units unless you are running the MSD box

[95Batmobile]

Yeah, Interfaces are not needed without the box.

coils/wires will smoothe idle, better throttle response, but the DIS-4 will show performance increases with the 3.4L [img]smile.gif[/img]

[White95]

Originally posted by 95Batmobile:
the DIS-4 will show performance increases with the 3.4L [img]smile.gif[/img]

i second that...

[camaroman1181]

thanks everyone... i was plannin on pickin up a set of these coils. however, ill need a bit of time to gather up the money for the box. it is ok that i run just the coils for now right? thanks for your input however. anyone have any ideas as to the problem i'm having with half throttle being no different than full? this is really startin to bug me. thanks agian...
Phill

[FunkZ]

Running the MSD coils alone is fine, although you'll want to use some lower resistance wires with those. I'm using the MSD coils & MSD 8.5 wires.

As for part throttle / full throttle it depends on what gear and rpm you are in/at while driving.

For example, if you're in 5th gear cruising along at 55mph, you're not going to be able to feel a difference between putting the pedal halfway down and all the way down.

On the other hand, if you're in 3rd gear cruising along at 55mph, you've probably got the pedal 1/3 of the way down, and you should be able to tell the difference between giving it just a bit more or mashing it to the floor. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[camaroman1181]

well the throttle response problem is in 2nd through 5th. if im accelerating moderately away from a light or something at half throttle and i stand on it, i dont really see any difference. I can stand on it any where north of 3000 and i dont feel much of a difference. My gears are stock for a t-5 (3.32?). it just seems as if something is wearing out. am i correct in assuming that weak coils could not be providing enough spark to ignite all the gas at full throttle? am i just experiencing something common to the underpowered 3.4L?? it seems like the car is losing power on me. How bout a compression test? any ideas? thanks for all the info and advice.
Phill

[FunkZ]

Well as long as it doesn't loose power or stumble when you floor it. Might want to have a backpressure test done to see if the cat is strangling exhaust flow. I'm getting this done also as my car has seemed to stop pulling hard above 4500-5000rpm recently.

[camaroman1181]

i was thinking that the cat could be acting up. i replaced it less than 6months ago, but i intermittently get the sulfur smell usually indicative of a bad cat. The cat i got was supposed to be a high flow unit, though im unsure of the name brand. could somehting else like an egr valve be blocked that woudl produce this smell? i dont want to pull the cat off again and lose all my torque. thanks for the help...

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by camaroman1181:
i was thinking that the cat could be acting up. i replaced it less than 6months ago, but i intermittently get the sulfur smell usually indicative of a bad cat. The cat i got was supposed to be a high flow unit, though im unsure of the name brand. could somehting else like an egr valve be blocked that woudl produce this smell? i dont want to pull the cat off again and lose all my torque. thanks for the help...

egr should trow a code as should the cat if it going bad, but not always.

[StudlyCamaro]

Originally posted by viper04af:
egr should trow a code as should the cat if it going bad, but not always.

wrong, the 3.4L has no O2 sensor after the cat, therefore it will not throw a code if it is not working properly

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

Originally posted by StudlyCamaro:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by viper04af:
egr should trow a code as should the cat if it going bad, but not always.

wrong, the 3.4L has no O2 sensor after the cat, therefore it will not throw a code if it is not working properly </font>[/QUOTE]umm the cat and ERG don't have anything to do with each other, other then reduceing pollution

[StudlyCamaro]

who said that the EGR and the cat have anything to do with each other... if the cat is going bad on a 3.4L you wont throw a code since there is no O2 sensor after the cat

[FunkZ]

Ha-ha, yeah SES is almost a joke on a 3.4

You might get an SES light if an atomic bomb goes off under your hood. By the time it lights up, it's going to be pretty obvious something is horribly wrong.