Can better ignition add HP? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

10-30-2001, 03:54 PM

ok well I've got magnecore wires and denso plugs, and I know those can add a few HP...but what about a MSD coil and ignition? Can that add an HP? What would be the advantage of having these and how much would it cost?

Thanks,
Chance

Also how much HP would an ECU add, and what are the disadvantages of having a Jim wolf ECU?  Better gas milage? Worse? The same?  Can it lessen engine life?

Thanks,
Chance

10-30-2001, 03:54 PM

i'm a dork.

S13Grl · 10-30-2001, 04:08 PM

You're not a dork. Good plugs and wires will make an unnoticable difference. A good ignition system will give you MUCH better spark and your engine will run REALLY smooth. You'll notice a difference in idle right away. JWT ECU gives a few horses by remapping the air/fuel ratio and other stuff. It should give you worse gas mileage, if I'm correct. You can get an MSD ignitions for $319.95 (2 coil packs) or Jacob's Ice Pack for $324.95. The spark output is like a 15% increase.

Enuff info?

(Edited by S13Grl at 5<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>9 pm on Oct. 30, 2001)

240sxtreme · 10-30-2001, 05:19 PM

I'm not sure about the gas mileage thing on the JWT computer.....when I switched ecu's, I didn't notice any difference.  maybe I'm an exception...anyone else have the JWT ecu?

S13Grl · 10-30-2001, 07:06 PM

Hey, I wasn't sure about it either, don't have one! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

konkman · 10-30-2001, 07:14 PM

As for the wires and plugs, I found my Nology Hotwires did make a noticable difference above 5K RPM's (without platinium plugs).

From what I have heard about the performance difference of ecu's, for the money you should invest in more REAL sources of power, like a set of cams. IMO

*transient* · 10-30-2001, 08:24 PM

It depends when you get the ECU. After you make a lot of changes, an ECU will give you a lot more.

konkman · 10-30-2001, 08:31 PM

That's very true.  I was refering, and I should have said this, to people starting off with upgrades.  For the price of an ecu you could gain more power for less money with other mods,  CAI is another good one.

S13Grl · 10-30-2001, 10:55 PM

I second that.

(See how nice I am, Konkie?)

91CRXsiR · 10-30-2001, 11:14 PM

if you guys are running those turbo sil engines then you should really look into upgrade the ingnition system. dont want to lose power cuz of bad or weak spark.. i used plat +4 on my SC corolla .. i dont know what im running right now im my 240sx..

does it need plat? or copper?

IceTekGuy · 10-31-2001, 12:44 AM

MSD ignition controller= 129.99$

*Jeff240sx* · 10-31-2001, 12:47 AM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from 91CRXsiR on 1:14 am on Oct. 31, 2001
.. i dont know what im running right now im my 240sx..
does it need plat? or copper?
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I know for a fact that s14's need platinum.  Well, it says so anyway.
-Jeff

HippoSleek · 10-31-2001, 07:56 AM

I've always heard that, with the exception of running the right plugs with the proper gap, wires and an aftermarket ignition would only start to help you when you were adding significantly more fuel and air.  I've never seen a dyno plot that showed an hp increase from this mod on a basic-bolt-ons car.  It's always someone's ass dyno that claims good results.

An ECU, on the other hand, is probably the best mod for the money.  The factory tunes cars to run safe and efficient.  An aftermarket ECU can be tuned to run at performance levels, rather than economy levels.  Plus, you can have it mapped to maximize for the mods you have.  That said, I would hold off on an ECU until I had the bolt-ons that I wanted so I could get them to tune it to provide me w/ maximum gains.

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10-30-2001, 03:54 PM	#1
Guest Posts: n/a	ok well I've got magnecore wires and denso plugs, and I know those can add a few HP...but what about a MSD coil and ignition? Can that add an HP? What would be the advantage of having these and how much would it cost? Thanks, Chance Also how much HP would an ECU add, and what are the disadvantages of having a Jim wolf ECU?  Better gas milage? Worse? The same?  Can it lessen engine life? Thanks, Chance

10-30-2001, 04:08 PM	#3
S13Grl Married to the Mob Join Date: Dec 2000 Age: 44 Posts: 3,670 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You're not a dork. Good plugs and wires will make an unnoticable difference. A good ignition system will give you MUCH better spark and your engine will run REALLY smooth. You'll notice a difference in idle right away. JWT ECU gives a few horses by remapping the air/fuel ratio and other stuff. It should give you worse gas mileage, if I'm correct. You can get an MSD ignitions for $319.95 (2 coil packs) or Jacob's Ice Pack for $324.95. The spark output is like a 15% increase. Enuff info? (Edited by S13Grl at 5<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>9 pm on Oct. 30, 2001)

10-30-2001, 05:19 PM	#4
240sxtreme Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Portland, OR Age: 48 Posts: 386 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm not sure about the gas mileage thing on the JWT computer.....when I switched ecu's, I didn't notice any difference.  maybe I'm an exception...anyone else have the JWT ecu?

10-30-2001, 07:06 PM	#5
S13Grl Married to the Mob Join Date: Dec 2000 Age: 44 Posts: 3,670 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hey, I wasn't sure about it either, don't have one! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

10-30-2001, 07:14 PM	#6
konkman Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 534 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	As for the wires and plugs, I found my Nology Hotwires did make a noticable difference above 5K RPM's (without platinium plugs). From what I have heard about the performance difference of ecu's, for the money you should invest in more REAL sources of power, like a set of cams. IMO

10-30-2001, 08:24 PM	#7
transient Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 41 Posts: 2,947 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It depends when you get the ECU. After you make a lot of changes, an ECU will give you a lot more.

10-30-2001, 08:31 PM	#8
konkman Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 534 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	That's very true.  I was refering, and I should have said this, to people starting off with upgrades.  For the price of an ecu you could gain more power for less money with other mods,  CAI is another good one.

10-30-2001, 10:55 PM	#9
S13Grl Married to the Mob Join Date: Dec 2000 Age: 44 Posts: 3,670 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I second that. (See how nice I am, Konkie?)

10-30-2001, 11:14 PM	#10
91CRXsiR Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: City of Industry, CA [626] Age: 42 Posts: 2,092 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	if you guys are running those turbo sil engines then you should really look into upgrade the ingnition system. dont want to lose power cuz of bad or weak spark.. i used plat +4 on my SC corolla .. i dont know what im running right now im my 240sx.. does it need plat? or copper?

10-31-2001, 12:44 AM	#11
IceTekGuy Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 362 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	MSD ignition controller= 129.99$

10-31-2001, 12:47 AM	#12
Jeff240sx I hate you too... Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa, FL Age: 42 Posts: 5,828 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Jeff240sx Feedback Score: 0 reviews	</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from 91CRXsiR on 1:14 am on Oct. 31, 2001 .. i dont know what im running right now im my 240sx.. does it need plat? or copper? </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'> I know for a fact that s14's need platinum.  Well, it says so anyway. -Jeff

10-31-2001, 07:56 AM	#13
HippoSleek Nissanaholic! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: elsewhere Posts: 2,081 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I've always heard that, with the exception of running the right plugs with the proper gap, wires and an aftermarket ignition would only start to help you when you were adding significantly more fuel and air.  I've never seen a dyno plot that showed an hp increase from this mod on a basic-bolt-ons car.  It's always someone's ass dyno that claims good results. An ECU, on the other hand, is probably the best mod for the money.  The factory tunes cars to run safe and efficient.  An aftermarket ECU can be tuned to run at performance levels, rather than economy levels.  Plus, you can have it mapped to maximize for the mods you have.  That said, I would hold off on an ECU until I had the bolt-ons that I wanted so I could get them to tune it to provide me w/ maximum gains.