MSD/Mallory boxes really necessary?

What's the application? I ran a mopar chrome box and mallory coil for many years without ever having one problem. I took my distributor to the mallory trailer at the NHRA race, had them curve it for me, and that was it! Keep your mopar all mopar!

No

Necessary? No of course not. Do they help? Some swear by them, others say they do nothing. At the very least if you do install one, I think I would have to recommend having a backup system. I've heard enough stories over the years of these multi-spark boxes failing(especially the msd's) that I think I would rig up the stock ignition box/ballast to start working again with the flip of a couple hidden switches, just in case the multi-spark box craps out.

Depends on what you want out of life. Some guys still use points and drum brakes. Maybe they should also throw their alternator away for a generator. Like was said with a hotter/longer duration spark your car will idle better and run better cold. You may also find a small amount of horsepower. Besides this you get adjustability and features like RPM limiters, timing controllers, ect. I have never had an MSD box fail. I wouldn't even consider ANY of the factory boxes. -Bob

I like the chrome box and adj. dist. you can put in any curve you want. i have read many times in Mopar Muscle that the stock Mopar setups were all we needed.

Necesary ? no... depending what use you will have to the car. I'm very happy with Mopar Chromed box and stock dist, with MSD Blaster 2 coil ( same than MP coil )

I think MP stuff in this case works GREAT for the price

The main advantage of the MSD is the multiple sparks at low RPM. When you start getting into big cams, big heads, carburated engines, the air/fuel mixture at idle and low rpms can vary alot and the multiple sparks reduces the chance of the cylinder not firing.
At higher RPM, the MSD boxes just provide a single spark (your limited by the cap and rotor design), but by then there is good intake velocity so the air/furl mixture will be more conistant.

The new OEM coil-on-plug design allows much longer spark duration with out the possability of flash over that you could get from the cap and rotor design, which brings up the issue of rotor phasing.... anyhow, thats another post.

Anyhow if you have a near stock engine or fuel injected engine there probbably won't be a big improvement with the MSD. If you have a modified carburated engine you could see some improvements, usually easier starting, more even idle, and better low rpm response.

I run one. Noticed a bit better idle quality and throttle response. Really, they allow a greater margin of error for those of us who can't tune very well, like myself. From what I gather, a properly setup stock ignition on a mild motor will perform just as well.

Where they really start to shine is with all the add-ons and goodies that was stated before, timing controllers, rev limiters, etc... The rev limiter in my 6AL saved butt once already...

I run an msd box box on my daily driver. The multi-spark at low rpms is a real bonus for passing an emissions test if you have a bigger than stock camshaft.

thanks for all the input. I went ahead and bought the mallory and Hyfire 6AL since it has a bit more output than the msd setup.

I like my 6AL box. Nice to have a rev limiter with a stick car in case I break something while racing it or getting on it.