What coil to use????

[rallye bob]

I am switching from a MSD 7AL-2 ignition box to a (# 7520) digital-7 box..... I am running a #8201 MSD Pro Power Coil at this time.
Would I be better off to switch coils to a #8261, or can I stay with the #8201 coil with the new box?
TIA

[Adger Smith]

Switch. It will be worth it in later rounds when the Pro Power would get hot and loose output.

[Bill Harris]

If you haven't bought the 7520 box yet and your 7AL2 is working fine, you should look into MSD's best kept secret, the #8979 box. It uses your existing analog 7AL2 and adds all the Digital-7 goodies to it, at way less cost than a 7520. Very nice unit, easy to hook up, saves $$ and keeps the nearly bulletproof 7AL2 as the main ignition. No sense getting rid of a perfectly good box, even though MSD would rather sell you a Digital-7, which is probably why they never talk about the #8979.

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

If you haven't bought the 7520 box yet and your 7AL2 is working fine, you should look into MSD's best kept secret, the #8979 box. It uses your existing analog 7AL2 and adds all the Digital-7 goodies to it, at way less cost than a 7520. Very nice unit, easy to hook up, saves $$ and keeps the nearly bulletproof 7AL2 as the main ignition. No sense getting rid of a perfectly good box, even though MSD would rather sell you a Digital-7, which is probably why they never talk about the #8979.

The 8979 is actually better than the 7520. It adds programmable features like the 7530 programmables. I agree, you have to keep your eyes open. I bought one for under $200 with a hand held controller too.

As far as a coil. I run a Digi 7 programmable and use the HVC2 coil. I have had it in place since 2005. No issues. It's heavy though!

[Mike Pearson]

Originally Posted by Bill Harris

If you haven't bought the 7520 box yet and your 7AL2 is working fine, you should look into MSD's best kept secret, the #8979 box. It uses your existing analog 7AL2 and adds all the Digital-7 goodies to it, at way less cost than a 7520. Very nice unit, easy to hook up, saves $$ and keeps the nearly bulletproof 7AL2 as the main ignition. No sense getting rid of a perfectly good box, even though MSD would rather sell you a Digital-7, which is probably why they never talk about the #8979.

What are the real advantages of the digital conversion. I have the old reliable 7AL-2. I havent really thought about converting because of the cost. Is it really the way to go?

[Bill Harris]

The digital box adds a bunch of features that you usually have to use external gizmos to implement with the 7AL2. Like rev-limiters for two steps, start retard, shift light driver, etc. The digital box does all that stuff plus it allows you to program cylinder-by-cylinder timing. It allows you to program a different shift light RPM in each gear, high side rev limit, burnout rev limit, start line rev limit.. all that kind of stuff. No RPM chips to lose and way more accurate than the purely analog pieces.