>From: TristarX@aol.com
>Point of thought:  If the guy that you mentioned, that ran @ 118 w/o
>MSD Dis/2, would you still buy the MSD unit? The thing is that having a
>upgrade ignition and a AFPR is a good measure down the road.

That would be me.. (2G GSX, 11.8's/118mph, best was 11.81 @ 118.67).

I ran 11's without lots of things:

no MSD DIS/2
no AFPR
no external wastegate or huge turbo (18G w/ internal)
no ported or 1G head (stock 2G head)
no huge injectors (been on 550's for years)
no huge fuel pump (trusty 'denso in-tank upgrade, hardwired)
no world's-strongest-man clutch (CF bb Dual Friction)

I ran 11's with a few key things:

1) I worked with Mike & RRE throughout, and I paid attention to what I
was being told and did not then go off and do something different just to
be different or because my buddy had some other part available for cheap.
 (Case in point: any DSM'er on here running an Apex AVCR should be shot).

2) I added parts one or two at a time, and made sure that each new part
was a step forward and not a step backwards before adding the next part.

3) I took the time to tune each new addition before moving to the next
part.  If my car wasn't running better from a new part and/or had
performance issues, then I waited until it was corrected before adding a
new part.  Adding a new part when you aren't running as you should will
only confuse things further since it's a new variable.  I never cease to
be amazed at how many people are running way slower than they should be
given the parts they have on their car, but instead of trying to figure
out what's wrong or take the time to tune their car better, they just
keep adding more parts.

4) Tune, tune, tune.  Before you can do that, you need to have the proper
tools to tell you how you are running, including an EGT gauge and an
accurate (non-stock, non-autometer, non-autometer knock-off) boost gauge.

5) Good driving, good driving techniques

A point you might have been trying to make was that just because someone
running fast times doesn't have something, doesn't mean it's not a good
idea to have that item.  I agree, but I suspect an AFPR doesn't
necessarily fall into the "good idea" realm for most people.  I have a
hard time imagining my car benefiting from one.  If I made additional
power upgrades and needed more fuel I would likely upgrade the injectors
and/or fuel pump.  The AFPR would be just a whole new set of variables to
deal with and any smart racer knows he wants to deal with as few
variables as possible.  Now, if one hasn't upgraded their fuel system the
right way, a patch like an AFPR could make sense.

The MSD DIS/2 is likely a good idea.  The extra spark is a nice safety
measure and I would have liked to see if using the MSD as a driving aid
(rev limiter functions) would have helped my runs further.  Just be sure
to look at the opportunity cost - is there a part that might do more for
you if you used the money for that part instead of the MSD?

Marc S

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