Is the MSD ignition box necessary?

I went from points, to Duraspark II, to Chevy HEI/Duraspark II hybrid with stock TFI coil (didn't notice a difference over the stock DSII), then to the MSD 6AL/Blaster II TFI coil. Still running the Duraspark II distributor, have MSD plug wires on it.

 

I noticed a difference too going from HEI to HEI+MSD, particularly at idle.

 

you will get no gains out of a msd distributor unless you are building a high rpm motor. it is a waste of money for a street car unless you want tht pretty billet look it has. the distributor just directs where the spark goes and triggers the spark at the right time. get a duraspark distributor, a duraspark box or hei modul, or msd box, and a good coil. for spark plug wires i strongly recomend the accel 300+ race wires. they have a lifetime warentee and perform really well.

 

I can't talk Mavericks because mine is still parked but I have had a full MSD setup on a 351W in my F100 including the add on switch to control base timing 7 degrees both ways. Sold that and put a 460 in my truck and went to a Dura-spark dist. and box.
I messed up the wiring and burnt out the resister wire feeding the ignition box and read where the 4 pin can run on straight 12 volts so put one of those in with the dura spark dist. Ran as good or better with the 4 pin. I actually had to back off the curb idle when I put the HEI 4 Pin on the truck about 150 rpms.
When I put all of the MSD parts on the 351W the only difference I noticed was the ease at which you could adjust the timing curve. That WAS nice. Once you figure out how to curve the dura sparks dist. it is not much more trouble though and is not worth the extra money. If you have an engine running 11-1 spinning 7500 rpm's I can see spending the money but on a stock or mild engine it is a pure waste of money
A lot more areas that money can be spent
My 2 cents and probably not worth that. lol
clint