Yeah, you super-streeters and stockers need all the help you can get Not sure that I have had problems with electrical spikes but makes sense that they should be there. The fact I had an MSD box go south was enough for me to shy away from it... any spikes like that could be mitigated with a PI filter or some similar arrangement... maybe just a big filter cap... at the same time you don't want to starve the ignition of the instantaneous current it needs so any choke needs to be chosen/placed carefully.

Didn't know you had a similar arrangement to cut out the alternator. Did you do it the same way with relay on field wire or something different? As for 16V, that will be an investment and weight adder... the battery is one thing but then you need to add a bunch of extra wiring and/or step down converter... I like to use 00 welding cable from the back to the front so doubling that probably an extra 20lbs at least. Then you need a new battery charger and/or alternator and that can get spendy real quick. I don't personally know anyone that is running 16V but I'm sure some of the super pro guys are. If "most" everything can run at 16-18V then just a small step down box for the stuff that can't handle it (like tachs, gauges, ignition box, etc).

I know a few here that are running two 12V batteries with an isolator such that one is only used for the starter but both get charged by the alternator.

Sorry for the hijack, streak! I'll crawl back under my rock now

-Chris