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MSD

Scott Engelhardt

Scott Engelhardt

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Two years ago I bought an MSD pro billet ready to run. I bought the whole shooting match wires, distributor, and coil. I installed this, the car would hardly run. Backfire, missing, and stalling. Called MSD help line, was told I had the firing order off or distributor in a few teeth off. Also said to run a ground directly to battery and a 12 volt wire from battery to coil. Well nothing worked. I called them back tech kept telling me it is a firing order issue. I explained how I can put the other distributor in and it runs fine. So I got an return authorization, sent it in 4 months later I get it back in the box was a typed note No problem found. Put it on shelf and forgot about it. Well installed it again runs like ****. I talked to the speed shop I bought it from said he can convert it to run with an ignition box. The guy at the speed shop said 10 years ago he could have gotten his rep to replace it but the company has changed and warranty is not what it used to be.
I would have not have thought about this but my ignition box failed tonight and I thought dam if that MSD wasn’t such a piece of **** I wouldn’t be having this issue!
Just wanting to vent
Thanks
 
Wow that really sucks. I bought the same whole enchilada as you did a few years ago and have had no trouble. But if I would have seen a post like yours before purchasing I probably would have gone a different direction. I thought the MSD name was good as gold - I guess not. Hope you get things straightened out.
 
I've been running a pro billet with ignition box for a few years without issue, coil and wires . Until very recently, moisture somehow got into the distributor cap resulting in some rust that basically fried the ignition box. Rebuilt the cap, new box and it worked perfectly. I'm sending the old box back to MSD for a rebuild next week.
 
Holley bought MSD in 2015. Hard to say what's going on, bean counters, corporate takeovers or simply kill the competition, I don't know. Seems to me the casualty is usually the consumer.
I had a drop in on a high 11 sec. small block bracket car shifting at 6500 for years and it never missed a lick. It too rusted inside so I thought I'd just get a new one (pre-2015). The cap on the new one would not sit square on the base. I notice the plastic composite base appeared to be a different material than my old original. Took it back and this time, opened the box to checked, same thing. I got my money back , put the original back in and it ran perfectly.
 
I guess I am just frustrated with the one I have and I feel MSD just check it for the ability to produce spark and trust me it has plenty of that, it bit me twice. I also know that not every timing light will work well with the MSD because of the multiple spark. You can watch the timing bounce from 40+ to 40 negative, I was told it was my timing light. Well I have 3 and they all repeat. I am going to have the performance shop make this distributor work from a box. Im just upset I will have 1000 dollars in a 600 dollar set up
 
I have had good luck with my msd stuff (so far!) But it is ALL old analog stuff, two 6als, and a box so old it doesnt have a nimber on it, 5,6 0r 7, just says msd. I never was a fan of the all-in-one msd idea either. My favorite box is an ancient reman mallory i bought over twenty years ago, must weigh ten pounds, still works like a champ with the chrysler tach drive electronic distributor, and the mallory coil. Just like msd, mallory is not the old mallory anymore either. The new 690 mallory box is just a msd with the mallory name and a bigger price tag.
 
I had a Mopar MSD box that died on me earlier this year. I replaced it with a FAST box - that I couldn't get any spark out of it. Tech support had me check a few things; nothing worked. Had to send it in. They called and said they can't get any spark out of it also. They're going to send me a new one - when they get some!
 
I have a few friends who have used the MSD all in one ready to run dist. And two of them had problems. One was sent back and repaired and worked good. Not sure on the other. I can say I just installed an MSD digital 7A box this year and their coil and so far its been great. I used the MP ign all these years and that has worked good for me but I got such a good deal on the MSD I figured why not go with the multi-spark ign at low speed and it should help keep the plugs cleaner. My son has run an MSD 6A box for years with no trouble either. Sorry to hear that yours is giving you trouble. Ron
 
I talked to my speed shop guy and he hooked me up with a 6A box. I installed it Friday night and drove it 3560 miles yesterday and car ran perfectly. I have my issue being considered buy MSD management. I plan on telling them today to just exchange for a standard pro billet.
 
I did not drive it 3560 miles on Sunday:lol: 360 mile
 
That sucks Scott. Bad customer service. We would have been bankrupt decades ago if we treated customers that way. I wouldn't own a MSD unless I had a race car. I still have the original dual point in my 66 and have stockpiled enough points away to last me and the next owner into the next century! LOL I put a simple Pertronix in my Swinger and not so much as a hick-up in 5 years. The Mopar electronic ignition as dicey nowdays. The boxes are crude and nowhere close to what they were decades ago. If you need a good box talk to @HALIFAXHOPS. He may have a NOS one for you.
 
Thanks for the info Mike
I did talk to my performance shop where I bought the ready to dun distributor. They gave me a great deal on a 6A box. I have driven the car about 500 miles now and I am very happy with it.
I have a rebuilt dual point for a small block that is waiting for the right car to put my 273 in.
 
Scott Engelhardt said:
Thanks for the info Mike
I did talk to my performance shop where I bought the ready to dun distributor. They gave me a great deal on a 6A box. I have driven the car about 500 miles now and I am very happy with it.
I have a rebuilt dual point for a small block that is waiting for the right car to put my 273 in.
Click to expand...
What do you have for a 273? Here's my 66

engine 296.jpg
 
Mike
That's what my 273 should look like. Mine was in my 71 Demon when I bought it. The Demon is long gone but still have the 273. If I remember right it is a 67 or 69. I had 2 of them. I kept it around because it ran pretty good for a little engine
 
toolmanmike said:
What do you have for a 273? Here's my 66

View attachment 1008918
Click to expand...

Personally, I would keep the Prestolite dual point distributor that the engine came with. In my RS23V0A GTX it still has the origional Prestolite dual point distributor as well and like you I've stockpiled enough NOS MOPAR points and condensers to last for the next 2 millenniums.
However, the dual point for the 273 inch engine uses similar but different points (becsuse the rotation is different) but the same condenser, cap and rotor.
Remember the old Chinese proverb: Fancy gizmos don't work and if they do they don't work for long and will quit at the most inopportune time......

WANT TO SELL THE '66 with the 273???
BOB RENTON
.
 
RJRENTON said:
Personally, I would keep the Prestolite dual point distributor that the engine came with. In my RS23V0A GTX it still has the origional Prestolite dual point distributor as well and like you I've stockpiled enough NOS MOPAR points and condensers to last for the next 2 millenniums.
However, the dual point for the 273 inch engine uses similar but different points (becsuse the rotation is different) but the same condenser, cap and rotor.
Remember the old Chinese proverb: Fancy gizmos don't work and if they do they don't work for long and will quit at the most inopportune time......

WANT TO SELL THE '66 with the 273???
BOB RENTON
.
Click to expand...
I may Bob. I really don't want to but I sure would like a 64 Dodge. Kind of a "last car before I get so old that they take my license away". LOL I already have 2 and don't have room for 3. 1 or 2 would have to go if I could find the right car.
 
toolmanmike said:
I may Bob. I really don't want to but I sure would like a 64 Dodge. Kind of a "last car before I get so old that they take my license away". LOL I already have 2 and don't have room for 3. 1 or 2 would have to go if I could find the right car.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up....IF and WHEN you decide, PM me the particulars about the '66, maybe we can get together....... Years ago I had a friend, whose father had a '65 Barracuda Formula S, same engine, auto trans, 14" Goodyear Blue Streak tires, instrument package with the factory Tach mounted by the driver's left knee (almost impossible to see), console, buckets white body red interior......great running superb handling car.....always had the hots for something similar..... I'd give my left nut for a '64 MW Plymouth or Dodge
Regards,
BOB RENTON
 
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