How reliable are MSD ignitions?

[RallySnake]

I am getting ready for the long trek to the Austin Cobra meet and collecting tools and spare parts. I have the usual stuff, fan belt, fire extinguisher, alternator parts and cans of tire inflator. I just installed a new MSD billet distributor and Blaster coil. The only doubt in my mind is my 10 year old MSD 6A. I'm thinking of buying a spare for the 3000 mile round trip. Any comments or suggestions?

Paul

[RACER X #99]

I know this much. All Nascar , Trans-Am and just about everybody in pro racing runs two MSD boxes because they are prone to failure in racing conditions. One on line and another as backup.
I had one MSD failure but the box was mounted in the engine compartment. I replaced it with a Crane Hi-6 which is mounted on the trans tunnel.

MY .02

Cranky

[Mr.Fixit]

The local MSD distributor here showed me how they have the toggle switch to change from MSD #1 to MSD #2 during a race, then talked me into a Jacobs. That was in '91 and the Jacobs still works great, it is in the engine compartment, and it has literally been washed off with a garden hose and still works great. I have only replaced a couiple of 6al boxes in my career, but most go into cars that really don't see many miles.

But I never installed a Jacobs into a customer's car, they always want a MSD, and the customer is always right, or at least you are supposed to let them believe that they are

[Excaliber]

I wired my MSD in such a way that if failure occured I could quickly unplug the wires and reconnect my original Ford ignition. While racing one day the main 12 volt power wire to the MSD touched the headers and I lost ignition at the end of the straight.

Popped the hood, saw the burned wire, unplugged, replugged, and back on the track in minutes. MSD was fine, I rewired it later. Most of the guys were blown away I had a "back up" ignition system. It's all in how you wire things up (like not letting stuff touch the headers, lol).

Ernie

[RallySnake]

Thanks guys,

Ernie,

My new MSD distributor ONLY works with the MSD box. I no longer have a fall back procedure.


Mr Fixit,

The MSD rep sold you a Jacobs? I wonder if he still has a job? The Jacobs does have a built in rev limiter but how does it compare with the multiple spark function?

Cranky,

That's just the information I needed. My 6A is under the footbox and with electronics, the cooler the better. I think I'll buy a spare. I don't think there will be many of them at the desert souvenir shops.

Paul

[Excaliber]

Rallysnake,,,,why not get a 6AL with rev limiter chip? I thought about going with an aftermarket dist. Not sure there is any measurable advantage in the 5000 to 6000 rpm range I was running. But I did "float" some valves before I got the rev limiter function.

Ernie

[RallySnake]

Ernie,

That's a good idea. Set up the "AL" as primary and the "A" as backup. I never thought I would over rev the engine because the pipes are so loud. But it's happened twice. Once on an autocross course (the waterpump gasket blew out) and once the other night on a rally. We were coming through a tunnel and I pushed in the clutch and revved the engine for the sound effects. Shortly afterwards my voltage warning light came on. I had thrown the fanbelt!

Why do I always have to learn the "hard way"?

Paul

[Cobra #42]

Rally, Don't worry about a thing, your box will be fine, I've used in all my race cars for years, no faliures. And anyway, we would'nt let anything happen to a guy coming from CA to Texas for our event. Look me up at the event .

db Racing

P.S. The best tool you can buy....... a cell phone.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Rally;

If your MSD box has lasted this long I would not worry about it. I put one in my 65 Fastback in 95 or 96,16,000 miles ago and it's still there running the car...BTW,it is on the left inner fender and does get plenty hot especailly in parades and just keeps on working....

I have heard good things about the Jacobs ignition set-up and if I ever build another car I may go that route,but I also run a MSD distributor and love it,do not know if the Jacobs box will work with the MSD distributor.....

David

[mikiec]

When I built my FFR I installed an MSD 6AL. It is mounted inside the engine bay on the firewall. Been going strong now for 2 years and almost 19,000 miles.

Mike

[Hal Copple]

i have run my 6AL on the top of the passenger's foot box, in the engine comparatment. Here in SC it can get plenty hot, but no problems in about 35-40K miles with this setup. I am fine with it.

I suspect there are any number of fine systems out there. If you are really worried, just put in a new one now, and leave your old one on the workbench. On the other hand, on a long trip, i carry a spare alternator, all ready to go, pulley on, etc.

[Satanpez]

I had an MSD 6-A in a previous car of mine. Box fried on me. (I had an electrical short in my tailights, that MAY have caused it so I'm not really blaming it on MSD)

I replaced it with the Crane HI-6. NOTICABLY better ignition system than the MSD 6-A

At the time it was the price of the 6A and had the built in rev limiter that doesn't use those pills.

I'd never buy an MSD dist because of that experience. When the MSD box blew up, In 10 seconds I had it rewired since I set it up that way. (Instead of having the ignition wire go to the MSD box, have it go to the distributor, I put a simple male/female plug)

-steve in nj-

I have heard from people that MSD does fix broken boxes, and for pretty cheap. ($35 or so)

[Mr.Fixit]

Rallysnake,
The local MSD distributor is also a Jacobs distributor. He runs a jacobs on his stock car. They are really more of a custom distributor builder than a parts sales house. The difference in adding the jacobs pro-8 was more noticable than any MSD I have ever added to a car. Rev limiter is separate, not included in the capacitive discharge box. It does however let you disconnect the box and go back to a factory ignition in two minutes, just in case you need to. I have been running mine since 91 and I have never needed to do that. It was a daily driver too, until last year.