Any issues with MSD "Ready to Run" distributors?
 

I thought it might be worthwhile to check in with the knowledge base here to see if any of you have ever used or heard of chronic electronic issues with the new MSD Ready to Run distributors ??? , and this one is for an FE, self contained with no other MSD components, just the distributor and coil.

A friend has one in his Cobra. The car has never seem to run quite 100% since day one, and more recently upper-rpm "popping" started to occur. This did NOT occur in the 1st 500 miles or so, but car always seem to drag a bit on wind up.

- does not have a seperate MSD box, its all integrated into the distributor.
- issues started with intermittent high RPM popping a few weeks back.
- plugs look tan, but he needs to check them again later.
- proceeded to intermittent start issues. Some days it would not start.
- no spark now, won't start at all now.
- MSD pickup reads 590 ohm within spec.
- ingition coil has been replaced as a test.
- getting 12 volts to the coil and distributor.
- he says he's still NOT GETTING ANY SPARK NOW at the coil.
- I believe its something like MSD part number 8595.

We decided to remove it and he'll be sending the whole distributor and related wires/plugs back to MSD just in case to have them check it out. This is the first MSD integrated unit we've tried among our group of friends with FEs.

Anyone else having similiar type issues with one of these ready to run units?

Yup, I'm running one and it just recently started 'cutting out' at high rpm, over 5000. I've had it for quite awhile, so maybe I just need to pull some maintenance on it? Car fires right up, runs strong. I am currently using it 'direct wired', no MSD box. I can 'read my plugs' better without the multiple spark thing turning them 'to white' to read.

I purchased a used Cobra that has the MSD ignition system...dist, coil, and box. The car runs great...no problems...except this: while the Cobra is running(in the garage or driveway) my garage door opener and key fobs for other vehicles will not work...took me a while to figure out it was the Cobra causing the problem. Must be a frequency thing with the ignition system.

Hello,

Clarification:
In this case I am referring to MSD "Ready to Run" distributors only; where there is NO seperate MSD 6 or 7 box. Many of us have the other pro-billet distributor and seperate MSD box arrangement, which works fine for the most part. Just not sure about these new Ready to Run all-in-one self contained units, and how to troubleshoot them either since there are more electronics in there than just the pick up coil to measure.

I guess there is no choice but to just send it back to MSD to see if they can find anything wrong.

THANKS!

I got that model because I wanted to be able to disconnect the auxillary MSD box and wire the dist direct in case of a failure of the box. Generally it is not recommended by most engine builders because of fear the vacuum advance unit will advance timing TO far. From an engine builders perspective with warranty issues it's always a safe bet to err on the side of caution.

I've run mine with and without the vacuum advance hooked up. Currently I'm not using the vac advance, but it's yet another item I like to tinker with in search of the 'perfect setup'.

I have traced the problem with the MSD distrib's interfering with radar detectors, and other such electronic devices to the RED material they make the newer style caps out of..."Rinite" or some such thing....as soon as I switched from the old style unvented BLACK cap to the new vented RED style ....outside electronic's went crazy...replace the black cap...everything is fine....
MSD could care less when I contacted them about this material issue with the radar detectors. I would have thought they were happy to have someone tell them about it...

Well THATS an interesting find Blas! I would consider drilling a hole in the black cap for venting purposes, btw.

Duane,

On the more advanced model above the 6al, the system has to have more starting rpm to fire.
I don`t know if the separate system works the same or not.

Maurice

I was just about to point that out. :)

I have 2 pro-billet distributors, and although not a "ready-to-run" version, I had similar problems after 1 year. Turned out to be corrosion inside the cap, between the rotor and contacts in the cap. I drilled the vent holes since, but haven't checked it lately.

I'll but Mallory next, both distributor and ignition system. No more MSD for me.

decooney, as a matter of fact I just lost spark on my #8595 RTR distributor in my 390 FE, im so disappointed right now, I installed it 3 yrs ago, I have only had it out a dozen times. two yrs ago the carb started leaking. so it has been in storage. I rebuilt the carb 1 week ago, took it down the road and back , drove it to work tonight and shut it off ,now im stuck at work ...... no spark from coil. im assuming the pickup is bad ?

First post is to resurrect a nine year old thread....

Yup. And all I can add it that I ripped out all the MSD and went with Pertronis.:cool:

Ready to run issues
 

We have extremely good luck the the MSD distributors in general. Although we have had two Ready-To-Run distributors go out on the dyno and a couple within a few miles in the cars.:mad: The last time I called they simply sent us a new one rather than rebuilding. This leads us to believe they are having issues with them. I would recommend going with the Billet Distributor and 6AL box when possible.

Thanks

The Petronix bolt in conversion box seems to work OK.

If you are using the Petronix distributor please provide a shipping address. I will send you a pair of nice walking shoes. You're gonna need them. ;)

Possibly good ( or bad:) ) timing though, didn't Holley add Mallory & MSD plus others to their inventory last year.

Don't forget the 'ready to run' MSD has an adjustable rev limit built in now ( Read the info sheet that comes with Dist ), I wonder if some are inadvertently re-setting this when trouble shooting.

Ouch!!:eek:

I just ran into a similar issue. Rust buildup essentially created issues with the advance not working. I will replace the distributor, MSD Pro billet 8594 for like kind and then likely replace again sometime in the future.

Phil

Phil,

I have the 8594 distributor as well and use the 8222 high vibration coil. I've had two coils go out and this weekend the magnetic pick-up died. All this in 9,500 miles. I will say that drilling holes in the distributor cap as covered in other threads worked wonders - all but eliminated the corrosion buildup.

Kevin

Thanks for the advice. I will do that. Any recommendations on where to drill the hole?

Phil