msd issues 6al and 8594 distributor

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by Rick Parker

Personally I think MSD is a well designed product overall.

Yes,well designed product made with el-cheapo components in Mexico.......when one buys a top of the line after market distributor like an MSD unit for near 300 bucks, one should expect it to run properly and not rust up in 6 months to a year.......

Ford has made how many millions of DuraSpark distributors since the early 80's to 1995 that were used in the Mustangs/LTDs and F-150s?? and how many gazillion trouble free miles were put on them with no issues,especially rust??????
That's why last week I trotted down to the local O'Reilly's and bought a rebuilt Ford DuraSpark distributor for less than 80 bucks with warranty for my new 331..........I'm done with ALL MSD products!!!!!!!!

I have had their distributor/ignition box in 3 cars starting back in 1996,I can tell within 5 seconds when I start the car if I need to pull the distributor out and clean it again for rust,which is at least once a year....I've tried every thing MSD has recommended and few things they have not and nothing stops the rust or other problems.......

David

[FWB]

and the Duraspark doesn't sit way up in the air like the Eiffel tower because MSD was too cheap to design an actual Ford housing.

But i'm not bitter....really...

[DAVID GAGNARD]

As a side note:
I picked up a DuraSpark distributor out of a 1994 Mustang GT in a salvage yard a while back thinking I could convert it to use on a carbed engine,no go, but anyway,I took it apart and other than being dirty,it has ZERO rust inside and all it's internals were in perfect working order,in fact the engine I pulled it off of,was still running!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David

[zrayr]

Originally Posted by DAVID GAGNARD

"..............I'm done with ALL MSD products!!!!!!!!

"..........I can tell within 5 seconds when I start the car if I need to pull the distributor out and clean it again for rust,which is at least once a year....I've tried every thing MSD has recommended and few things they have not and nothing stops the rust or other problems.......

David

I agree it is an aggravating problem. But if you are only inconvenienced once a year or so, it doesn't seem to be a deal breaker for me. After all it doesn't take but a few minutes. But hey, I have my own pet peeves where maintenance is concerned on classic cars so I do understand where you are coming from....

I've had better reliability from MSD products than any other ignition system, so I'm inclined to stay with what is working well for me. I especially like the combination of the MSD Digital 6+ box and their non vacuum advance distributor #8579. I've put about 55,000 miles over a 11 year period on those components. I did change out the dist. cap when it was new to a black cap, and replaced that cap after after 6 years.

Z.