MSD box - do you really gain anything?

[twobjshelbys]

Is there an equivalent from someone besides MSD? More reliable? I personally went through two of the boxes (in fact, I made a wiring harness to make it easier to swap).

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Is there an equivalent from someone besides MSD? More reliable? I personally went through two of the boxes (in fact, I made a wiring harness to make it easier to swap).

My CD box (MSD manufactured, Summit branded) is under the dash on the cool side of the firewall. That box replaced an analog MSD 6AL that was on the firewall and failed. Was that failure heat-related? I don't know, but electronics and heat often don't get along too well.

I also replaced the oil-filled coil with an epoxy-filled one at the same time, and mounted it on the firewall.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Is there an equivalent from someone besides MSD? More reliable? I personally went through two of the boxes (in fact, I made a wiring harness to make it easier to swap).

A Crane box is very robust and we have used the Pertronix products with good results. It seems that the MSD quality is suspect as most of the products are Chinese save for the pro racing ($$$$) units. A common failure on the 6AL is the small internal fuse that requires soldering to replace.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

A Crane box is very robust and we have used the Pertronix products with good results. It seems that the MSD quality is suspect as most of the products are Chinese save for the pro racing ($$$$) units. A common failure on the 6AL is the small internal fuse that requires soldering to replace.

Fuse? How about the lack of reverse polarity protection? If my $30 battery charger has it you'd think it should be standard equipment in an ignition box.