C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Looking for help with MSD system

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 05:58 PM
  #1  
mark werner's Avatar
mark werner
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Default Looking for help with MSD system

Installed MSD in 72 vette 454. Car runs great as long as I have the vacuum advance plugged. but once I connect the vacuum and increase the rpms ever so slightly the engine starts poping and backfiring. Car is set at 8 degrees BTDC as specs call for. I have all advance coming in around 3000 - 3200 rpm. and have tried all different set ups from heavy springs to light springs from larger bushing to smaller bushing with the same results. I have even tried different vac cans but keep getting the same thing with no luck once vac is connected. Has anyone had this problem and if so what can be done to solve it. I contacted MSD but they were of little help. With the vac disconnected the plugs foul up very quickly. Any help would be much appreciated.
Mark
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 06:27 PM
  #2  
JustinD's Avatar
JustinD
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
Default

Originally Posted by mark werner
Installed MSD in 72 vette 454. Car runs great as long as I have the vacuum advance plugged. but once I connect the vacuum and increase the rpms ever so slightly the engine starts poping and backfiring. Car is set at 8 degrees BTDC as specs call for. I have all advance coming in around 3000 - 3200 rpm. and have tried all different set ups from heavy springs to light springs from larger bushing to smaller bushing with the same results. I have even tried different vac cans but keep getting the same thing with no luck once vac is connected. Has anyone had this problem and if so what can be done to solve it. I contacted MSD but they were of little help. With the vac disconnected the plugs foul up very quickly. Any help would be much appreciated.
Mark
Did you ever time it before you put in the new dizzy? Just thinking the harmonic balancer may have slipped. Maybe with the vac advance connected you are getting to much advance and it is firing to soon.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 06:48 PM
  #3  
mark werner's Avatar
mark werner
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Default

yes,the timing was set at 8 degrees and running fine. Did put in new balancer. when I did this over haul thing. I had just dropped in another HEI (not MSD) dist that a friend had and it works fine w/ vac connected.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 06:55 PM
  #4  
JustinD's Avatar
JustinD
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
Default

Is it just a msd billet distributor? Maybe the coil is not getting enough power or something. Although I may just be pissing in to the wind.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 07:26 PM
  #5  
mark werner's Avatar
mark werner
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Default

yes, Pro billet dist with MSD Blaster coil and MSD ignition control
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2008 | 07:34 PM
  #6  
JustinD's Avatar
JustinD
Safety Car
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,841
Likes: 0
From: Inver Grove Minnesota
Default

Did you have the box hooked up when you tried the hei?
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2008 | 09:47 PM
  #7  
DEMITRISTYLES's Avatar
DEMITRISTYLES
Drifting
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 2
From: You Can't Buy Cool, No Friggin' Way - Mississauga Ontario
Default

ttt
Reply
Old Jun 3, 2008 | 10:13 PM
  #8  
jr188's Avatar
jr188
2nd Gear
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Default

try setting your timing back to about 4btdc, then attach vacume to a ported vacume on carb. and readjust carb accordingly. I did this on a 350-350 and it worked out fine. for some reason when full vacume is attached, you get the popping through the carb and exhaust. I think the factory dist advances to quick and with the msd box, a lot more voltage is traveling through the system
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Looking for help with MSD system

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:32 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE