msd reliability,hype
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 801
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msd reliability,hype
I'm thinking about buying their tach drive dist,and 6al box.I did a search and found mixed thoughts on it.People either seem real happy without problems for years or it fails two hours after installing it.Could this be due to a installation error or is it just that big a crap shoot.If it fails can you limp home or is it dead in the water.I'm old and don't like walking.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Heard of a lot of problems with the 6al digital boxes but the 6a non digital seem to have a decent track record.
Msd billet dist and less than impressed so was the person I eventually had to take it to to curve it cause it would never time right. Took some work.
Use a 6a box. Dont want to but with a big solid roller I dont want to deal with plugs fouling and it does that well.
Making a bypass harness couldnt hurt.
Unless you really NEED a box stick with a good blueprinted HEI or Mallory Unilite those 2 rarely if ever go bad. Good coil and call it a day
Msd billet dist and less than impressed so was the person I eventually had to take it to to curve it cause it would never time right. Took some work.
Use a 6a box. Dont want to but with a big solid roller I dont want to deal with plugs fouling and it does that well.
Making a bypass harness couldnt hurt.
Unless you really NEED a box stick with a good blueprinted HEI or Mallory Unilite those 2 rarely if ever go bad. Good coil and call it a day
Last edited by cv67; Mar 6, 2012 at 11:07 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I have the 6 ALN box, non digital, N stands for Nascar. It is filled with a substance similar to a hardened clear silicon to isolate the electronics from heat and vibration, I have run it on 3 different cars and it is indestructable. If they are still available I would recommend it,.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
.I noticed even nascar mounts it inside the car.
most mount them without the isolators right in the heat of the engine compartment wrong place. Electronics dont like heat.
Those boxes can be sensitive to simple things such as zip tying output wires together.
Being as I hardly get to drive mine hoping it should last a few yrs.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
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I don't put a ton of miles on it but I'm planning on an engine swap in the future with a little more compression than the original eng in it. More cam more compression and a whole lot better heads.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
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Ever notice Nascar mounts 2 of them on the dash?
You will get exactly 0 performance gain with an MSD on a relatively stock engine over points, HEI, etc. Supercharged, big cam, etc they can help.
I've worked on their marine version a lot. Just about everyone has one die about every 2 years. Their "marine" distributors rust out in about the same amount of time.
I've heard that wiring the box directly to the battery with heavy gauge wire can help them live, but I've seen those die too.
You will get exactly 0 performance gain with an MSD on a relatively stock engine over points, HEI, etc. Supercharged, big cam, etc they can help.
I've worked on their marine version a lot. Just about everyone has one die about every 2 years. Their "marine" distributors rust out in about the same amount of time.
I've heard that wiring the box directly to the battery with heavy gauge wire can help them live, but I've seen those die too.
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
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From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I have a MSD 8572 tach drive pro billet distributor, MSD blaster coil, MSD spark plug wires, and a MSD 6AL ignition box. Almost 8 yrs with zero issues. I believe most problems are from incorrect installations, people just don't seem to read the instructions! Follow the instructions, and you should have no issues.
You can mount the box under the hood, just stay away from direct heat. Mine has been mounted on the rear of the front passenger wheel well since new, no issues. You can just see it in this pic:
Here is a pic I took when I installed it:
A direct link to their instructions for the 6AL:
http://www.msdignition.com/WorkArea/...id=15032386116
You can mount the box under the hood, just stay away from direct heat. Mine has been mounted on the rear of the front passenger wheel well since new, no issues. You can just see it in this pic:
Here is a pic I took when I installed it:
Originally Posted by MSD 6Al instructions
MOUNTING
The MSD can be mounted in the engine compartment as long as it is away from direct engine heat
sources. It is not recommended to mount the unit in an enclosed area such as the glove box.
When you find a suitable location to mount the unit, make sure the wires of the ignition reach their
connections. Also be sure that the program dials can be accessed. Hold the Ignition in place and
mark the location of the mounting holes. Use a 3/16" bit to drill holes, install the vibration mounts and
mount the ignition.
The MSD can be mounted in the engine compartment as long as it is away from direct engine heat
sources. It is not recommended to mount the unit in an enclosed area such as the glove box.
When you find a suitable location to mount the unit, make sure the wires of the ignition reach their
connections. Also be sure that the program dials can be accessed. Hold the Ignition in place and
mark the location of the mounting holes. Use a 3/16" bit to drill holes, install the vibration mounts and
mount the ignition.
http://www.msdignition.com/WorkArea/...id=15032386116
Last edited by 7t2vette; Mar 6, 2012 at 03:48 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
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From: Japan
I have a 6AL in my now-streetified [Mustang] race car that I installed in 1994. It has outlasted three engines. Not one problem. The car can sit for months without being started, hit the fuel pump, crank it and BANG! it lights off. They may be outsourcing some of their production nowadays so that may account for some of their issues but all the racers still use their stuff. That says something. I've seen a lot of other systems come and go- Jacobs, Crane, etc., etc., but MSD is the constant.
The NASCAR guys run two boxes on the off chance that one fails (and they sometimes do) you can immediately switch to the other...
The NASCAR guys run two boxes on the off chance that one fails (and they sometimes do) you can immediately switch to the other...
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I have the MSD 6AL and matching distributor on my 72, and for me the reason was a performance one. But… unless MSD changed their instruction manual, there is nothing in there about jump starting your car while charging your battery!
If you have an MSD box and your car battery is dead, DO NOT put a jumper box or battery charger on the car and attempt to start it! There is a huge chance you'll blow a diode in the MSD box and it is not covered by warranty.
You might get away with it a few times but eventually the odds will catch up to you! For me, if I need to charge the battery I remove the cable and charge it. But never try to jump the car...
IMHO,
Willcox
If you have an MSD box and your car battery is dead, DO NOT put a jumper box or battery charger on the car and attempt to start it! There is a huge chance you'll blow a diode in the MSD box and it is not covered by warranty.
You might get away with it a few times but eventually the odds will catch up to you! For me, if I need to charge the battery I remove the cable and charge it. But never try to jump the car...
IMHO,
Willcox
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 753
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I have the MSD 8572 and 6ALN .no issues
i still don't understand why c3 chrome bumpers owners place the msd box in the engine bay when there's plenty of space inside the passenger side dash. Mine is there. no engine heat and more neat wiring.
i still don't understand why c3 chrome bumpers owners place the msd box in the engine bay when there's plenty of space inside the passenger side dash. Mine is there. no engine heat and more neat wiring.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I am not sure about others, but I put mine in the passenger wheel well for easy access. I can remove the side grill on the car and have perfect access to my box.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
Thanks for all the information guys.Ordered the tac drive dist and the NASCAR controller.Probably mount it behind pass side dash panel.I have a vintage air unit in there but I think I can squeez it in.