Why MSD wires suck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
What is the story on the lack of positive snap on over the plugs? It's mush and a leap of faith that they are fully engaged.
I thought I read on the forum here at some point MSD was/had changed the spark plug end contact to be more positive. Any truth to that?
B.
I thought I read on the forum here at some point MSD was/had changed the spark plug end contact to be more positive. Any truth to that?
B.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
Man what is goin on with some of you guys and MSD wires. I have countless buddies who purchase and never look back and never have had an issue. MYSELF included. I had a set on my cam'd 99SS Camaro and they were great. I have them on my ZO6 now. No issue. Mine snapped into place no problem. I will say if i dont feel or HEAR a snap, im pulling them off and trying again. I believe its operator error for you guys
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 14
From: Phoenixville, PA
The "gnawing" is the boots getting hot, cracking and disintegrating. There can't be any (appreciable) movement btw the plugs and manifolds.
The bendable "feature" is ok, but why not make them proper from the start?
Also, the cracking is below the spark plug clip- can't bend it there. Maybe MSD will come out with matching angled spark plugs.
These will be fine on the street, won't last a day at a road course with stock manifolds.
A lower ohm rating does not equal more power, there is plenty of info available on that.
The bendable "feature" is ok, but why not make them proper from the start?
Also, the cracking is below the spark plug clip- can't bend it there. Maybe MSD will come out with matching angled spark plugs.
These will be fine on the street, won't last a day at a road course with stock manifolds.
A lower ohm rating does not equal more power, there is plenty of info available on that.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1
From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
I have the MSD's on mine with long tube headers and all I had to do is bend them so they dont touch my headers. From the pictures the OP posted it looks like they were sitting on the header. The OEM ones I pulled of my car were sitting on the headers and looked like the ones in your picture. Also all of mine clicked onto the coils.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
my headers get hot, real hot and they are 2" primaries which means my boots are even closer and getting baked on both sides and they never get dried out and crack.
If the boot was resting on a hot pipe not much you can say, its not the boots fault. If you have a turbo or s/c then you have potential for higher heat but again 99.9% of the guys never have issue.
If you had grease on your hands and got it on the boot and it got hot it might effect the boot negatively Ive seen that before, but in 10,000 + wires in over 3 years I have seen one true instance of them getting dried out due to excessive heat from a turbo setup so like I said it is possible... just doesn't happen very often. The factory boot did not live in that condition either, there is a ceramic booted wire for $120+ or like I said I can use MSD's special racing hi heat boot if a person needed.
If they don't click in place you didn't get it on correctly, its a snap fit. User error is not the products fault. Ben i know that ws not your issue, that was for the person who posted that problem
If the boot was resting on a hot pipe not much you can say, its not the boots fault. If you have a turbo or s/c then you have potential for higher heat but again 99.9% of the guys never have issue.
If you had grease on your hands and got it on the boot and it got hot it might effect the boot negatively Ive seen that before, but in 10,000 + wires in over 3 years I have seen one true instance of them getting dried out due to excessive heat from a turbo setup so like I said it is possible... just doesn't happen very often. The factory boot did not live in that condition either, there is a ceramic booted wire for $120+ or like I said I can use MSD's special racing hi heat boot if a person needed.
If they don't click in place you didn't get it on correctly, its a snap fit. User error is not the products fault. Ben i know that ws not your issue, that was for the person who posted that problem
Last edited by 99blancoss; Oct 26, 2010 at 01:57 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 212
From: Winnipeg
Personal experience!!! STAY FAR AWAY FROM TAYLOR WIRES!!!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!! 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 1
From: Columbia TN
Guys, I'll chime in here as well. I just purchased a set of these wires and couldn't be more pleased. They installed with zero issues and clicked when they were supposed to. Sorry some of you are having issues.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Well, I've had pre made sets of MSD where one or two wouldn't "click" no matter what rotation or angle.
I know how to turn a wrench, I can put on a set of stinkin' plug wires, it wasn't a user error.
Trying the same wire on another coil gave the same result. NEVER got a click but the car ran fine with my fingers crossed.
Never had a single issue with Taylors or factory.
The whole thing about wire performance is moot when each cylinder has it's own coil. It's not like the early small block days.
Remembering all this crap has gotten me angry again, I've changed my mind about trying them again, **** on 'em.
I know how to turn a wrench, I can put on a set of stinkin' plug wires, it wasn't a user error.
Trying the same wire on another coil gave the same result. NEVER got a click but the car ran fine with my fingers crossed. Never had a single issue with Taylors or factory.
The whole thing about wire performance is moot when each cylinder has it's own coil. It's not like the early small block days.
Remembering all this crap has gotten me angry again, I've changed my mind about trying them again, **** on 'em.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
I'll make a set for someone using the ceramic boots if they want but they are not cheap.
Accel has unniversal wires as well for $150, then you need to buy and add the coil end stuff. I can do it both ways for a person. Use either just the jacobs ceramic boots and MSD for $170 shipped or The Accell kit for the same price. The Accel wire is 8mm 300 ohm, MSD 8.5mm 40 ohm.
In fact i can add sleeving on it that is good to 1200 * so there are options for those who have extra demands due to excessive heat. Just contact me and I'll set you up. I can add sleeving to any wire set as well if a person wanted black yell red blue natural are the color options.
Accel has unniversal wires as well for $150, then you need to buy and add the coil end stuff. I can do it both ways for a person. Use either just the jacobs ceramic boots and MSD for $170 shipped or The Accell kit for the same price. The Accel wire is 8mm 300 ohm, MSD 8.5mm 40 ohm.
In fact i can add sleeving on it that is good to 1200 * so there are options for those who have extra demands due to excessive heat. Just contact me and I'll set you up. I can add sleeving to any wire set as well if a person wanted black yell red blue natural are the color options.
Last edited by 99blancoss; Oct 26, 2010 at 09:44 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,888
Likes: 2
From: Frederick, Maryland
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Also---When a supporter of a product like the countless reponses by one person above -- Is only giving excuses and blaming the installer and is being defensive--That's not a good thing-- simlpe fact is that there have been many failures for one resaon or another on their LS fitment wires--For whatever reason they haven't responded quickly enought to remove the preception that they fail--Just look at the responses on this thread-- They may have re-designed them and they are beter now--But MSD typically will NEVER admit they had an engineering problem and corrected it--they simply fix the problem (sometimes) and hope the preception goes away---I was sponsored by them when I was racing and even working with them closer that most had some issues unresloved---
Last edited by tblu92; Oct 27, 2010 at 02:32 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
Update on the ceramic boots from Jacobs. No longer available. Jacobs was bought by Accel who discontinued them. Accel offer wires sets with ceramic boots.
I can offer an Ls1 set with ceramic boots for $150 to your door.
As far as MSD goes vs Taylor for fixing issues I can only go by experience.
Taylor I don't have internal experience with but MSD I do.
About 2 years ago now MSD had switched from who made their wire to another company as well as the composition of the jacket to meet govt standards on heavy metals. This resulted in a different thickness and "feel" to the wire. I contacted them and expressed my concern and due to the volume of wires I make, it touched off and internal investigation to the highest level. I was made privy to that private information. The issue of thickness was corrected and the chemical composition explained. They were up front and honest with me and kept me in a private company loop. They were very proactive in investigating my complaints and treated me with the utmost respect.
I can offer an Ls1 set with ceramic boots for $150 to your door.
As far as MSD goes vs Taylor for fixing issues I can only go by experience.
Taylor I don't have internal experience with but MSD I do.
About 2 years ago now MSD had switched from who made their wire to another company as well as the composition of the jacket to meet govt standards on heavy metals. This resulted in a different thickness and "feel" to the wire. I contacted them and expressed my concern and due to the volume of wires I make, it touched off and internal investigation to the highest level. I was made privy to that private information. The issue of thickness was corrected and the chemical composition explained. They were up front and honest with me and kept me in a private company loop. They were very proactive in investigating my complaints and treated me with the utmost respect.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
I actually picked up the jacobs ceramic boots and wires as a set for ~180 or something... I just cut the wires off and drilled them out to put in the MSD wires (jacobs wires looked like standard auto zone wires).... For almost 100 bucks more then your price I felt I had the top notch ****.
As far as those fiberglass covers. They probably work for 90% of the stuff out there.
For the others who fight with this issue, such as the OP has posted. I offered up how I solved burning boots, ruining boot covers and just generally waisting money with high heat issues.