Parts can't install themselves
Why MSD wires suck
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 14
From: Phoenixville, PA
Why MSD wires suck
Car: 2001 base model, stock drivetrain.
The MSD boots get hot and crack, leading to a misfire. The boots are also poorly chosen as they for the wires to contact the AIR tubing in a number of places.
GMPP wires had no such issues and I'll be going back to those.
The MSD boots get hot and crack, leading to a misfire. The boots are also poorly chosen as they for the wires to contact the AIR tubing in a number of places.
GMPP wires had no such issues and I'll be going back to those.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Absolutely---- AND on the coil end--the MSD boot inner diameter is too thick-- and the boots will pop off as they don't "snap" on when installed-- GMPP or i like the Taylor T-50 thundervolts---Running them now for 5 years with LT headers and NO issues------
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
Why users make products look bad. Improper installation.
Those boots are multi angle all you needed to do what bend them away from the air tube or primary.
Don't blame the product for customer mis-use, any wire will burn if you lay it on a hot pipe. MSD will last longer being abused as well due to the hi heat silicone, the gm wire and taylor dry out quicker... I've been doing this for a while, I wouldnt push it as a better product unless it was.
MSD is one of the very best on the market, I've never burnt a properly installed wire and neither have my customers.
But the Taylor wires and gm wires are famous for breaking internally where the MSD wont.
Look at the boots in question... looks like someone was gnawing on them, that is not the products fault at all one single bit.
Those boots are multi angle all you needed to do what bend them away from the air tube or primary.
Don't blame the product for customer mis-use, any wire will burn if you lay it on a hot pipe. MSD will last longer being abused as well due to the hi heat silicone, the gm wire and taylor dry out quicker... I've been doing this for a while, I wouldnt push it as a better product unless it was.
MSD is one of the very best on the market, I've never burnt a properly installed wire and neither have my customers.
But the Taylor wires and gm wires are famous for breaking internally where the MSD wont.
Look at the boots in question... looks like someone was gnawing on them, that is not the products fault at all one single bit.
Last edited by 99blancoss; Oct 25, 2010 at 03:42 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
I hang my coil end out just a bit farther to help people install them properly
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
The MSD 8.5mm supercondcutor wire is a better product all the way around, hand down.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
I also use Chris' MSD wires with stock manifolds. There is tons of room & I'm not running the stock heat shields. That being said, these look to be burnt way closer to the head where the boots don't have adjustability.
Last edited by BrentC5Z; Oct 25, 2010 at 04:00 PM. Reason: spelling
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 256
From: St. Louis Missouri
I vote for installer error too. I've had 3-4 sets on my cars and installed them on at least a half dozen other cars. I've had my current set off/on no less than 4 times. I always gently bend (or rotate) the wires away from heat sources and have never had a failure.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Lubbock Texas
Looks like the wires were probably a little close to the headers. they can be setup where this won't be an issue. MSD is probably some of the better wires out. You can get brand new sets of other brands where the wires break as soon as you put them on and try to take them back off.
I would say a little adjustment will fix your problems.
Jon
I would say a little adjustment will fix your problems.
Jon
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
The boots got compromised, look at the ones that aren't burnt. What caused them to wear like that? That did not dry out and crack it got worn through and then arced out.
I've yet to see a boot legitimately dry out and crack, the boots gets compromised somehow and then the issues arise.
There are some FI applications that generate excess heat and in some of those cases a special hi heat boot is needed and MSD does make them but 99.9% of the time the regular MSD boot suffices.
I've yet to see a boot legitimately dry out and crack, the boots gets compromised somehow and then the issues arise.
There are some FI applications that generate excess heat and in some of those cases a special hi heat boot is needed and MSD does make them but 99.9% of the time the regular MSD boot suffices.
Last edited by 99blancoss; Oct 25, 2010 at 05:31 PM.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
I change wires every 10k miles and have tried them all over the years.
Currently I make my own wires since I've relocated coils on this car and my last.
I prefer the Taylor wires over MSD in kit form.
If I had the stock-style setup I'd choose the GM reds everytime. Very well made and have never had an issue.
Currently I make my own wires since I've relocated coils on this car and my last.
I prefer the Taylor wires over MSD in kit form.
If I had the stock-style setup I'd choose the GM reds everytime. Very well made and have never had an issue.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 2
From: Portland OR
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12
Josh the Taylor terminals are inferior to the MSD, been proved many times over. To each his own I always say but I do like to present facts where it is warranted. I've made and repaired Taylors, Morosso, you name it I've seen just about all of them and repaired them.
The MSD are a better wire. The Taylor's would be better if they had the MSD terminals but the 10.4 is really too thick and doesn't like to be manipulated, is very heavy as well which will eventually cause issues too. The 7mm is a joke really, just a cheap alternative like the Street wires from MSD. GM aren't bad until you have to change them and then break internally wiggling it to get it off. The MSD wont break like that and has lower resistance which brings us right back to square one...LOL MSD 8.5mm Superconductor is the better wire.
The MSD are a better wire. The Taylor's would be better if they had the MSD terminals but the 10.4 is really too thick and doesn't like to be manipulated, is very heavy as well which will eventually cause issues too. The 7mm is a joke really, just a cheap alternative like the Street wires from MSD. GM aren't bad until you have to change them and then break internally wiggling it to get it off. The MSD wont break like that and has lower resistance which brings us right back to square one...LOL MSD 8.5mm Superconductor is the better wire.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Tell you what...
Since my engine is going back together next week and the supercharger is being added, I'll give the MSDs another go-'round.
Next week will be a major spending spree for stuff needed, if you can get me a good deal on a set of BLACK MSDs (not happy that msd charges extra for non-red color) with the coil ends needed I'll get them from you.
I don't want ugly socks since the engine is 100% polished and all wiring hidden/minimized, so if you think there will be a problem let me know... The Taylors stood up great on my last front mount twin turbo build.
Since my engine is going back together next week and the supercharger is being added, I'll give the MSDs another go-'round.
Next week will be a major spending spree for stuff needed, if you can get me a good deal on a set of BLACK MSDs (not happy that msd charges extra for non-red color) with the coil ends needed I'll get them from you.
I don't want ugly socks since the engine is 100% polished and all wiring hidden/minimized, so if you think there will be a problem let me know... The Taylors stood up great on my last front mount twin turbo build.