Major and Substantial Defects?

[timsullivan]

I about knocked myself out trying to diagnose a high speed running problem with my freshly built 408W. I was convinced it was the carb secondaries as the problem only came about when I really got on it and opened up the secondaries. Come to find out the problem was rotor phasing! I spent over $320 for a brand new MSD Pro Billet, Magnetic Trigger distributor when I built my motor and then had to spend $60 more on “MSD parts to fix the MSD part” (another MSD distributor cap in order to cut a hole in it so I could see the rotor pointer with a timing light and a MSD “adjustable rotor” in order to tweak its alignment with the distributor cap). Sure am glad I stayed with the Superformance factory Ford DuraSpark ignition module and didn’t try to upgrade to one of those failure prone MSD Ignition Boxes. You know, the one’s they say you aren’t suppose to mount upside down in the passenger wheel well or water will get inside them? My wife says MSD stands for “Major and Substantial Defects” and I think she’s right.

[Rick Parker]

Never heard of anyone mounting them in a wheel well, maybe a footwell. I personally have used a MSD 6T for 23 years without a problem. It may have different or more "Potting material" in it or perhaps the fact that it's mounted on the rubber isolaters may have something to do with its longevity.

[WardL]

Hmm, mine is upside down underneath the glove box/passenger's footwell and it works fine.

[FWB]

well i feel your pain tim.....i'm not very pleased (watered down) with my MSD dist.
myself, when it comes time to change the gear, its gone, along with the #6 box, i'll go with a duraspark. it just seems to me its designed by some chevy boy that thinks it needs to be so tall to reach it in the back......