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CC Advertisers
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02-09-2004, 07:33 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Lakeland,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA 427SC FMS 351W
Posts: 199
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Not Ranked
Drill Holes in Small Diameter MSD Dist Cap
I have just installed a 6AL box to go with my MSD small diameter Ford distributor (PN 8478). I have been told to drill holes in the side of the cap between the terminals to permit moisture to escape and to prevent cross firing due to "charged air particles" under a small cap (terminals too close together). Additionally, I have been told to drill 1/4 holes at rotor height or even mid-cap level. Should I do this?? If so, where should these holes be drilled? How you know if you have cross-fire if the motor runs good?
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02-09-2004, 07:44 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Louisville,
KY
Cobra Make, Engine: I'm Cobra-less!
Posts: 9,417
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Who advised you to do this?
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02-09-2004, 08:03 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: Collierville, TN USA,
Posts: 235
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That's an old time circle track trick. But this was before the high output Crane and MSD boxes used today. Can't speak about current need or function. But it used to work like a charm.
Richard
Memphis
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02-09-2004, 08:19 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Bay Area,
FL
Cobra Make, Engine: What Cobra?
Posts: 7,193
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You were advised correctly.
My MSD cap after only 300 miles or so, had things growing in it.
There was even some green colored foreign substance around the distributor shaft itself.
If I din't know any better, I would have guessed "moss".
I was told to drill a hole on the cap.
I did not believe t, so I called MSD tech support.Yup, that is exactly what they advised. They told me aproximately where to drill and how big and how many.
(2) holes across each other, 1/8" in diameter, close to the bottom rim of the cap. Preferably opposite of the retainer holes.
That is what MSD said..
TURK
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OBAMA IN in 2012
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02-09-2004, 08:55 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Bechtelsville, PA USA,
Posts: 185
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Thanks for the info guys.
Kinda makes you wonder why MSD doesn't just go ahead and do it? 
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Greg
********
America. Home of the free, because of the brave.
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02-09-2004, 09:06 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Bay Area,
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Cobra Make, Engine: What Cobra?
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That was my EXACT question to the MSD guy on the phone. He said something like , he just helps people solve problems he doesn't design them.
TURK
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OBAMA IN in 2012
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02-09-2004, 09:23 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.,
IN
Cobra Make, Engine: Home built, supercharged 544cu/in automatic
Posts: 924
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Missing holes makes the dist. more water resistant in car washes and rainstorms. You guys do know that a bigger cap distributors are out there that will fire off of a 6AL box don't you? In the past I've all so glued foam rubber strips between each post to prevent cross fires too.
cobrashock
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Ron Shockley
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02-09-2004, 11:00 PM
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Ron,
Since I have never washed the car in a car wash, and certainly never planned on sparying the engine compartment i had no problem following MSD's instructions.
I too had the similar concerns about water getting into the distributor, but then again with electronic distributor I decided not to worry about it, and never had a problem after that.
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OBAMA IN in 2012
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02-09-2004, 11:16 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Atlanta,
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Cobra Make, Engine: CAV GT40 with 331 KC
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You had to use MY cap to practice on.....thanks.
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02-10-2004, 12:19 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Bay Area,
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oops!
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OBAMA IN in 2012
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02-10-2004, 06:16 AM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Turk,
After you got through burning up ignitons because of incorrect wiring, how many caps did it take for you to get the holes in the correct place ? 
Ron   |
02-10-2004, 07:18 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Whitehouse Station,
NJ
Cobra Make, Engine: SOLD: 2013 Boss 302 Mustang #2775 (both options). SOLD: 95 Mustang Cobra R #4 of 250 "Rosie's Diner" car. SOLD: CCX2-2505, #5 of 7 289 FIAs ever produced at Contemporary! my first Cobra: Unique 427SC w/ 428CJ moder!
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...in the numerous MSD distributors I have owned this has never been a problem and I live in the state that invented humidity.
Wouldn't drilling holes in the cap also let moisture IN?
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REMEMBER....In Case of Spin....Both Feet in!!!!!
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02-10-2004, 07:23 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Bay Area,
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John,
It is not all that humid here. The growth inside the distributor cap was a result of ionization or something like that rather than moisture. It needed to be vented(hence the hole) not as much as water let in!
All this happened within few miles of ownership. Wasn't because it was too humid.
Maybe you have better caps there.
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OBAMA IN in 2012
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02-10-2004, 07:53 AM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Whitehouse Station,
NJ
Cobra Make, Engine: SOLD: 2013 Boss 302 Mustang #2775 (both options). SOLD: 95 Mustang Cobra R #4 of 250 "Rosie's Diner" car. SOLD: CCX2-2505, #5 of 7 289 FIAs ever produced at Contemporary! my first Cobra: Unique 427SC w/ 428CJ moder!
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Turk,
Thanks, I guess things just don't ionize in the North East they way they do in Cali. 
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REMEMBER....In Case of Spin....Both Feet in!!!!!
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02-10-2004, 03:37 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Southern Connecticut,
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Cobra Make, Engine: SPF - 351W, 944 non-turbo
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The constant high voltage sparks produce a lot of ozone which is very tough on rubber and plastic.
Bob
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02-10-2004, 04:03 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Atlanta,
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Cobra Make, Engine: CAV GT40 with 331 KC
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Is that why the NEVER use rubber or plastic valves when they do brain transplants?
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02-10-2004, 04:29 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Whitehouse Station,
NJ
Cobra Make, Engine: SOLD: 2013 Boss 302 Mustang #2775 (both options). SOLD: 95 Mustang Cobra R #4 of 250 "Rosie's Diner" car. SOLD: CCX2-2505, #5 of 7 289 FIAs ever produced at Contemporary! my first Cobra: Unique 427SC w/ 428CJ moder!
Posts: 5,438
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__________________
REMEMBER....In Case of Spin....Both Feet in!!!!!
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02-10-2004, 04:48 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: God's country,
ME
Cobra Make, Engine: Original ERA 427sc, Powered by Gessford
Posts: 2,678
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Does this go for all MSD distributors? I think I have MSD 8594 with the standard size cap. Do I need to drill holes in it? 
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Replica is not a dirty word.
"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
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02-10-2004, 04:55 PM
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CC Member
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Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Bay Area,
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Cobra Make, Engine: What Cobra?
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I never have seen the type of fungus like growth in a conventional points type distributor. It is the pointless MSD FE distributor that is currently being offered that had this problem.
I don't know what model it was.
My second car with the identical distributor and the same 6AL box did NOT develop the same symptoms.
Go figure.
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OBAMA IN in 2012
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02-10-2004, 04:58 PM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: God's country,
ME
Cobra Make, Engine: Original ERA 427sc, Powered by Gessford
Posts: 2,678
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Hmmm. I have the 6AL box too. Maybe I'll just pull the cap and take a look at it.
__________________
Replica is not a dirty word.
"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."
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