MSD or Crane...Most reliable ignition?

[RedBarchetta]

My MSD 6AL is now being serviced at the MSD "factory" in Texas. My diagnostic checks on the whole ignition system were inconclusive, so I'm taking the shotgun approach and replacing the Blaster 2 coil, the magnetic pick-up (even though the 600ohms of resistance was just within tolerances), along with a new cap and rotor. Essentially, every electrical component that triggers a spark is either being diagnostically gone over or replaced.

I have been reading many other automotive forums on the whole multiple spark discharge box thingy and have learned that many an MSD owner has found him/herself stranded on the road (including me). I know several here have stated they keep a non-MSD distributor in their trunk just for this purpose. On long hauls I can see the merits of this. But if they are not that reliable, then why bother?!?

Is there a better mousetrap toward having a high-energy ignition without going to MSD? Crane sells a unit....Jacobs sells a unit. I just have a slight problem buying an ignition from a company (Crane) that is known more for camshafts. You don't order a steak when you go to an Italian restaurant.

Comments/suggestions?!?

-Deano

[flipper35]

I have a Jacobs Pro Street. Works great, has a soft touch rev limiter (no chips) and allows me to keep the old box in and useable with a quick electrical plug change if I need to. I hope I don't need to because it hass been so long since I put it in I don't remember what I am supposed to switch. It also has an ignition kill anti-theft device that will embarass you if you forget about it.

[Hotfingrs]

My Crane box has been in the Cobra for 5 yrs now, and the same box was in a Corvette for about 3 or 4 years before that, and no problems....(knocking on wood)

[ccomt]

I wanted a lot of flexibility as well as a lot of spark so I purchased a Holley ANNIHILATOR STRIP system (model 800-200). I liked that it was digitally controlled with programmable rev limiters and programmable spark retard for starting. It has a hand-held control box that sits it in the cockpit and connects to the ignition box. You can actually place the ignition box in the trunk or passenger compartment instead of the engine compartment - you just need to run some pretty heavy wires to the coil!

The model has since been replaced by the 800-210

Here is a link to the unit at Holley's web site

http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLin...C/800-200.html

[Ron61]

I have the Jacob's Pro Street like Brent has and it is very easy to run off the regular distributor and coil if needed. I have had it in for about 5 years with no problems but unlike Brent, I did switch it over to the regular way once just to see how it worked and it took about 20 seconds and ran great with the computer disconnected. I carry a schematic of which plug goes to which if I ever have to do that again for real.

Ron

[RedBarchetta]

Are the Jacobs units compatible with magnetic trigger distributors? The Holley unit is (as per their web site).

[flipper35]

Mine is a magnetic trigger. Although it took a little research to see which lead was positive and negative from the distributor. Goofy Mopar color codeing. By the way, you can order them specific to certain vehicles which are a plug and play deal or you can get the universal one like I got. It was pretty easy to set up.

[Anthony]

I recently just corrected a MSD problem. After 900 miles, I had corrosion build up in my MSD FE distributor, connected to a MSD Digital 6 box. This was causing very hard starting, backfiring, and missing. I cleaned all the contacts in the cap. There was a thread on this, use search engine, and MSD instructs to drill 4 holes in side of cap to vent the corrosive ionizing gas. It's running normal now.

I've heard about the MSD6-AL going bad, but nothing bad about the digital 6 box yet, although I don't think it is as nearly as popular, i.e. not enough in use to tell if it is problematic or not.

I've heard about the mallory unilite diode going bad, leaving people stranded. If you get a new distributor, I'd only get the magnetic type pick-up, and not the diode type.

I was contemplating between the MSD, mallory, Crane, Holley, and jacobs ignition systems, and then decided to get the MSD since I already had a MSD distributor. I don't know if I made the best decision or not.

The best info would probably come from an Hi-Po engine shop, such as Gessford, keith craft, etc, someone who uses many of these components.

[RedBarchetta]

FWIW, I'm running the MSD (PN 8584) billet distributor with magnetic trigger/pick-up. My thinking, too, is "MSD distributor...stay compatible with MSD ignition." But I do not want to go through a flat bed tow routine with AAA again.

[RPRICE]

Red, I have run the crane units with NO problem. I too have had major issues with the MSD units. May want to consider simplifing the entire system with an all in one unit. Does away with the coil and spark box. www.performancedistributors.com
Richard
Memphis

[need4speed]

I went out to the Holley link and after surfing around for a couple of minutes ran across this post on their web (http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLin...cts/IS/IS.html). Probably not a good idea to buy this if you can find it.

"Holley has discontinued the Annihilator Ignition line including ignition systems, coils, plug wires, crank triggers, battery chargers and distributors."

[werthie]

I use MSD 6AL on the Cobra and all my other cars, as well. Well, not the wife's Mercedes . . . . I've never had a problem . . . with the MSD's, the wife or the Mercedes.
MSD makes great products!
Alan

[Ron61]

Red,

I am running my Jacobs Pro Street with a Mallory breakerless magnetic distributor and it works great. I took the points out because they bounce after a couple of runs and at $25 dollar per pair for two pair I was tired of it. The Mallory distrubutor that I use in my 351 stroker is # 5055401 Magnetic Breakerless. It has 3 wires. a red, green, and brown, Red is wired to keyed 12v, green is trigger and brown is ground. Can't be simpler.

Ron

[RedBarchetta]

All good inputs thus far....thanks!

I'm going to wait for my MSD box to come back from the factory and determine what they found (if anything). If the box was at fault, then I'll feel a little better at least knowing what was causing the cut-off condition. But I have to say that my overall confidence with MSD is not solid right now and I can see myself replacing it with a Crane or Jacobs box in the near future.

[Mr.Fixit]

RedBarchetta,

There is a pretty good ignition shop in your area, "Ignitioneering" which is the same shop as "Orange County Speed" it is on Orangethorpe av, near the intersection with Raymond ave.
1233E. Orangethorpe, Fullerton.
They sell MSD, Mallory, and Jacobs. They talked me out of MSD and into a Jacobs back in 1993, that box still works great. Go talk to them.

[RedBarchetta]

Mr.Fixit, now you tell me!

Seriously, thanks for the referral. I know where they are (about 15 minute drive from the office).

Jacobs....Crane.....Jacobs.....Crane. Decisions, decisions.

I will say this: If my MSD set-up ever leaves me stranded again, I swear I will do to it what the Cubs fans did to that Steve Bartman baseball. And then I will box the pieces and send it back to MSD.

[Mr.Fixit]

You don't go racing with a MSD, you go with two. See MSD part # 8301

http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/pdf7.pdf

[RedBarchetta]

Originally posted by Mr.Fixit


[b]You don't go racing with a MSD, you go with two. See MSD part # 8301

Wow! If there ever was a schematic that admitted unreliability, that was certainly it.

I picture a dirt track modified going into turn 4, threading the needle sideways between two other cars and trying to position oneself for the straightaway, only to have the ignition go south and trying to find the toggle switch to get it going, again. Hello third place.