MSD Questions

[super64]

Howdy, A friend of mine gave me a MSD Digital-6 Plus and I plan to install it in the next couple of weeks. My 64 1/2's 289 has a tired old distributor in it (that, at the very least needs to be recurved) with a Pertronix Ignitor II in place of the points. I suggested buying a new MSD Billet distributor, but he told me they weren't reliable (not his exact words). I've also looked at the Crane Street/Strip Distributor, but it's fairly pricey. Is there a good street distributor out there that is cost effective and already set up for good street performance, that I may have overlooked? I'm still running a flat-tappet hydraulic cam at the moment, but may be rebuilding my 289 with the intention of running a spider/roller cam setup in the future. Thanks in Advance, Brian

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[rmodel65]

honestly a good swap is the 1984 mustang setup(for a flat tappet cam as you currently have later you can get a 1985 dizzy for the roller setup) its an OEM setup so its pretty reliable


http://www.mustangsteve.com/conversion.html


The white wire connection is not absolutely necessary, but it's function is to energize the "retard while starting" function of the Duraspark II module. When cranking the engine, the module actually retards the spark so the engine can crank easier. This allows you to run additional initial advance.

[LCC]

Originally Posted by super64

Howdy,
A friend of mine gave me a MSD Digital-6 Plus and I plan to install it in the next couple of weeks. My 64 1/2's 289 has a tired old distributor in it (that, at the very least needs to be recurved) with a Pertronix Ignitor II in place of the points. I suggested buying a new MSD Billet distributor, but he told me they weren't reliable (not his exact words).
I've also looked at the Crane Street/Strip Distributor, but it's fairly pricey. Is there a good street distributor out there that is cost effective and already set up for good street performance, that I may have overlooked?
I'm still running a flat-tappet hydraulic cam at the moment, but may be rebuilding my 289 with the intention of running a spider/roller cam setup in the future.
Thanks in Advance,
Brian

I wonder what he ment buy "unreliable"? They are the most reliable product out there. Ask him to tell you why..

As for the Digital 6 plus, be careful of low voltage when cranking (starting) the car. I have had to replace a few of them in the past in because guys would let the batt get too low and not charge it before they tried to start it. I have heard in some circles that they're junk but I run one (4 years now) and the cars I maintain at the track and on the street run them and I have only had one go bad, guess why, low voltage while cranking..

[Starfury]

For one, MSD distributors are very reliable. I love mine, and I haven't really heard many complaints about them (and I sell parts, so I hear a lot of complaints).

Secondly, you don't need a new distributor at all. All you need the distributor to do is send a signal to the MSD box. Your current distributor will do that just fine, unless the shaft has slop in it.

You do need to get it recurved, though. Proper mechanical advance curve is critical to performance/efficiency.

[03BottleFedGT]

1st the msd dizzys are awsome ive never had any issue out of one. 2nd the digital 6 is a great box ran it one on my race car for about 3 years till i upgraded to the digital 7 plus

[THUMPIN455]

I have 3 MSD distributors and those engines get beaten on mercilessly, so far no problems with any of them. Sure having a spare cap and rotor laying around doesnt hurt, but they arent exactly high wear items that just fail in 20 miles. I did have an MSD6 AL stop working after it sat for a year while I was in Korea, but the replacement and the other 3 of those I have still work flawlessly. One car doesnt have the distributor in it, just an MSD box on an HEI the others have the full setup.

Reliability isnt a problem with MSD, at least not in my experience.

[kalli]

Hiya,

i went through all sorts of boxes and distributors. I never had MSD, but a lot of my friends do and I never heard one complaining about a part broken.

as for the distriutor, there's a few things to check out for:
a) the spindle must not have any play whatsoever to the side (when looking down on it). up/down a bit is no problem, but sideways will ruin any firing accuracy
b) the contact breaker plate needs to be in good shape. When you pull the vac advance it needs to move the given way, again no play in any other direction (i have seen this twice with original distributors .... don't expect much different after 45 years) .. and in most cases the spindle has play after that time.

the crane distributor (procurve) is out of stock everywhere. They re-start delivery this week

i don't see a reason why not to use the MSD distributor. but only if the old one is tired (play) or if the MSD doesn't work with the pertronbix module for a reason or another