MSD or not

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AJ/FormS said:
My understanding is this;
MSDs are MultiSpark

This type of system (Not MSD alone) are multi-strike systems below 3000-3600 because they have to be.
They just don't have enough amperage down there with one shot,to fire every big-cam,reversion-filled intake, lean burning, not quite right or just plain bad tune, out there. With just one shot the plug may; not ligh,not stay lit, or the fire kernel may not develop. So the hope is that the next or next or next or next or next and so on up to 10 sparks, will get the job done.
After the magic number of 3000 to 3500 whatever it was, there is no longer enough time for multiple sparks, and the amperage requirement of the mixture is falling, because the AF charge has stabilized, and all these combine in such a way that any old ignition that can deliver just one spark, but at just the right time.... will get the job done. Also,the faster you rev it, the less time between sparks. At 3600 rpm the dogone thing is firing; 3600/(60x every other revolution) =30 times per second, and you might as well just screw a glowplug into that hole. By 6000 it's 50 times per second.
Multistrike is not a feature; it's a failure hyped up to be a feature.
As for coils;
What you really want is an Accell P4120889 SuperCoil with it's matching P5206436 resistor. With that, you can idle your 292/108 equipped 360 down to 550rpm @5* advance, and still accelerate briskly away, then about 1500@18* advance you can stomp it, and the 750DP will reward you with instant tirespin thru the 4 speed and 3.55s or even 3.23 gears. In a pinch, I think you could use that coil as a welder; it lights every crap mixture you can imagine and never skips a beat, and it don't need no stinking multi-strike.Mine is 20 years old. Have you seen the wiring on an E-core multi-strike coil? I think the hairs on my azz are thicker. I would gladly pay good money for a 20 year old Accell, but not a nickle on a used E-core.
As for the ECUs.
ANY Mopar or jobber ECU will fire ANY Mopar system. You can rob an ECU off a 1980Volare 225 and stick it on your 71 360 in your 68 Barracuda, with a pirated 1973Dart harness,and expect to drive away. Now , they won't all rev to 7200, But you can drive 1000miles home and get you a proper box when you get there.
As for pick-ups
I believe in the Mopar Reluctor/ magnetic pick-up. Since 1971 when they came out, I have personally experienced exactly 1 pick-up failure. And in the crowd I hang with, I have never heard of another failure......... but I don't sell parts.

Yes some guys have experienced Orange-box failures, but not I.
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Look up P4120889 and you get a Mopar Performance coil that is not recommended for rpm above 6500,
 
my68barracuda said:
Look up P4120889 and you get a Mopar Performance coil that is not recommended for rpm above 6500,
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That's what it says all rightee............, not recommended,lol. It's also not recommended that you eat pork.
I read that 6500-thing too when I was coil-shopping, but was willing to take a chance, as I thought my 292 cammed (at that time) 367 probably would never go that high anyway. Well after the first missed shift (4-speed car) that thought was history. I guess that coil was already in there in 2000, cuz that 292 cam came out in late summer that year.
Mine has been working excellently up to my 7000 shift point, Besides I only go there once on the way to 60 mph. But you know, when I do, it's often at 7000 from zero mph all the way to 60 mph........ or more;I can't help myself; the screaming small block is so addictive!, so in the coil's defense, it's at 7000plus for 5 or 6 sometimes 8 seconds at a crack, many many times a week. Which is,without a doubt, way more than it would spend there at the track. In fact, I wonder if one week with me, is like a year or more at the dragstrip. The rev limiter is set to 7200, but I try not to bounce off it too often.
All my 3 cams have spent a good lot of time at 7000,lol.
You remember that missed shift back there in paragraph 1? By the Time I got it into gear and looked over at the tach I saw the needle coming DOWN........ from 8000, so I have no idea how high it actually went. The engine never skipped a beat and the coil kept right up. That was when I ordered the rev-limiter,lol. Also, that was on the Orange box. The tach was a new AutoGAGE 270*sweep, that only has numbers to 8000,lol.
And that was also about the time when I took the shifter apart to figure out why it was hanging up, and fixed it.

My thought was this, and it's just a thought.
That coil really puts out, and to put out like that, it has to suck the juice. If that juice all comes thru the ignition switch, my thought was how long is that 40 year old circuit gonna put up with that. So I put it on a relay straight to the battery,with a 12ga wire;triggered by the ignition circuit. BadaBoom I thought........... seems to be working. I put that coil on it's side, connections down, on the apron up front where the disconnected horns are (they got me into too much trouble), with about a 3ft coilwire. That is hurdle #1 for a would-be thief, if the wire ain't there.
I also relayed my Halogen headlights, for the same reasom; lottsa electron-flo.
 
I have had the same MSD 6AL box and MSD coil in my Dart since 2002. No issues. I'm an MSD fan, and have them in multiple cars.
 
I have a new Digital Programmable 6AL system. Works really nicely but I hope I have better luck with it than y'all. (I usually have worse luck though than most sooo.) Never had any issues with stock including FBO's module.
 
Looks like opinion is polarizing - either like MSD or you don't.

I don't trust my 6AL box. It failed on my car within 100 miles. It was just up the street from the house and neighbours pushed me back to the garage so a bit embarrassing. It was off warranty as installed quite a bit after I bought it. Sent it to MSD and they fixed anyway, without cost but wouldn't say what was wrong with it - so I assume a manufacturer issue.. Problem is - I am in Canada and took more than a few weeks to get it to El Paso? and repaired and returned.

So, every time I go out, in the back of my mind I am wondering if the MSD box is going to crap out. Many say - keep a spare in trunk. But these units are $400 or more here and I fundamentally think that if I have to keep $400 spare part in my trunk I should question why I am using it! Having said that, i already have it and maybe I will look for used one.

On the other hand, my brother who builds quite a few mopars swears by them and has had good reliability from them.

If doing over, I would look at something different, that I can find/replace locally at more reasonable price.
 
3 pages and no one's asked Ron what he's doin with the car. Ron, what ARE you doing with it? Just driving an original restored car? You ever gonna race it at all? You just want it to run good drivin it around on the street?
 
reddog said:
I don't trust my 6AL box. It failed on my car within 100 miles. It was just up the street from the house and neighbours pushed me back to the garage....

So, every time I go out, in the back of my mind I am wondering if the MSD box is going to crap out. Many say - keep a spare in trunk. But these units are $400 or more.....
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My poor experiences have me leaving the OE or MP upgraded wiring in and ready to go at a moments notice in case of a MSD failure which has always happened to me. 1 great box, a dozen gaggles of garbage boxes.

When the MSD stopped working, it was a simple unplugging of the two wires to the distributor and then reconnecting them to the Chrysler box wires. Done! On my way again.
 
RustyRatRod said:
3 pages and no one's asked Ron what he's doin with the car. Ron, what ARE you doing with it? Just driving an original restored car? You ever gonna race it at all? You just want it to run good drivin it around on the street?
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I think we did try to tease this out.
We - including you. LOL
We just didn't always spell it out like you just did.
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Might be too late. Probably overwhelmed Ron with the side discussions
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abodyjoe said:
how original do you want it to look.
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Mattax said:
Restoration? points. And the bonus with the BB its pretty accesible.
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Mattax said:
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Really depends what your goals are, if your dealing with stock or modified engine, and where and how you will be using the car.
View attachment 1715433121
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RustyRatRod said:
It's not a restoration unless you use the original equipment.
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I have also gone through three MSD boxes, the failure rate seems to be high to me but as previously said when they're working they're a great unit. But they are a little spendy so I went with the Pro Form Chrysler ignition designed ignition and really liked it for the street. Very economicalCombined with a High Rev aftermarket control box it's a good little set up. The curve Springs were a little light for my liking but that was a $6 fix. But I swear by their coils. And that's a lot better than swearing at the coil:)
 
rumblefish360 said:
My poor experiences have me leaving the OE or MP upgraded wiring in and ready to go at a moments notice in case of a MSD failure which has always happened to me. 1 great box, a dozen gaggles of garbage boxes.

When the MSD stopped working, it was a simple unplugging of the two wires to the distributor and then reconnecting them to the Chrysler box wires. Done! On my way again.
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I am gonna have to look into this. Although mine is tied into the Fitech and I have locked out distributor. I should have a ready to go back up plan.
 
My MSD box failed within a year on my 500 Hardtop. Left me stranded. I now too wired in both ignitions to prevent that mess again. Funny, reading prior posts about Orange Mopar boxes. I've had mine in my 340 Ragtop since the mid 80's and I'm still using it. It will probably die now that I said that! lol
 
Ron816 said:
I have a 68 GTS H code 383,currently in restoration, should I use the electronic mopar ignition system or go with MSD
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MOpar electronic ignition with a fbo rev limiter or a rev n nator plugs into to where the ecu would go. Much better than my old chrome box
 
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