i recently ordered a #85345 msd pro billet distributor it came today and to my surprise the whole main body is made of plastic. the box it came in looks like a real msd box but the picture clearly shows a one piece billet aluminum body.so i guess instead of a pro billet distributor i got a almost pro billet distributor. does anybody know when this change occured last msd i bought was 10 or 15 years ago for a 331 hemi it is a well built piece this one not so much i'm wondering how long a plastic distributor will last
msd real or knockoff
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Jarlaxle
Well-Known Member
Where did you buy it? An enormous amount of the "MSD" stuff on eBay is bogus.
67Dart273
Well-Known Member
If you do a search there was, some time back HUGE discussions across the internet on this, and posted ways to figure out yea or nay You might also venture past the MSD site, they may have some comments on such
I have never seen an MSD "Pro Billet" that was plastic. The name "Pro Billet" kinda explains it all.
The last MSD pro-billet LA distributor I bought was aluminum. This was around 2 years ago.
Might not be applicable to this conversation, or distributor. I just bought an 8504 MSD E-curve distributor, which I believe to be based off the pro billet, as shown on the packaging. My distributor is definitely aluminum. Date on box says built in November of 2021.
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Crazy man. Crazy.
Super-Cuda
MOPAR .. Move Over, Plymouth Approaching Rapidly!
Here's the MSD Distributer specs and description as per Holly's website.
Aluminium base and housing.
MSD 85345 MSD Black Chrysler 318-360 Pro-Billet Distributor
Aluminium base and housing.
MSD 85345 MSD Black Chrysler 318-360 Pro-Billet Distributor
When I was considering the 8504, i spoke with Ray in tech at MSD, who indicated a steel shortage prevented new distributors from being made. This was about 2 weeks ago. Because of this MSD was unable to furnish one for me and couldn't comment as to when they would be able to. Ray indicated if I found one elsewhere I'd better buy it. Fortunately I found one on Amazon.
I realize I am referring to the steel in the shafts, not the aluminum in the body housing. I wonder if possibly material shortages are causing alternate manufacturing methods?
what's really crazy is my pile of new expensive junk is getting far bigger than my pile of old expensive junk
Truth be told, the plastic would probably be just fine for the body. Im pretty sure these have roller bearings on the shaft. If a bearing seizes it will eat out an aluminum housing just as it would a plastic one. At this point it may be an option to buy the chineese knockoff distributor. Hell, they are probably the ones making them for MSD in the first place.
yea i see your point but on the other hand the cars that we are rebuilding are made of metal that is why we are able to do so. i have never seen a plastic part that i was able to rebuild. msd is just another sell out to the throw away society
go to the msd web site that black part under the cap that the shaft body is screwed to is the plastic body i saw this before buying but just assumed[i know] that it was metal i've heard of plastic intakes but not plastic distributors
Lmao!
LocuMob
Fluid Technician
From the MSD site.
I circled the plastic base the OP mentioned.
I circled the plastic base the OP mentioned.
Jeremiah (jd)
Well-Known Member
I wonder if they are getting away from aluminum in the housing due to the rusted MSD syndrome. I'd be willing to bet the composite negates that long standing issue.
67 gt
A boy who loves his Mopars !
I’ve had mine for 4 years with that composite base no issues with any rust like the old ones you would see , possible as a heat deflector for the trigger sensor ? as they were prone on failing . Just my 2 cents !
The plastic base transfers less heat. Just spit ballin'
It’s too easy these days to default to accusing companies of changing/cheapening things purely for financial reasons, but your comments seem more a likely reason.
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