Suggestions for a new distributor - MSD doesn't have parts to repair mine.

[Yellow Truck]

Nothing about MSD surprises me at this point. After my distributor died following 12 minutes of use I had to send it back for repair. It seems the module had failed, and I could hear a high pitched squeak when I rotated the shaft. They called to say they couldn't re-use the Crane melonized iron gear and asked for a new one.

I called Barry R who sent them a new gear. MSD now can't find the gear, but the new problem (9 weeks after I sent the distributor in) is that they don't have any shafts to repair my distributor, and don't know when they will. I suggested that it was unreasonable and they should just ship me a new one, and they said they don't have any new ones either.

I had put my old autolite distributor back on, but it had some issues and now it seems the shaft is jumping up and down in the distributor and cutting up the posts and arcing inside the cap.

Thinking I may need a non-MSD option here but there don't seem to be many good ones.

[BigBlueIron]

Duraspark

[Heo]

Hmmm ...Points seems more and moore reliable

[fastback 427]

I'm using an old accel dual point that fires my msd 7 box and coil. 100$ on ebay. New durasparks at the parts store are 50$ or so.

[cjshaker]

I'm beginning to see a trend here

I'm already forming a not-so-rosey letter to them. Having to carry a spare out of fear of breaking down because of their part, is not acceptable in my book. If it happens again, I'm done with them.

[Falcon67]

Don't like hearing this, have a distributor that needs a new shaft + reluctor and haven't sent it in yet.  I'd hate to get a $270 unit hung up in service.  I re-did a Duraspark unit to lock the timing advance for her car that so far runs fine.

[Pentroof]

Get in touch with Faron Rhoads. He sells brand new reproduction Duraspark units.

TotalPerfEntofPa(AT symbol)aol(DOT)com

Very nice quality.

[FElony]

Hmmm ...Points seems more and moore reliable

I laugh every time I read someone dissing points, because I know that sooner or later (usually sooner), their car is going to be a gutter-lane ornament. Points worked then; points work now. How could anyone think that Chink-produced modules would be the ticket to reliability? Insane? Why yes, yes it is. Pick your points tension to match your rpm range, set and forget. It's not like anyone here drives his FE enough miles to actually wear out a set.

[BattlestarGalactic]

My black car went 13 yrs til it finally used the contacts up.  Yup, gutter lane ornament!  Pulled home at 1 am, with a toe strap up the highway.  Ya, I like to be an "outlaw".  Of course the new Taiwan condenser that I put in with the new points lasted less then 100 miles.  I dug up a rusty used condenser from ?? years back and 2 yrs later it is still running fine. 

The only other problem is the Taiwan points don't have enough spring pressure to let it go over 5K rpm.  I figure that is safer then the 6K pill in the MSD soft touch.

[FElony]

The only other problem is the Taiwan points don't have enough spring pressure to let it go over 5K rpm.  I figure that is safer then the 6K pill in the MSD soft touch.

Try 32 oz Accels, rated to 6500 rpm:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/292178553869

Edit: Cheaper   http://www.ebay.com/itm/361415068569

[shady]

part # is correct, but the pic is a chevy set.

[FElony]

part # is correct, but the pic is a chevy set.

[sarc]Yep, cuz nobody ever shows a generic Chevy pic when selling you a Ford part.[/sarc] 

[FElony]

Anybody know the actual specs on a Phord ignition condenser? Seems we could source a higher quality piece from a non-automotive source.

[cjshaker]

My black car went 13 yrs til it finally used the contacts up.

I used the stock distributor with points to trigger the MSD Blaster ignition in my '68 Highboy. I LOVED that set-up! Since there was VERY little current running through the points (all it did was trigger the box), those points lasted over 20 years!! In fact, they were still in use when I parked the truck due to rust. I had to gap them once or twice when the gap closed up to nothing because of the rubbing block being wore down, but that was no big deal. Now the box (going on its 24th year) is being used in my '70 F350, but is triggered by a Duraspark distributor. Of course MSD quit making the Blaster ignition. It must have been too reliable

I still prefer points for reliability (still using points in the '65 Galaxies), but you can't beat the electronic stuff for quick starts and clean idles. For a real performance engine, there is no comparison.

[FElony]

For a real performance engine, there is no comparison.

[sarc] Yep, 'cuz you look like a happenin' stud when you're parked in the gutter[/sarc]