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MSD BOX PLACEMENT?

G Guest
I had been using a MSD 6AL for the last 2 years with less than good results. I have experienced total breakdown in August 2 years in a row after running the car for an hour plus in 90 degree+ heat. The car was shut off and would not restart. After spaeking to MSD at length they decided to replace the unit (no charge customer goodwill) with a NEW 6430 Nascar box whose chassis is totally covered with epoxy, 6 pin weathertight connector etc. etc. My plan was to buy a second box and install a switch between the 2 in case of failure. MSD talked me out of that substituting the box instead. I know the Nascar guys suffer failure using this box as well so I'm not sure if I'm going forward or backwards. Finally my question is I beleive the box gets "heat soaked" in its current location (on a manufactured plate under the stock plate that houses the starter relay, voltage regulator, coil etc. on the engine compartment firewall) and was wondering where others have mounted their units? I run a single plane intake which really loads up the plugs at cruises and low speeds without the MSD. I love the MSD when it runs I just hate the lack of dependability so far and the cost of towing and damage caused by the towers. Thanking all who respond.
GEORGE
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bosswrenchbosswrenchMember
IMHO, a MSD will NEVER be 100% dependable, but you can help yourself by doing the dual-box-NASCAR thing as you were going to do, then mount them behind the passenger seat on the people side of the firewall. If your usual passemger is a small person, the two boxes can also fit under or alongside a slightly raised seat. This makes working on the thing a clean-hands proposition.
PR paul ritzen (Guest)
I'm driving with a msd7al-2 for about 5 years
and did not have a single problem (yet).
The location of my unit is basicly the same, only I did't mount it on the firewall, but I made an aluminium plate (3mm thick) and mounted it on the triangle shaped chassis on the bottom.
On this I mounted 4 rubber dampeners on wich I mounted the msd ignition, it works well on my car.

Paul
G GRNGT5 (Guest)
Ive had my 6AL mounted in the same location as you since 97.Mine is mounted directly on the firewall with the rubber isolaters they supply.There are a couple of things that can kill an MSD;a bad ground,vibration,and heat soak.You mentioned that your box is on a plate.Is it mounted with any kind of vibration isolator?You also mentioned that the car shut off and would not restart.Does this mean you turned the car off,or did it die while running?If you turned the car off you might be mounted to close to the headers and baking the box.If this is the case you could make a heat shield or move the box.If it happened while driving you could build an air deflector to blow some cooler air by it.Eithe way it would not hurt to have a backup,and MSD is certainly doing right buy you by giving you a Nascar box.They are sweet!Good luck
M mikep01 (Guest)
a few points of interest with electronic ignitions. first placement of the control unit: as a rule of tnumb use the 10 second rule. after driving the car normally, ie:freeway driving, opent the hood and feel the place with your hand, if you can hold your hand flat on the surface of the place you would like to mount the control unit for greater than 10 seconds, it a cool enough place to mount the unit. second,msd is having a problem with thier coils, ther red blaster 2 coil, it will kill an msd unit over time, the crome coil is a better unit. the red coil is hecho in mexico, it meets all the correct stadards but the insulation inside the coil brakes down and shorts internaly. in my opinion anything beats points.
C charliemccallMember
You asked where others have theirs mounted? Mine is loose behind the passenger seat. Good or bad? I dunno, but it is protected from heat, and by not being hard-mounted to the firewall it is protected from vibration.

I like the idea of 2 boxes (although I haven't done it) because I understand that the MSD boxes are good, but they will fail eventually. Just a matter of time when.

I also like the customer goodwill idea they proposed to you! Hats off to MSD!

------------------
Charlie McCall
1985 DeTomaso Pantera GT5-S #9375
"Raising Pantera Awareness across Europe"
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/gt5s_1985
F frisk3 (Guest)
quote:
Originally posted by frisk3:
I had been using a MSD 6AL for the last 2 years with less than good results. I have experienced total breakdown in August 2 years in a row after running the car for an hour plus in 90 degree+ heat. The car was shut off and would not restart. After spaeking to MSD at length they decided to replace the unit (no charge customer goodwill) with a NEW 6430 Nascar box whose chassis is totally covered with epoxy, 6 pin weathertight connector etc. etc. My plan was to buy a second box and install a switch between the 2 in case of failure. MSD talked me out of that substituting the box instead. I know the Nascar guys suffer failure using this box as well so I'm not sure if I'm going forward or backwards. Finally my question is I beleive the box gets "heat soaked" in its current location (on a manufactured plate under the stock plate that houses the starter relay, voltage regulator, coil etc. on the engine compartment firewall) and was wondering where others have mounted their units? I run a single plane intake which really loads up the plugs at cruises and low speeds without the MSD. I love the MSD when it runs I just hate the lack of dependability so far and the cost of towing and damage caused by the towers. Thanking all who respond.
GEORGE

Thanks to all who responded! The car ran fine till I shut it off both times. Went to restart and would not fire. I have what I feel is a good ground but I do use the red Blaster coil that may be part of my problem. The box did not have a cover to act as a heat shield as I thought circulating air would be better. It was isolated using both rubber feet supplied and more rubber between the newly formed bracket and the existing "electronic Pantera bracket" I will switch coils as well. MSD did not ask what coil I was using when helping to diagnose why and how to avoid this in the future?
Many thanks again.
GEORGE
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