MSD 6AL Digital Reliability
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,093
Likes: 652
From: Brentwood, TN
MSD 6AL Digital Reliability
A friend just finished his 55 rebuild and opted to go with an MSD 6AL Digital ignition box matched up to an MSD distributor and an MSD coil. He has driven the truck approximately 150 miles and recently went out of town for a couple of weeks (did not drive the truck) and when he returned he started the truck and while it was warming up it just died. I lent him one of my MSD boxes to use to troubleshoot his problem and sure enough the box had died. He ordered another box and when he installed it the truck ran fine. He returned the old MSD box for refurb (out of warranty so he will have to pay) so I am very interested to learn what exactly failed in the original box. I know people who were left stranded on the road by MSD boxes that died but these were the older, non-digital versions. I may have been misled by the hype around the improved reliability claims of the digital version but I don't have a warm fuzzy about using this box right now. Has anyone else had an issue with the MSD 6AL ignition box?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
MSD is notoriously garbage, its cheap overpriced imported junk. Most of the solid state boxes pre 2005 were fine, post 2006 they moved to China. After the 2015 Holley purchase they went even further downhill.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 38
From: Valley Center, California
I've been running a 6AL problem-free and have used their stuff for years. I do the usual things to minimize heat and vibration. Overkill the grounds, and keep the big power harnesses at a distance or perpendicular. I also installed their big red Cap but I think that has more to do with noise clipping for Radios.
I do recall MSD published a Bulletin stating they were getting knocked off. They published photos showing how to identify. For what it's worth.
I do recall MSD published a Bulletin stating they were getting knocked off. They published photos showing how to identify. For what it's worth.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,891
Likes: 103
From: Birdsboro PA
I had my ready to run distributor just stop working on me while I was out for a drive. Luckily i was only a mile down the road from my house. I by passed the circuit board in the distributor and am running a 6al box. I had a couple blaster 2 coils go bad as well. No issues with the 6al box since I have had it though.
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