Ok i have been lurking and reading posts for a while now and have decided to do some upgrading once i get my settlement. From what i gather there are mixed feelings about the MSD line. I am looking at the ready to run dizzy for my 390 but also am looking at the other dizzy with the box. Seems both of them have their good and bad points but i am getting too fat to push my 5000 lb. truck all the way home. I am looking for a compromise that won't leave me stranded in the rain ( trust me this happened more than once). Tired of buying the just get me by stuff that lasts only a couple months, much like the love affair between headers and starters. Mini starter gonna be a definite buy once i go for the ceramic coated long tube headers, $$$ i know but don't have a woman to tell me i can't buy it. Thinking about some type of kill switch also cause the tweakers around here just love stealing anything on wheels. Hard to steal something if it don't run. Hmm lets see now starter kill switch fuel pump kill switch and a battery kill switch that should slow them down for a bit lol. But seriously just want an honest opinion from the community who uses this stuff cause i don't think its too bad if Nascar and NHRA use MSD in their high dollar go fast machines.

 

For a solid dependable ignition you can get parts for anywhere, for a street rig, I still go with a Duraspark. Easiest "kill switch" is just pull the ignition fuse.

 

i put an msd 6a in my 95 e350 w/ a 460 efi motor in it. turned out to be one of the all round best purchases i made on this ride. it made a noticeable improvement in low end torque/power - small hills around would often cause a downshift as the engine started to lug. it has been in my van for 10 years now and still does the job. i only know of one msd 6a failure of the many i know in use and the factory was prompt about the replacement w/ no BS about. plus if it does quit it is easily bypassed to get you home.

can't say anything about any other product from msd, but i sure do like this one.

as always, ymmv
neil

 

Thanks for the info guys. Leaning towards the 6AL so i can set the limiter at 6000 to avoid some holes in the block when i decide to act like an idiot and do a nasty burnout on some old bias ply tires. Too bad MSD doesn't make their stuff in Ford blue but there is always the trusty spray paint. The dizzy i might just go for the original one and not the ready to run one. Just have to regap the plugs cause i just put the autolite replacements and it ran better with new plugs and wires. Again thanks for the info this site a encyclopedia of information. The day i stop learning is the day i die. Just my .02

 

Ford Motorsport (Ford Racing Performance Parts now) used to sell a blue ignition box. I'm not sure if it was a re-branded MSD or not, but the case was the same.

 

Ooo cool i will have to check that out, breaking up the color of blue and chrome with red pieces just seems out of balance to me.

 

i hid my msd behind an aluminum panel in my fenderwell. i thought i was going loony cause the msd red seemed so out of place. glad to see i'm not the only one!

neil