Which MSD distributor model is being used? Also, which MSD adjustable timing control is best for a Duraspark distributor?
As far as which distrbutor to use depends on a couple things--one being what kind of cam you are using, and the other is if you are running vacuum advance on the distributor A motor with a roller cam in most cases needs a steel gear or bronze on distributor so that would be a MSD 8598 or you could get an MSD 8582 and change the gear, this is a distributor without vacuum advance A motor with standard cam you can use a non vacuum advance MSD 8582 or a motor with a roller cam and electronic advance MSD 8456. For just you stock motor that came originally in your car you would want a MSD 8479 that has vacuum advance and correct gear for camshaft. I am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong. A lot of people say that the Duraspark 2 is just as good as the MSD stuff and a lot cheaper
I am running a MSD 6AL with a Ford Duraspark II distributor. Runs great. To be honest, the Durapark box probably did just as good, though I had a distributor with a bad bearing, which partially contributed to the short life of the bronze cam gear I had pressed on. Just a note, not all roller cams need the same gear -- you have to check with the cam manufacturer for your exact cam. I made an assumption, ran a bronze gear, and it lasted a couple months before it was chewed to nothing. My distributor has an iron gear, and is stock replacement for an 85 Mustang GT with a 5-speed.
I totally agree with you on type of gear to use, some cams come with a gear that is compatible with iron gear and still are roller cams, it gets confusing as I have been there and done that also
Probably did. MSD were designed for high compression/high rpm application. Most street applications really don't need them. The biggest mistake I see is people mounting the box in the engine compartment. If you read the instructions it says "KEEP AWAY FROM HEAT". Under the hood there's heat. Notice you never see them mounted under the hood on a racecar
a motor only needs enough spark to ligh off the air fuel mixture. the msd has the multiple sparks (susposedly only up to 3000 rpm) that the duraspark does not. if your motor is stock or doesnt rev above 5500 rpm or use a power adder then you are probly wasting your time on msd products. the duraspark should net you the same power as the msd would. now the mutiple spark is claimed to help with fuel economy. i personaly have not seen any fuel milage gains in the multiple vehicals that ive put it on. i suspect that when people claim that they got a gain its becasue they replaced a worn out ignition system (most likely points).
I have the Duraspark II as well; ditched the box and replaced with a 6AL. I did it because the spark is undeniably . . . thorough. You can burn your spark plugs down to nubs and still have great spark. If you test-ground coil to frame you can throw a huge arc with that blaster/msd combo - more than an inch long, if I remember correctly - and you just know it's going to run, or at least your problem isn't in the spark!
