MSD ?'s

rod · 12-24-2009, 07:24 PM

i have an msd 7 on my race car with a chevy dist.
i have several ?'s
1. does it matter what the point gap is? closer would be better it seems. but how much?
2. do you need to use a condenser in the dist.?
3. i have heard that the rotors with the E on the blade are better because they are shorter [that the older style, which were longer] and therefore cause a bigger/better spark at the plug. thoughts?
any thing else to add?

thanks rod

buzzinhalfdozen · 12-26-2009, 10:01 AM

Rod, where in the heck did you get a points dist.? Though you can use it to operate an Ignition box it wouldn't be my first choice. Go get any electronic dist. and use it instead, remember why they got away from points? The mechanical switching of a points dist. is not as reliable as the electronic switching . As for having more GAP at the rotor tip in my opinion your weakening the spark to the plug as you're using more energy to jump the gap to the dist. lug. After the spark is produced it starts to lose it's energy immediately, so the harder you make it's travel path the less end energy you have. Joe

Jim Wahl · 12-26-2009, 07:18 PM

Do they even *make* points anymore? Please, what ever you do, put an electronic distributor in it! I'm just sayin. Jim

Doug Blackley · 12-26-2009, 07:45 PM

I had been running a points dist on my 6AL box thru this past season but am swapping out to a real distributor. I set the point gap to .022" and also don't use the condenser. I would suggest using the heavier spring Accel point set 110129 as well. Hope this helps.

Run to Rund · 12-27-2009, 01:28 AM

If you use the heavier-spring points, remember the rubbing block will wear faster. As others said, get a good electronic distributor, MSD or whatever. Also, the longer rotor tip is better except for radio suppression.

james schaechter · 12-27-2009, 08:18 AM

I agree, find a plug and play distributor. For the expense of a wasted race chasing electrical problems, you could pay for a new MSD or similar distributor.

12-24-2009, 07:24 PM	#1
rod Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kingman, NW AZ. in the middle of the longest stretch of Route 66 Posts: 313 Likes: 0 Liked 20 Times in 15 Posts	MSD ?'s i have an msd 7 on my race car with a chevy dist. i have several ?'s 1. does it matter what the point gap is? closer would be better it seems. but how much? 2. do you need to use a condenser in the dist.? 3. i have heard that the rotors with the E on the blade are better because they are shorter [that the older style, which were longer] and therefore cause a bigger/better spark at the plug. thoughts? any thing else to add? thanks rod

12-26-2009, 10:01 AM	#2
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: MSD ?'s Rod, where in the heck did you get a points dist.? Though you can use it to operate an Ignition box it wouldn't be my first choice. Go get any electronic dist. and use it instead, remember why they got away from points? The mechanical switching of a points dist. is not as reliable as the electronic switching . As for having more GAP at the rotor tip in my opinion your weakening the spark to the plug as you're using more energy to jump the gap to the dist. lug. After the spark is produced it starts to lose it's energy immediately, so the harder you make it's travel path the less end energy you have. Joe __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

12-26-2009, 07:18 PM	#3
Jim Wahl Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 5,843 Likes: 663 Liked 682 Times in 128 Posts	Re: MSD ?'s Do they even make points anymore? Please, what ever you do, put an electronic distributor in it! I'm just sayin. Jim __________________ Jim Wahl....NHRA #2239 S/SS - IHRA # 8 Stock, D2 Stock Champion (forever I guess) 2019 Baby Gators Stock Champion 2009 D2 National Open Stock Champion 1981 D2 West Palm Beach LDRS SS Runner Up Past President, Southern Stock / Super Stock Association.

12-26-2009, 07:45 PM	#4
Doug Blackley Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Hanover, MA Posts: 430 Likes: 3 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: MSD ?'s I had been running a points dist on my 6AL box thru this past season but am swapping out to a real distributor. I set the point gap to .022" and also don't use the condenser. I would suggest using the heavier spring Accel point set 110129 as well. Hope this helps. __________________ Doug Blackley 1697 STK

12-27-2009, 01:28 AM	#5
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: MSD ?'s If you use the heavier-spring points, remember the rubbing block will wear faster. As others said, get a good electronic distributor, MSD or whatever. Also, the longer rotor tip is better except for radio suppression.

12-27-2009, 08:18 AM	#6
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,976 Likes: 1,259 Liked 1,384 Times in 288 Posts	Re: MSD ?'s I agree, find a plug and play distributor. For the expense of a wasted race chasing electrical problems, you could pay for a new MSD or similar distributor. __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK