So my FD came with a MSD already installed. It already killed one coil set, literally blew out the side. I'll post pics if any one wants. I replaced the coil pack and everything was great for about a month. Now the car is starting to exhibit the symptoms as before, I'm guessing it's the coil again but wont have time to check till this weekend. If this is the case can someone point me to a better coil set to get. I'm not looking to drop a lot of money here. I saw Sake Bomb Garage as something for around $700, waaaaaay to much for what I want. I should also explain the car, by guess, putting down about 350 hp with a single turbo and power FC. I'm not looking for mad hp, this is my daily driver and at best I'd like to do auto cross ever so often.

So what do the pros think? Get upgraded coils and which ones? Or just pull the MSD?

 

No one has an opinion on this?

 

Easiest and cheapest option is to run the stock coils and find an HKS Twin Power used here on the forums.

Harder, but just as cheap of an option is to do the IGN-1A / AEM "Smart Coil" upgrade that Sakebomb offers, but do all the wiring and mounting yourself.

 

For your power and goals, stock coils and a Twinpower is all you'll need. That MSD setup is just a recipe for failure.

Dale

 

So just to check, the msd brand is just a bad brand?

 

Yes, affectionately known as 'My Spark Disappeared' by a few of my friends with older domestics.

 

What about using the combination of msd with the msd brand coils?

 

See previous post. I, as well as a fair amount of others, think MSD gear is pretty crappy. For your goals I'd stick with stock coils/igniter and a twinpower.

I have a set/harness/igniter box for sale in the classifieds section if you're worried about sourcing the stock gear.

 

"....the MSD setup is just a recipe for failure."

Really? Is this meant in the context of the hands of one who is incompetent? Or is there a statistical basis for this conclusion? The MSD is probably the most successful and copied aftermarket ignition product in history, and by a wide margin--it didn't get that way by being a POS. More often than not, if it's not working, it's pilot error.

This IS a proven combination on many FDs. I personally have had a [used] MSD on my leading for the better part of the last 20 years with the original stock FD coil and never a problem.... That's nearly 200,000 miles too.

MSDs (and similar competing products) generally work fine if they're installed properly and mated to appropriate coils. The twin power is capable, and well matched for bpu's, but it's an intermediate capacity unit and no match for the more serious CDIs. I sure as hell wouldn't rush out and trade my MSD6 for one. No way.

My suggestion to the op is to do some basic checks and troubleshooting to isolate the problem before you change any more parts or the setup; be sure of what you have, its compatibility and its connections.

 

Unfortunately in all my years if modding I've never dealt with msd before. This one came on the car already and like I said it's burned through two set if coils now. I don't want to be replacing coils every other month. What should I be looking at here to make sure the msd isn't doing it any more?

 

You've been lucky. I've had three MSD6ALs eat themselves on E Production cars. All three of which failed in the same way, intermittent signal loss, all three were RMA'd and returned only to fail after a couple more races. That's my firsthand experience with the quality of MSDs products. My second hand experience is as I mentioned earlier.

To the OP: I hope you get your ignition sorted.

 

Are stock dwell times being used?
If not, then what are the dwell times?

 

I have no idea. How do I find out?