msd 6al up grade

[Bob Nottingham]

Planning on going to a new msd box, have used the 6al for a few years,a super stock car , high compression and high rpm . planning on a 7al-3. or 7al-2 .Any good or bad comments on these boxes. the black one is there latest and superceeds the red , Most companies have all 3 7al's for sale . Thanks for your thoughts. Bob

[Kevin Panzino]

I found out that MSD moved the manufacturing of their boxes to China.

End of the MSD story for me, bye bye MSD.

I went with a Mallory box. Digital, no chips needed (just use the keypad for two-step , high side and retard ( if used) Rpm adjustments). made in the USA and $115 cheaper than the equivalent MSD made in china box,

[1720]

Originally Posted by Kevin Panzino

I found out that MSD moved the manufacturing of their boxes to China.

End of the MSD story for me, bye bye MSD.

I went with a Mallory box. Digital, no chips needed (just use the keypad for two-step , high side and retard ( if used) Rpm adjustments). made in the USA and $115 cheaper than the equivalent MSD made in china box,

Really???
Racers, we would like to set the record straight on a few of these ‘built off-shore’ claims. This is one of those subjects that could go on and on, but we’ll try to keep it short and sweet and to the point.

MSD was developed and born in El Paso 40 years ago. We have grown to encompass over 150,000 square feet of space to design, test, manufacture, and support our components. We have engine dynos, chassis dynos, CNC equipment, an EDM machine to cut molds, wave solder machines, surface mount pick and place equipment, and more tools and capabilities to aid us in MANUFACTURING the best ignition components available. We are comprised of just under 300 employees – with the average seniority of 12 years! No other manufacturer can even come close to that kind of commitment from its employees.

Every 7-Series, 8-Series, Pro Mag and most 6-Series Ignitions are designed, built, tested, and supported in the USA. We say ‘most’ on our 6-Series because there are two models that do incorporate a half populated PCB from overseas. In El Paso, we populate the rest of the raw and power components, assemble it, test, burn it in and package it.

Yes, some coils, such as the Blaster 2, are made overseas. One reason is there are no oil filled canister style coil manufacturers in the United States. All MSD coils are made to our specifications and thoroughly tested. Also, the coils for the Pro Mag 12s and 44s, the HVC line of coils and our multiple spark LS coils are all made in the United States.

One area that we offer caution, especially when purchasing used or through the internet, is with Distributors. MSD designed the Pro-Billet distributor and now you are seeing complete copies of our distributors coming from overseas. Even name-brand competitors are selling distributors that are copied from the original MSD design – some even with our part numbers! The distributor issue has become a predicament for MSD as we still get the tech calls, the upset customers, and even some returns of these off-shore duplicate distributors.

We could go on with other products in our line such as the 8.5mm Super Conductor, APS Starters, Crank Triggers (all made in the USA), but want to keep it short. It is important to mention our budget based line, Street Fire. This is line offers several distributors, easily identified with cast housings, as a budget based brand. The distributors are produced in China, however it took over a year to get a product that we were confident in. We put them under a different brand to clearly set the two designs apart. For the record, there is also a Street Fire CD ignition and spark plug wires as well – both made in the USA.

Face it, anything having to do with electronics is a tough business to be in with hundreds of raw material components, and it’s nearly impossible to build a product out of 100% USA components. You can be assured that if you do have an MSD coil that is made in China or in the United States, we will stand by its performance and provide you with the same support as any other MSD products.

We’ll see you at the races -

Russell Stephens
President
MSD Ignition
El Paso, TX

[denbreeden]

I just read an article in Hot Rod or Popular Hot Rodding about copies being made and how you can spot them. They showed fake MSD 6AL boxes along with several other products made in the US. There are scumbags out there trying to make money using a known brand name and selling copies to unsuspecting buyers. Don't blame the original manufacturer, they are getting hurt by this as well as the consumer.

Dennis Breeden

[gsa612]

Originally Posted by denbreeden

I just read an article in Hot Rod or Popular Hot Rodding about copies being made and how you can spot them. They showed fake MSD 6AL boxes along with several other products made in the US. There are scumbags out there trying to make money using a known brand name and selling copies to unsuspecting buyers. Don't blame the original manufacturer, they are getting hurt by this as well as the consumer.

Dennis Breeden

That's what happens when the OE mfg gets stuff made overseas, the guy across the street makes knock-offs, sells it for half the price. It ends up biting the OE mfg in the azz. Not to mention it confuses the consumer, and in time after hearing of many problems, he decides to stay away from that style of product altogether.

[JHeath]

Thanks, Russell, my MSD Ignition, and billet distributor have worked flawlessly!!!!

[joespanova]

Originally Posted by jheath

thanks, russell, my msd ignition, and billet distributor have worked flawlessly!!!!

x 1,000,000

[Kevin Panzino]

1720 / Mr Talbot, with all due respect, the post you copied verbatim from Russell was originally written and posted in August 2010 on MSD's homepage. More recent searches have led me to believe almost all of the boxes are now made in China or are assembled from Chinese boards. Several guys at the track have new MSD boxes with made in china stickers as plain as day on them. I dont want to start an internet fight, and if my information is wrong, I apologize. But Bob if you are considering purchasing a new MSD box, I would just call them up and ask them flat out, yes or no, is the model # box you are considering manufactured in China or not, and if they state its assembled in the us, specifically ask if the printed circuit boards are made in China or the USA.


Good luck Bob, and best wishes.

[ss wannabee]

I caught that article the other day at the supermarket... believe it was Hot Rod.
Think I'll buy the mag...good tips to have around!

For my $$$...I want the REAL deal on my car!

[chris ok]

Yes it is new Hot Rod. Read it last night.
Thanks to MSD for coming on here and setting every straight.
My cars MSD equipped 20 years.