MSD rust

Bud Lefevre · 10-26-2008, 07:37 AM

Just had the cap off my MSD Dist. and it has a lot of rust and corrision inside.
I doubt this is normal ?

Bud

Adger Smith · 10-26-2008, 08:17 AM

You mean Dist Cap?
Does it looks like Brown dust. A little is OK. A lot is not. It is caused by the spark arc creating Ozone. If a lot, check for high resistance in the coil wire first. Keep in mind that a coil wire is used 8 times as much as a plug wire(six time in my car :~)...) They usually go bad first. Then check the plug wires for high resistance. You could also have bad (high resistance) plugs. Quite a few plugs have built in resistance, one of those RF fixes. Too much gap or high resistance factor in a plug can cause the arc, too. A bad carbon contact in the cap will also cause it. That will show up as little welded looking spots (arcing) on the flexible part of the rotor. You might want to vent the cap to keep the air in the cap from being contaminated. Good luck.
Adger

gmonde · 10-26-2008, 08:51 AM

we had the same issue with a mopar small block 360,call msd tech line they stated that they had a new batch of coated parts(weights,springs,bushings,)in there new units ,older units had no treatment,one of the fixes was drill 4 holes (1/4) inch at the base of the cap above the mounting grove base,this will allow any moisture to be vented from the cap, go to their web site they have a fourm section ,i think its there as well gmonde

Detroit Bob · 10-26-2008, 11:34 AM

We took the MSD out of our Big Block Chevelle wagon same thing. Just take it out clean it up and go. Were told by numerous people including MSD that it is not unusual.

Jim Kaekel · 10-28-2008, 12:38 PM

Bud: I've seen the same problems as well. Both the reluctor and the magnetic pick-up rusting. A friend reminded me that the iron oxide (rust) can actually cause misfire. I sent a distributor in to MSD a couple years ago and they replaced the reluctor.

Mike Voth · 10-28-2008, 04:12 PM

When we started venting our caps years ago all these problems went away. No arcing, no dust, no moisture and no misfires. Drill a few holes and see what happens. It definately won't hurt anything. Just make sure you don't have a fuel leak nearby.

5919 SSKA · 10-28-2008, 04:53 PM

Once cleaned---lightly put some CLEAR fingernail polish on the parts...works like a CHARM!

I did this to my '67 Chevelle a few years back...never an issue since.

Travis Sorokie
5919 SS/KA
5939 S/ST

10-26-2008, 07:37 AM	#1
Bud Lefevre Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 250 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	MSD rust Just had the cap off my MSD Dist. and it has a lot of rust and corrision inside. I doubt this is normal ? Bud __________________ Bud Lefevre 3075 STK IHRA World Record Holder

10-26-2008, 08:17 AM	#2
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: MSD rust You mean Dist Cap? Does it looks like Brown dust. A little is OK. A lot is not. It is caused by the spark arc creating Ozone. If a lot, check for high resistance in the coil wire first. Keep in mind that a coil wire is used 8 times as much as a plug wire(six time in my car :~)...) They usually go bad first. Then check the plug wires for high resistance. You could also have bad (high resistance) plugs. Quite a few plugs have built in resistance, one of those RF fixes. Too much gap or high resistance factor in a plug can cause the arc, too. A bad carbon contact in the cap will also cause it. That will show up as little welded looking spots (arcing) on the flexible part of the rotor. You might want to vent the cap to keep the air in the cap from being contaminated. Good luck. Adger __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS) Last edited by Adger Smith; 10-26-2008 at 08:22 AM. Reason: sp

10-26-2008, 08:51 AM	#3
gmonde Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 615 Likes: 56 Liked 165 Times in 59 Posts	Re: MSD rust we had the same issue with a mopar small block 360,call msd tech line they stated that they had a new batch of coated parts(weights,springs,bushings,)in there new units ,older units had no treatment,one of the fixes was drill 4 holes (1/4) inch at the base of the cap above the mounting grove base,this will allow any moisture to be vented from the cap, go to their web site they have a fourm section ,i think its there as well gmonde

10-26-2008, 11:34 AM	#4
Detroit Bob Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Grosse Pointe Woods Mi Posts: 89 Likes: 0 Liked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Re: MSD rust We took the MSD out of our Big Block Chevelle wagon same thing. Just take it out clean it up and go. Were told by numerous people including MSD that it is not unusual. __________________ Bob Kowal STK 345

10-28-2008, 12:38 PM	#5
Jim Kaekel VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,226 Likes: 133 Liked 529 Times in 107 Posts	Re: MSD rust Bud: I've seen the same problems as well. Both the reluctor and the magnetic pick-up rusting. A friend reminded me that the iron oxide (rust) can actually cause misfire. I sent a distributor in to MSD a couple years ago and they replaced the reluctor. __________________ Jim Kaekel 3836 STK

10-28-2008, 04:12 PM	#6
Mike Voth Live Reporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Buhler, KS Posts: 527 Likes: 5 Liked 57 Times in 14 Posts	Re: MSD rust When we started venting our caps years ago all these problems went away. No arcing, no dust, no moisture and no misfires. Drill a few holes and see what happens. It definately won't hurt anything. Just make sure you don't have a fuel leak nearby. __________________ Mike Voth 5189 GTN - 5188 GTO Voth Racing

10-28-2008, 04:53 PM	#7
5919 SSKA Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sauk Rapids, MN Posts: 284 Likes: 20 Liked 19 Times in 5 Posts	Re: MSD rust Once cleaned---lightly put some CLEAR fingernail polish on the parts...works like a CHARM! I did this to my '67 Chevelle a few years back...never an issue since. Travis Sorokie 5919 SS/KA 5939 S/ST __________________ Racing web page