MSD Ignition Products

lorenr · 08-04-2022, 03:52 PM

I've been relying on MSD ignition products for over 30 years. Recently I had an issue that surprised me. It was two bad coils.

The item is: MSD Ignition 82073 - MSD Blaster SS Coils.

In all my years I cannot remember an ignition coil going bad. Decided to use the MSD 6 ignition box with the above coil on my Tournament Ski boat. Ford 351 W with Edelbrock intake and 1850 Holley. Worked fine for 18 years. Coil went bad and replaced with same. It has now lasted 5 hours. replaced same coil again.

Checked wiring again and again. Pretty simple install. I've used three MSD 6 boxes I've kept over the years. They seem to be fine.

With the bad coils, I did get a spark to the plugs, but would not start the motor. Just before it quit completely it would run fine for a minute or two.

What am I missing? Is this common?

Mike Savelle · 08-04-2022, 04:48 PM

I had a new msd optispark distributor car ran for 10 minutes check engine lite comes on , hi resolution circuit . had the distributor over a year before installing so not under warranty .... no more MSD for me !!!

GTX JOHN · 08-04-2022, 08:23 PM

All my 12 cars have the Old school analog MSD stufff in Them .
Most of it 20 years old.

We replaced a lot of it with the newer stuff digital pieces and
none of it lasted more than a few years period.
It made a lot of expensive Smoke on the way out.
It never picked up a darn things for all the MSD HOOPLA!

I hoard a bunch of the old stuff new in box and keep in
the trailer but never seem to need it.

Frank Castros · 08-04-2022, 08:41 PM

Many years ago I ran a MSD prototype (404 BC) from Direct Connection with a MSD Blaster Coil and it worked like a charm for as long as I owned the car.

Henrys Toy · 08-05-2022, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenr

I've been relying on MSD ignition products for over 30 years. Recently I had an issue that surprised me. It was two bad coils.

The item is: MSD Ignition 82073 - MSD Blaster SS Coils.

In all my years I cannot remember an ignition coil going bad. Decided to use the MSD 6 ignition box with the above coil on my Tournament Ski boat. Ford 351 W with Edelbrock intake and 1850 Holley. Worked fine for 18 years. Coil went bad and replaced with same. It has now lasted 5 hours. replaced same coil again.

Checked wiring again and again. Pretty simple install. I've used three MSD 6 boxes I've kept over the years. They seem to be fine.

With the bad coils, I did get a spark to the plugs, but would not start the motor. Just before it quit completely it would run fine for a minute or two.

What am I missing? Is this common?

Good morning to all,
Over the years I had 2 MSD #8261 coils go bad on me.
One after two or three weekends racing, the other right out of the box. When we had our dyno , we had the standard #8201 and I wanted to have both kinds of coils to see the difference between the two (#8261) and in case a customer was using something different and we could switch it. After one pull the engine wouldn't start - just crank. We switched back to the #8201 - engine starts right up! we call MSD and tell them what happened and there're reply was "gee that's too bad, sorry" .then being told there was nothing they could do, because there was NO RETURNS on electrical parts , left me holding the bag on a $200.00 dollar coil.
Then , since I didn't learn my lesson yet I purchased a MSD 8A that failed after two or three runs. That turned into another Cluster as well.
So, I'm to guess that its nothing you did to cause the problem , just crappy quality control.

P.S. I finally got the 8A box repaired, and threw away two #8261 coils that were bad. And if anyone from MSD would like to reimburse me for those two coils , that would be nice , but I won't be holding my breath.

cad · 08-05-2022, 11:28 AM

I have had 3 blaster SS coils fail on me over the years, and it always happens deep in the rounds. They get hot and begin misfiring at high RPMs typically. I learned the hard way, and now, would never run that coil even on a lawn mower...

MSD has a compatibility chart online....
https://documents.holley.com/techlib...ompability.pdf

CMcAllister · 08-05-2022, 12:38 PM

*something, something* private equity *something* outsourcing *something* dumbing down quality *something*

SSGN · 08-07-2022, 08:58 AM

I have used MSD wires for a long time and never had a problem. Purchased a set of multi-angle wires and the connections at the plug are flimsy. Tired of companies out sourcing and charging premium prices for inferior parts. I will use Moroso wires on race cars but the Jegs or Summit brand 8.5 'Made In USA" wires are great for any street car stuff.

Shadylane · 08-07-2022, 11:45 AM

I had a 5 year old MSD Blaster coil give up the ghost in the staging lanes at Vegas last year. No spark all all! Not really complaining too much but I thought it would last longer.

So that begs the question, are there any non efi distributors or ignition components made in the USA?

lorenr · 08-07-2022, 01:18 PM

Thanks for all the comments.

Evidently, I'm not the only one with MSD Blaster coil issues.

So what should I buy to settle this issue?

08-04-2022, 03:52 PM	#1
lorenr Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 48 Likes: 259 Liked 19 Times in 9 Posts	MSD Ignition Products I've been relying on MSD ignition products for over 30 years. Recently I had an issue that surprised me. It was two bad coils. The item is: MSD Ignition 82073 - MSD Blaster SS Coils. In all my years I cannot remember an ignition coil going bad. Decided to use the MSD 6 ignition box with the above coil on my Tournament Ski boat. Ford 351 W with Edelbrock intake and 1850 Holley. Worked fine for 18 years. Coil went bad and replaced with same. It has now lasted 5 hours. replaced same coil again. Checked wiring again and again. Pretty simple install. I've used three MSD 6 boxes I've kept over the years. They seem to be fine. With the bad coils, I did get a spark to the plugs, but would not start the motor. Just before it quit completely it would run fine for a minute or two. What am I missing? Is this common?

08-04-2022, 04:48 PM	#2
Mike Savelle Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 369 Likes: 125 Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: MSD Ignition Products I had a new msd optispark distributor car ran for 10 minutes check engine lite comes on , hi resolution circuit . had the distributor over a year before installing so not under warranty .... no more MSD for me !!!

08-04-2022, 08:23 PM	#3
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,733 Likes: 2,799 Liked 2,482 Times in 697 Posts	Re: MSD Ignition Products All my 12 cars have the Old school analog MSD stufff in Them . Most of it 20 years old. We replaced a lot of it with the newer stuff digital pieces and none of it lasted more than a few years period. It made a lot of expensive Smoke on the way out. It never picked up a darn things for all the MSD HOOPLA! I hoard a bunch of the old stuff new in box and keep in the trailer but never seem to need it. __________________ John Irving 741 Stock 741 Super Stock

08-04-2022, 08:41 PM	#4
Frank Castros VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Lowcountry. Posts: 2,969 Likes: 2,584 Liked 2,717 Times in 957 Posts	Re: MSD Ignition Products Many years ago I ran a MSD prototype (404 BC) from Direct Connection with a MSD Blaster Coil and it worked like a charm for as long as I owned the car.

08-05-2022, 11:28 AM	#6
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 702 Likes: 202 Liked 91 Times in 51 Posts	Re: MSD Ignition Products I have had 3 blaster SS coils fail on me over the years, and it always happens deep in the rounds. They get hot and begin misfiring at high RPMs typically. I learned the hard way, and now, would never run that coil even on a lawn mower... MSD has a compatibility chart online.... https://documents.holley.com/techlib...ompability.pdf

08-05-2022, 12:38 PM	#7
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 614 Likes: 16 Liked 920 Times in 259 Posts	Re: MSD Ignition Products something, something private equity something outsourcing something dumbing down quality something

08-07-2022, 08:58 AM	#8
SSGN Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 644 Likes: 131 Liked 140 Times in 51 Posts	Re: MSD Ignition Products I have used MSD wires for a long time and never had a problem. Purchased a set of multi-angle wires and the connections at the plug are flimsy. Tired of companies out sourcing and charging premium prices for inferior parts. I will use Moroso wires on race cars but the Jegs or Summit brand 8.5 'Made In USA" wires are great for any street car stuff. __________________ The more people I meet the more I like my dog Kevin

08-07-2022, 11:45 AM	#9
Shadylane Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Farmington, New Mexico Posts: 203 Likes: 268 Liked 171 Times in 51 Posts	Re: MSD Ignition Products I had a 5 year old MSD Blaster coil give up the ghost in the staging lanes at Vegas last year. No spark all all! Not really complaining too much but I thought it would last longer. So that begs the question, are there any non efi distributors or ignition components made in the USA? __________________ Kelly Lane Stk4991

08-07-2022, 01:18 PM	#10
lorenr Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 48 Likes: 259 Liked 19 Times in 9 Posts	Re: MSD Ignition Products Thanks for all the comments. Evidently, I'm not the only one with MSD Blaster coil issues. So what should I buy to settle this issue?