Failure rate of a MSD 6AL? - Page 2

Eddies66 · 03-22-2011, 08:14 PM

Have done any welding on the car?

gmonde · 03-22-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philip Saran

I've been fighting a no spark problem for a while now, I've done
the tests as outlined on the MSD website.

This unit has less than two hours run time on it. Of course I bought
it longer than a year ago (how time flies) so no warranty.

What has been your experience with MSD products? Just sent it
back for repair and suck up the cost or buy another or go in another
direction? I could always go to a chrysler chrome box w/ballast.

Open to comments & suggestions

i had mine for 10 years and even put a hole thru it with a 1/4 drill by accident still works fine ,,of coarse you get those ones that just are junk out of the box gmonde

Rich Biebel · 03-22-2011, 08:37 PM

When it somes to welding on a racecar I can give you some advice.

I am Miller and Lincoln Certifed as a repair tech on their machines

Mig welding is DC at fairly low voltage....around 20 volts and really all you need to do is keep you work clamp close to the weld site.....It certainly couln't hurt to go further and disconnect you ignition box or even remove it but it's not necessary....

The big issue with welders is HF used for arc starting with a Tig welder......and the arc coming out of a plasma cutter is similar to HF.....but even more likely to cause a problem with sensitive electronics.....

At the very least anything electronic should be disconnected if your using a tig with HF or a plasma cutter.......

Now someone will come on here and say he never removes anything and never hurt a thing.........thats the usual response on the Interent.....If it's my car I'm doing my best to protect my electronics.....

Ed Wright · 03-22-2011, 09:24 PM

I'm probably nuts, but my ECU and MSD box come out of the car before I tig weld on it.

Rich Biebel · 03-22-2011, 09:48 PM

You're definately not nuts Ed and I agree. My Lt-1 had to much stuff in it that could get hurt.......I did mig weld on the car and as I said never removed anything for that process......

I used a plasma cutter on a few vehicles over the years and had at least one that failed to start after the work I did. It was a work truck and I cut something in the rear suspension. Fuel pump circuit was killed in the ECU.....Ford. I rigged up a seperate circuit rather than replace the computer....Never used a plasma again on anything in the shop that had electronics attached to it....

Philip Saran · 03-22-2011, 09:56 PM

Thank you all for your comments and input. A local racer has offered
to loan me his good tested spare MSD 6AL and a good distributor
so I can test everything and then replace the correct bad parts instead
of just throwing money at it.

Robert Simpson · 03-22-2011, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragsinger

this company does a good upgrade on the MSD 6AL. He is in NASCAR country and does work for many of the NASCAR Teams.

http://www.techwestracing.com/

I spoke with Pat from Techwest he was very helpful in tracking down a small problem with my ing. system. He just verbally gave me some advise and it worked. He does repair all kinds of MSD's. I will send hime my MSD's to be upgraded.

older racer · 03-23-2011, 02:19 AM

hi, just a thought. I mounted my 7al2 on the floor panel passenger side, with rubber mounts, ran a ground to block. its way away from heat of any kind. been in car since 1990.

Tim Ellis · 03-23-2011, 10:16 AM

I really thought I remembered the 6AL coming out in the late 80s or early 90s? I've had a few with only 1 problem, I sent it back out of warranty and as I recall, they repaired it for near nothing. Probably because it was an internal fuse . Call them and check cost, likely well worth sending in.

Ed Wright · 03-23-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by older racer

hi, just a thought. I mounted my 7al2 on the floor panel passenger side, with rubber mounts, ran a ground to block. its way away from heat of any kind. been in car since 1990.

That is how mine is, with a 10 ga ground wire directly to the back of the pass side cylinder head.

03-22-2011, 08:14 PM	#11
Eddies66 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Rancho Mirage, CA Posts: 1,308 Likes: 300 Liked 881 Times in 452 Posts	Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL? Have done any welding on the car? Last edited by Eddies66; 03-23-2011 at 09:41 AM.

03-22-2011, 08:37 PM	#13
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL? When it somes to welding on a racecar I can give you some advice. I am Miller and Lincoln Certifed as a repair tech on their machines Mig welding is DC at fairly low voltage....around 20 volts and really all you need to do is keep you work clamp close to the weld site.....It certainly couln't hurt to go further and disconnect you ignition box or even remove it but it's not necessary.... The big issue with welders is HF used for arc starting with a Tig welder......and the arc coming out of a plasma cutter is similar to HF.....but even more likely to cause a problem with sensitive electronics..... At the very least anything electronic should be disconnected if your using a tig with HF or a plasma cutter....... Now someone will come on here and say he never removes anything and never hurt a thing.........thats the usual response on the Interent.....If it's my car I'm doing my best to protect my electronics..... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

03-22-2011, 09:24 PM	#14
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL? I'm probably nuts, but my ECU and MSD box come out of the car before I tig weld on it. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

03-22-2011, 09:48 PM	#15
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL? You're definately not nuts Ed and I agree. My Lt-1 had to much stuff in it that could get hurt.......I did mig weld on the car and as I said never removed anything for that process...... I used a plasma cutter on a few vehicles over the years and had at least one that failed to start after the work I did. It was a work truck and I cut something in the rear suspension. Fuel pump circuit was killed in the ECU.....Ford. I rigged up a seperate circuit rather than replace the computer....Never used a plasma again on anything in the shop that had electronics attached to it.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

03-22-2011, 09:56 PM	#16
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 163 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL? Thank you all for your comments and input. A local racer has offered to loan me his good tested spare MSD 6AL and a good distributor so I can test everything and then replace the correct bad parts instead of just throwing money at it. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

03-23-2011, 02:19 AM	#18
older racer Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 211 Likes: 13 Liked 64 Times in 25 Posts	Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL? hi, just a thought. I mounted my 7al2 on the floor panel passenger side, with rubber mounts, ran a ground to block. its way away from heat of any kind. been in car since 1990.

03-23-2011, 10:16 AM	#19
Tim Ellis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Beavercreek Or. Posts: 272 Likes: 31 Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Failure rate of a MSD 6AL? I really thought I remembered the 6AL coming out in the late 80s or early 90s? I've had a few with only 1 problem, I sent it back out of warranty and as I recall, they repaired it for near nothing. Probably because it was an internal fuse . Call them and check cost, likely well worth sending in.