Zinger

Any input on the chevy MSD all in one or ready to run marine distributor. I am looking to get a new distributor, and this seems to fit the budget just want to make sure is not junk or wasting money.
Thanks
Jeff

TomZ

I've used them and never run into any issues. They are susceptible to corrosion so a good idea is to treat the insides with a corrosion prohibitor.

smokediver

I’m using one with mechanical advance and built in rev limiter. There are some after market advance bushings if you need to run a little more initial advance.

Griff

What do you have now and why are you looking to change??

nocigarette

can u elaborate, what type of corrosion defense do u use.

Zinger

I have a thunderbolt 1V and was going to buy an daytona box biut they are costly.

sutphen 30

if your engines are running now,,just keep your set up,,theres no performance gains to be had.

F-2 Speedy

MSD = may soon die............as stated Id stay with the Merc's

TomZ

The MSD ready to run that I had used a vented cap which helped (not sure if it was USCG legal). Light corrosion.

Spray the insides with CRC 400 or similar. Painting the reluctant wheel can help, too. The cap terminals still corrode like a mother.

The issue is caused by moisture created by the ionization of the air inside the cap. It’s a problem across the board with MSD, but it’s exacerbated by the moisture rich environment of a the bilge A vent helps some (Merc uses a 90-degree vent on the TB-IV distributor).

I didn’t have problems with my ready to run in the boat. Lucky maybe. But my drag car had issues all the time. I kept spares with me just in case.

compedgemarine

it is not a problem of being in a boat. all the cars I fix with msd distributors are nearly all rusted solid. it is an msd problem. I talked to them about one in a car that was just over a year old that was so rusted that the advance would not move. they said the same thing, ionized air, need to vent it, etc. told him I have a GM HEI that is 50 years old and hundreds of thousands of miles and it has no rust. he didnt have any thing else to say.