Mallory or MSD ignition box owners...

[chargd72]

Can someone with Mallory or MSD ign box please put a voltage meter on the positive end of the coil when the key is in run position WITHOUT the engine actually running and tell me if they get a reading?   I'm trying to figure out why my ign box isn't working.  Also, if you can, I'd like to know the voltage reading while engine is cranking.  Thanks.

[red69superbee]

you can go to MSD website and it will show a way to test to see if the box works.

[Chryco Psycho]

there will be no power at + coil terminal withthe key on , the MSD sends power to the coil not the key power

[chargd72]

there will be no power at + coil terminal withthe key on , the MSD sends power to the coil not the key power

Ok, but when the key is in run position WITH the engine running there has to be power at + end of coil or it couldn't get spark, correct?  If not, how does the box know when to send power to coil?

[Chryco Psycho]

that would make sense but then if the engine running you would not be diagnosing a problem which is why I ahve not tested it LOL

[chargd72]

Ha, nice. Well I actually got a much more knowledgeable tech on the phone today. Sounds like these boxes only work with promaster coil. I also needed spiral core wires. So needless to say there goes another $150 for this ignition upgrade. This is becoming a nice little investment just to save the hassle of points.

[Cooter]

Well, look at it this way, How much is all that MSD/Mallory stuff worth if  (by the looks of your engine in the avatar is a small block) you never have to crawl over a hot engine to install another set of points in the 98 Degree heat?


To me, that is why I run MSD on all my junk, and I have Big Blocks.