MSD retard module/chip accuracy

I use an MSD 8970 3 stage retard that uses the plug in chips/modules/pills for each stage of retard.
Have any of you ever had problems w/ these chips not pulling the amount of timing out that they are supposed to? I just wired stage 1 and 2 to work together so I can mix and match 2 chips to get the amount of retard I need.
I've been trying hard to NOT go to a digital programmable box, but this is making me think real hard about making the swap now.

Seems like the 13 and 14 degree chips still only pulled 12 degrees out.

Did you check the chip resistance? MSD says 1k ohms per degree up through 14 degrees.

If that checks out fine, then it's probably a module issue. I was going to put a start retard on my car, and decided not to after reading all the horror stories on the MSD stuff.

I haven't checked the resistance in the chips, but I will. Just figured this might be something others have run into.

i always check them like that, and write the actual timing it pulls on it with a sharpie. If you think about it it makes sense that the higher chips are off more, because they are a % +/- . So mathematically the higher you go the more they are off. Chip be careful pulling a lot of timing with the "smaller" Mopar distributor cap. Check that you rotor is still phased at full retard.

Tony...I've been wondering at what point I'll run into that issue. What distributor do you use?
I don't think the MSD cap-adapt deal will fit around my heads/valve covers. Might have to use an offset distributor?

i have been Coil on Plug for a while now. IT IS GREAT. I was using and MSD with 440-1 then switched to a Firecore with the B1 heads. Im pretty sure the Firecore uses a smaller cap (Mopar) compared to the MSD (GM style). And yes i had problems with the Firecore.

I have Holley EFI Dominator ECU with a Dale Cubic Carb right now (I know half-a$$) so the Firecore distribuor became my cam synch....COP is so nice, you can retard as much as you want and you dont have to worry about rotor phase etc.

In your case id look for an offset dist or front drive? Get that big ford cap on there somehow. Especially if you taking 14 degrees out. I know MSD will say you can take out 20* but flames out the carb are possible ig the rotor aint correct...been there with that ! ! LOL

I've had both good and bad MSD chips, I wish they where all good or bad
I've cut a bunch of them up after finding they where off
Test them in the car before racing with them

Many moons ago I had an issue with the MSD "chip". Got on the phone with tech and was informed the chip is considered good @ plus/minus 15%. Went digital 6al-2 and never looked back. I also picked up a crank trigger that will be a winter project.

I've been thinking about the programmable 6al-2 (6530) for a while. It's nice b/c that one little box will replace 3 boxes I currently have in the car. Not to mention it will give me even more adjustability.
I work w/ computers every day...I hate them, lol. The thought of having to take a laptop w/ me to tune the car makes me cringe. Might be time to just bite the bullet and upgrade though.

I wish I felt more comfortable about the reliability of the current MSD stuff. We've had a couple of issues with no spark at low RPM spark on the MSD digital boxes. Returned them and bought old analog.

.
I'm a little uncomfortable too. Years ago I had terrible luck w/ the MSD Digital 6 Plus boxes. Had two of them that had high speed misfires that I couldn't fix no matter what I did. Put my old 6AL back on and everything was fine. We have 5 cars and all have the old style 6AL boxes on them.
For what I'm doing now, I really don't have much choice. Everything is digital and I could really use all these extra features.

"Tony...I've been wondering at what point I'll run into that issue. What distributor do you use?
I don't think the MSD cap-adapt deal will fit around my heads/valve covers. Might have to use an offset distributor?"


Chip you may try and find a used MSD# 8536 distributor. It is a Mopar Distributor but uses a Standard Chevy Cap. A lot more room for rotor phasing than a Mopar cap.
I have had good luck with 8975 Digital retard in conjunction with my Digital 7 plus box. Solved all of my fireworks issues on Nitrous.
Mike

I ran for years, that above MSD dist with the GM cap. Ran the base timing at 28 and pulled 20....yes ran it down the track at 8* to make it live (440-1 heads that were not softened and a cam that didnt open the exh early enough )

OK, the MSD cap-a-dapt will not fit due to hitting the valve cover. I am NOT going to grind on my freshly powdercoated cover. I'll just pull some base timing out unless I find one of those 8536 distributors.
Also going w/ the MSD 6530 box. This one little box will replace 3 that are currently in the car, so that'll clean up my electronics board real nice. I do not plan to get serious enough to need individual cylinder timing and all that other crap, but if I do later, I can always upgrade. The 6530 will do much more than I can right now and hopefully be accurate.

Anyone need a brand new MSD 8445 cap-a-dapt kit? Will not fit a hemi w/ Indy valve covers, lol.

Thats a great programmable ignition . It will work great for you. You will love the control of the timing and can do what we talked about.

This topic is helpful to me ty.I have a 8972 that I have had for 20 yrs and never installed.

I've been looking at the 8536 distributors...just googled the part number. Is there more than one version???
I ask that b/c the ones I've seen have a cap that looks no bigger than what's on my current MSD 8546 pro billet distributor.
I've seen pics of one w/ a big cap, but it appears to have the cap-a-dapt on it w/ the big ford cap.

See pics...the first 2 don't appear to be any larger, but I may be wrong. The 3rd looks like it has the big ford cap (cap-a-dapt)

Chip the one I use looks exactly like the one at the bottom(second photo) of your previous post. Pretty sure it looks like a chevy cap to me? Didn't know that there are more than one type for that part number!
Mike

Chip I use a 8546 pro billet with this cap and rotor.

Mike

Mike, I have the same thing currently. The 8536 is supposed to have a bigger cap, but doesn't APPEAR to in the pics I've seen unless someone has put the cap-a-dapt on it.

Chip,
I know they have a larger chevy style cap. Our caps are smaller than a regular chevy cap.The one on my friends nova uses a larger cap but I doubt it would clear our heads plus it won't fit our dist.

worked for a while on a offshore race boat, the class used the MSD pills as the limiter. So we always tested the chips and they were sometimes all over the place. Test out a good set with a multimeter and it might fix your problem.