Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

elancoupe wrote:The MSD cap #8434 and rotor #8470 come up in searches from Summit, Jeg’s, Autozone and others.

Btw, the cap also fits an MSD VW dizzy.

Excellent! Thanks for the correct call up part numbers.

Stu, I believe Concept 1 is in your town, Cowtown!

https://www.google.ca/search?q=concept1 ... nt=safari#

They are 123 dizzy distributors, last I checked. They dont stock Twink just VW, Ied take a set or two, and some LCCBC members have interest.

The Concept 1 guys are great. They were able to easily match up replacement CV’s for my aftermarket drive shafts. That said, I am happy with my MSD dizzy for the foreseeable.

Cheers!

Stu

Hi Stu
If you cant get the advance you want with the Dizzy hitting the block just move the dizzy to advance by moving to the next a tooth on the gear to the jackshaft which will move the body back the equivalent enabling more advance at the maximum advance position the dizzy body will go to. I have to do the same thing with the Bosch dizzy I use as the external condenser that hits the block if I don,t pick the right tooth setting

cheers
Rohan

Excellent Rohan. I figured there was an easy fix. That should put the desired advance midrange on the adjustment.

Stu

Thankyou all for the interest in the MSD distributor I’ve been putting out.
Here’s a bit of history behind its development.
The premise of the procurement of this distributor was basically self preservation. Thinking back thru all the distributors and ignitions that have come and gone for our Kent based engines, I count at least five, all with problems ending with unavailability, or distant knowledge and parts.
Further, the frustration trying to get high overlap race engines started both on dyno’s and tracks to my poor college years lapping points,,,,,all compounded the need for a clean sheet of paper.
Thanks to a 2 liter Vauxhall in my Mallock, I discovered the current design attributes of MSD’s distributor’s. I was in quite a pickle with the Vauxhall, the original distributor difficult to find and service, completely unknown in America, second generation a ICU with coil packs, available in England, nota in America. Nasty memories came flooding back, running a one of a kind ignition in America, parts and experience across the pond. déjà vu
I made contact within MSD’s engineering, the gentleman took interest, and said something that took root, “all our distributors use the same mechanical advance plate and mechanism, clockwise or counter clockwise (hello)” !
All use the same magnetic switch, just different chopper, 8,6 or 4.” Available at any American parts store! “All use the same upper sealed bearing to keep the mechanism stable.”
Hallelujah !
Long story short, I reworked the best matching 4 cylinder distributor they had and at the same time noticed it would fit our Kent engines, yeehaw !!!
Older Atlantic guy’s find it curios why my Cosworth BDD Swift DB4 starts instantly, idles about the paddock & to pregrid, rev’s to 9500rpm. “McCoy’s cheating” !
Long story, but thought it should be said.
I’ll keep making them available as I can, MSD price increases have made them a bit spendy, & they need a external box, MSD’s 6AL or higher end. I now have the higher energy single spark Ford Duraspark worked out, plenty available there to.

JMcCoy

If your distributor is hitting something preventing setting timing just pull it out and move it one gear tooth.

Quick note regarding the MSD ignition. I worked out the timing several months ago and have been tuning carbs.

This week I was trouble shooting, and swapped out the coil. Big improvement with my replacement MSD Coil Part Number 8222. This replacement coil can be mounted horizontally. They are black, called the Blaster Series, High Vibration.

The previously fitted coil, part number 8022, must be mounted vertically. I think mine sustained damage. As you can see in the pictures above, it was mounted flat on the right inner fender. These coils are red, called the Blaster 2.

Both of these coils are used with the MSD electronic ignition 6AL control box. They are only a few bucks different in price.

Would recommend the 8222 if you are not mounting the coil vertically.

HTH

Stu

Jim,

Do you have any experience with the 123 Ignition distributors?

stugilmour wrote:Quick note regarding the MSD ignition. I worked out the timing several months ago and have been tuning carbs.

This week I was trouble shooting, and swapped out the coil. Big improvement with my replacement MSD Coil Part Number 8222. This replacement coil can be mounted horizontally. They are black, called the Blaster Series, High Vibration.

The previously fitted coil, part number 8022, must be mounted vertically. I think mine sustained damage. As you can see in the pictures above, it was mounted flat on the right inner fender. These coils are red, called the Blaster 2.

Both of these coils are used with the MSD electronic ignition 6AL control box. They are only a few bucks different in price.

Would recommend the 8222 if you are not mounting the coil vertically.

HTH

Stu

I was doing some reading on the epoxy filled coils, and came across this from www.techracingwest.com:

“What coil are you running? If it is a Blaster 2 then you need to make sure it is mounted with the tower straight up and down. If is laying on its side or any version other then vertical the windings inside will short out over time and cause the type of lay down issue your talking about. Other than dead MSD boxes we repair that is one of the common problems out there with the oil filled coils. If you would like a suggested option for an upgrade checkout a Carquest FD-478 or Autozone C-839 they are TFI style coils ( No Oil inside) can be mounted in any orientation. Plus they will get everything out of your MSD 6AL with a 3% better rpm ramp from 3300 to 7000 over the Blaster2 & they are usually about $30.00.”