MSD Distributor?

KBCobra95

New Member
Aug 28, 2005
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North Carolina
Is this a good replacement over the stock one? The stator is going out and I figured now would be the itme to "upgrade" the distributor. Also, is the TFI on the side of the 94-95 MSD distributor? Atleast that is how the picture depicts it. Thanks, Andrew.
 
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Foxes have the side mounted TFI - yours should not.

There's not a lot of choice for dizzies - the brand you mentioned is not my favorite.
 
The MSD-8455 is the right one for our cars, I'm running it right now. The stock hold-down clamp doesn't fit the flange on the dist. shaft properly so it requires some slight grinding to get it to fit; however, I just let it sit incorrectly and tighten the nut really well (I installed a distributor stud, $4 @ Summit)
 
i'd have to check the part number, but my MSD slid in just like a stocker. i didnt have to modify anything, great replacement for stock as far as i'm concerned. my stator went out on mine too, thats the reason i upgraded, plus the MSD looks a lot better
 
Mine went in no problems, but it is 1/4" taller than the stock. I had a modified strut tower brace that went over my stock dizzy.... that didn't work out so well with the new MSD dizzy. Shocked the heck out of myself trying to see where I could space it up to mount it. Those MSD coils bite! :rotf:
 
I've seen posts where people have had MSD distributor problems that were cured by switching back to the stock distributor (MSD = Might Suddenly Die). I've never had any problems with mine in 3 years and it looks great under the hood. I just bought another one for my F-150 pick-up truck project.
 
I'm running an MSD now as well. The PIP was screwed up on my old one which forced the upgrade. Well, I did try getting one from Autozone, but the thing didn't fit. It wouldn't seat down and part of the upper body would hit the intake. I just said "screw it" and got the MSD and returned the other one. So far, it runs a ton better than before, probably due to the old one being screwed up.

I also noticed that it is taller than the original, but it didn't cause any problems. My brace clears it easily.
 
8455 here too...No complaints..As for the ignition boxes, thats another story...seems like 50% or so fail..:shrug: The dizzy probs are far and few inbetween....Some top racers still swear by the stock units...so go fish...:D
 
Mrgreen94gt said:
I also noticed that it is taller than the original, but it didn't cause any problems. My brace clears it easily.

Mine was modified. Had a welding place chop it and move the front brace out for my crazy 96 Cobra hood. Liked just a tiny bit to close. :nonono: Never heard of it being a problem for anyone else. I ended up taking my ST brace off the car. :rolleyes:
 
OK fellas, I got the distributor in today. I was reading the "break in" procedure for this thing and it said to lube it with the cam lube and run it with regular oil? Not synthetic. Thing is I have fresh Mobil ! 10w30 full syntec in there already and i hate to throw away good oil and filter. How many of you with the MSD used dino oil for the break in and if it is really necessary. Thanks!
 
I saw that when i got mine and i called msd and they said not to worry about it. I asked so I can break mine in with sinthetic oil. and the guy said yeah. so just give them a call and see what they tell you. but I installed mine with sinthetic and its been fine so far. if i recall i did put some of that lube that came with it on the gear though.
 
KBCobra95 said:
OK fellas, I got the distributor in today. I was reading the "break in" procedure for this thing and it said to lube it with the cam lube and run it with regular oil? Not synthetic. Thing is I have fresh Mobil ! 10w30 full syntec in there already and i hate to throw away good oil and filter. How many of you with the MSD used dino oil for the break in and if it is really necessary. Thanks!

Yeah I read that too. I just put some assembly lube on it and once installed I noted to myself - yeah right:bs: . I didn't think twice about those instructions. I too just changed my oil to synthetic - new motor with the required miles on it now. Here's the short of it. Don't Sweat It. Put her in a let her rip.:D