MSD Ignition Performance Products

 

MSD Ignition is the ignition of choice of the top professional drivers in NHRA, IHRA, NASCAR, World of Outlaws, DIRT, SCORE, IDBA and many more.

MSD Ignition develops, tests and manufactures products including Ignition Controls, Coils, Timing Accessories and Spark Plug Wires and Accessories. MSD, housed in three buildings includes four engine dynos, two chassis dynos, complete CNC and machining centers, modern shipping and packaging areas plus assembly and burn-in departments.

MSD Ignition products are the finest ignition components you can install on your car whether it's a daily driver, dirt tracker, 4-wheel drive, a seven second Pro Stock car or Big Foot. MSD is your exclusive performance ignition company.

Product Types Available:

Ignitions:

MSD Ignition Controls are known throughout the world for their performance and reliability. There is an Ignition Control for every application including your daily driver, turbos and blown engines, circle trackers and even 200+ mph Pro Modified Cars. For more information, choose the application that best fits your needs:

• Daily Driver:
  For the first time and budget buildups, this section offers ignition upgrades for daily drivers and loaded work trucks.

• Street/Strip:

  This section addresses ignition controls for performance drivers, bracket racers, 4x4's and everything in between.

• Drag Racing:
  For engines that require incredible spark power to ignite exotic fuel combinations under high compression circumstances.
  Pro modifieds, pro stock, monster trucks, and pulling tractors will find their ignitions here.

• Circle Track/Road Racing:

  Ignitions for harsh racing applications such as stock cars, late models, modifieds, road racing, desert and off-road.

• Distributorless Ignitions (DIS):

  For Late model engines with distributorless ignition systems (DIS), we offer a variety of DIS Ignition's from street to racing units.

Distributors:

MSD Billet and Pro-Billet are the finest performance and racing distributors available. Every feature is designed to provide the best in performance and endurance to top off your ignition system.

• Billet Housing
  Like the multiple spark, CD ignition, MSD was the first to introduce a distributor housing machined from a billet of aluminum.
  MSD uses state-of-the-art Computerized Numerical Controlled (CNC) mills and lathes to create each housing.
  This procedure produces a flawless, lightweight distributor housing that is accurate to within 0.001".

• Shaft and Ball Bearing Guide
  The complete line of MSD Distributors uses a polished steel shaft that receives a QPQ, or Tuftride coating.
  This process produces a durable finish that reduces friction and resists corrosion. To accurately guide this shaft,
  MSD uses a sealed ball bearing located at the top of the housing. At the bottom of the housing, an extra long sintered
  bushing controls the shaft. This combination keeps the shaft spinning smooth and accurately throughout 10,000+ rpm.

• Magnetic Pickup
  All of the MSD Distributors (except crank trigger models) use a high output magnetic pickup to trigger the ignition system .
  This pickup is completely maintenance-free requiring no adjustment ever. The pickup is mounted to the base of the distributor
  housing and plugs directly into your MSD Ignition Control. A trigger signal is created as a precision made reluctor
  (attached to the shaft) passes by. The reluctor has a "paddle" for each cylinder and when the paddle passes the pickup,
  a signal is created.

• Adjustable Mechanical Advance
  One of the most important features of the MSD Distributors is the adjustable mechanical advance assembly.
  The advance assembly allows you to accurately modify the advance curve to match your specific application. To start with,
  the advance plate is stamped and machined from chrome moly . Weight pins are then staked in and tig welded in place.
  This assembly, along with the weights, then receive a corrosion resistant QPQ coating. Nylon weight pads are installed under
  the weights to ensure smooth movement as the weights are pushed out from centrifugal force to advance the timing.
  The advance assembly is mounted on top of every MSD Distributor making adjustments a breeze. A variety of advance springs
  and stop bushings are supplied with each distributor giving you the ability to set up to 24 different curves.

• CARB Approved Distributors
  MSD offers distributors that have been approved by CARB for use in all the states.
  Each distributor features a vacuum advance for street economy.

RPM/Timing Controls:

MSD Timing Controls are designed so engines with locked out timing or crank triggers can take advantage of an ignition curve. The weights and springs inside your existing distributor are removed and the mechanical advance is locked out so the timing is controlled entirely by the MSD Timing Control. By controlling the ignition electronically, the timing curves can be set faster, more accurately, and with more adjustability than mechanical advances. The Timing Controls provide reliable operation throughout the RPM range, and must be used with an MSD 6, SCI, 7, 8 or 10 Series Ignition Control.

Distributors/Distributor Caps:

Professional race engine builders have known for a long time that the only way to produce maximum horsepower from a Honda or Acura engine is to get rid of the weak coil mounted inside the cap. MSD’s new Honda and Acura Modified Distributor Caps are specially constructed to allow the use of an external coil such as an MSD Blaster Series Coil. Each cap is specially fitted with an MSD Power Tower to accept a high voltage coil wire.

Advanced Power Systems:

The performance of your race car's ignition relies on the charging system. Since these systems go hand-in-hand, it was only time before MSD designed and offered a high output alternator. Our new line of Advanced Power System™ Alternators will be available just in time for the 2004 racing and cruising season! Don't let the billet housing fool you as there's much more beneath this great looking housing. MSD engineers have spent thousands of hours testing different internal components, materials and windings. A special rectifier with 50 amp diodes improves control and reliability while a new surface mount regulator isolates and protects from high voltage spikes. Even the bearings were hand picked to withstand heavy axial loads and high rpm. Not only does the precision machined housing provide cool looks and great strength, but it also delivers a new universal mounting design called Slide-Loc. This technology allows one unit to be mounted to a variety of engines by selecting a bracket kit. (For speedshops, this feature means that you only need to stock one alternator!) The bracket installation kits are available separately for a growing number of different applications. Two models will be available in three outputs; a 105 amp, 130 amp and 160 amp version in either a direct plug-in installation or a one wire model.

Coils:

The chart below will give you a good starting point in choosing the right coil for your ignition system.

Spark Plug Wires:

Available in Custom Fit Wire Sets, Race Tailored Wire Sets or Universal Wire Sets

Crank Triggers:

For a long time, racers have known that one of the best things to do to an engine to improve its performance is to stabilize the ignition timing. The MSD Flying Magnet Crank Trigger system does exactly that by using four magnets embedded in an aluminum wheel. Although similar in appearance to other crank triggers, the MSD Flying Magnet design works on a different principle.
Most crank triggers have a wheel, with steel studs sticking out, bolted to the harmonic balancer. As the crankshaft turns the studs pass by a stationary magnetic pickup, triggering the ignition. This pickup can be triggered by other bolts, debris or even vibrations which will cause a loss of power or engine damage. The MSD Flying Magnet Crank Trigger uses four magnets secured in the aluminum trigger wheel that pass by a stationary non-magnetic pickup to trigger the ignition. This "flying magnet" design produces accurate trigger signals and the non-magnetic pickup cannot be false triggered.

Each Flying Magnet Crank Trigger includes a two-piece mounting bracket for the non-magnetic pickup that in most cases will work on either the passenger side or driver's side of the engine (the SB Chrysler and SB Ford brackets mount on only one side). The CNC-machined aluminum bracket securely holds the pickup in place and is slotted to provide a wide range of timing adjustment. Spacers are included so you can mount the bracket on engines with standard motor mounts or engines with a ¼" motor plate. These systems will trigger MSD 6, 7, 8 and 10 Series Ignitions and all MSD Timing Accessories.

Electronics:

The new DashHawk is an amazingly compact intelligent device that will provide you with real-time information about your vehicle's operation, diagnostic trouble codes, vehicle performance, and other useful information. User programmable alerts keep a watchful eye on critical items, while you can use the various data to alter your driving habits for maximum economy, maximum performance or for various tuning functions. Not much bigger than a credit card and installs with no tools in seconds! Easy to move between vehicles in minutes!

Tools: