MSD Ignitions

[zerfetzen]

I know I'm committing the biggest sin here by not supplying pics yet (actually, there's not much to see yet), but I got my 73 Cuda back with a rebuilt 318, 904, and fully detailed engine compartment.  A couple weeks ago, I started using it as my daily driver to work and back.  The colder it gets, the harder it is to start, even though it has a brand new, but totally stock, coil, ignition module, and distributor.  Friday the temperature got into the single digits, and I had to call work and use a "personal day" because I couldn't get it going.

So, I might have went overboard, but I've ordered from Jegs a MSD Blaster 2 coil, MSD 6AL ignition, MSD Billet distributor, and MSD timing light.  It should arrive Tuesday.  I should have checked with you guys first to see what you recommend, so I missed a step, but now I'm curious what you think.

PS
In mild weather (30-40), I found it easiest to start by completely pulling the manual choke, pumping it twice, and then once it takes, immediately pushing in the choke (otherwise it would die again).

[Autophile]

I'm not quite sure that the ignition is the reason for your car's cold-weather starting difficulty, but I just installed a "Ready-to-Run" MSD distirbutor on my Dad's '71 340 Roadrunner for Christmas and my Dad believes his car starts easier now. Regardless of whether or not you went overboard, you are getting a fine ignition.

[zerfetzen]

What else do you think it could be?

[MEK-Dangerfield]

What else do you think it could be?

This is just what I went thru. My car would laugh if I tried to start it below 30 degrees.  I swapped out the Mopar ignition system for a FBO system. It uses the Mopar distributor, so it was just the ballast resistor, coil, and ignition box that were swapped. My car fires up like a champ now. Apparently a hotter spark was my ticket. 


  Mike

[Autophile]

What else do you think it could be?

Well, I didn't want to rule out the carb since its performance (i.e., the air-fuel ratio) changes with temperature as well. However, a better ignition definitely couldn't hurt you here.

[cudaaah]

I'm not a techy (yet)...but how about a block warmer..I don't know if they can be used on older cars, but isn't that what people up north use?  Maybe it's more hassle than it's worth, but if your depending on your car to get to work, it may help.

Just a thought

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Well, I didn't want to rule out the carb since its performance (i.e., the air-fuel ratio) changes with temperature as well. However, a better ignition definitely couldn't hurt you here.

At the risk of boring people to death, I'll expand on how he can tell what the problem is. It's gas, spark, or timing. I'll rule out timing since that isn't relevant to temperature changes. So my cheap little test that helped me was to buy a can of starting fluid. A shot of that, and one pump of the gas pedal, and my car still laughed at me.  If you have enough spark, the starting fluid will definitely jolt the bolts, but that wasn't happening with me. I suggest trying this zerfetzen, when it's cold enough. If the car should fire right up, then we would know that you have a fuel related problem. The carb. is giving too much, or not enough gas. I'm not a physics major, but I think when it gets colder, the molecules don't move around as much, thus less air into the carb., making it easier to flood out. Whew... I'm starting to bore myself now. 

  Mike

Edit: If you are interested at all in FBO systems, here is the link. It looks like Mopar, so only you will know it isn't.

  http://4secondsflat.com/

[wart1de]

When my engine was running on more oil than petrol I had lots of problems starting it. Upgrading to a MSD got that oil burnt nice and crisp and starting in the mornings was no longer an issue.

Now to rebuild the rest of the motor 

[hemi71]

when you install your new MSD box, ,make sure you use the vibration isolation mounts. These boxes are susceptible to vibration related failure. Use the vibration mounts, and you'll be fine.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[cudaaah]

Nice Hemi!!! Is it a 426?

[Autophile]

I'm not a physics major, but I think when it gets colder, the molecules don't move around as much, thus less air into the carb., making it easier to flood out.

Actually, when the temperature goes down, the density of air increases. Imagine if you continued cooling the air, it would become more and more dense until it became a liquid and then a solid. So, on cold mornings, when the air is very dense, the engine is more likely to run lean. That's why you use a choke to decrease the amount of air to the engine. I'm not a physics major, but I have two degrees in chemical engineering. 

Edit:  My 200th post, yay!

[TheCrazyCheesehead]

  With Mikey. I keep hearing great things about FBO and i have even talk to the guy on the phone for like an hour and he didn't even pressure me into buying one thing. They know what they are doing up there in oregon. Plus the guy also drag races