Ignition ?

[72 cuda]

Hey guys, I have a strange question.
A 73 Plymouth fury III 440.
This motor ran fine until a friend installed a used MSD ignition box.
Now it will start and run but seems to as once it warms up it will not restart.
My friend that installed the MSD box said that this box effectively replaced the points(meaning) I think as he said that it only uses the points for timing and not spark or fire.
My father an old mechanic said that there were several points at which the ignition could still be breaking down.
Condenser,electro-magnet, pick up.
when I checked the fire it was looked good (blue and about a 1/4") but appeared to fire every 4th stroke.
Shouldn't it by firing more rapidly.
Or as my father said heat expansion was changing the tolerances and that I need new points and condenser or maybe something more serious.
Thanks in advance Mark  

[mopar12372]

if you have apoints ignition you have to hook it up for points or it will not run very well . check initial timming

[Chryco Psycho]

check the pick up coil / gap in the dist , if it is not signalling the MSD it will not fire

[Strawdawg]

I would suspect the MSD box, myself.  Sounds typical to me

[Cooter]

Or......If your simply looking for reliability and stock looks, swap out that old, out dated, junk, too many moving parts, points dist. for a newer Electronic dist. and take the problem out of your way....I've had MSD ignition on my Dart for over 14 years and never had a box go bad....Usually, more than likely, there is something else wrong and MSD was installed trying to cover up that problem....

[Chryco Psycho]

Are you using points still ?
 you listed pick up os I assumed you at least have an electronic dist in the engine .
the MSd could be a problem as well , I have had many of them fail

[72 cuda]

Points, My father gave me a list of possible problems not knowing the type of ignition.
so, it cranked up cold,(barely).
but would not run well enough to drive 3 feet.
do you think I should look into a electronic ignition?
Mark

[Cooter]

Start with the electronic even IF it doesn't fix the problem...Hell, at least you'll be lightyears ahead of that old points set up....It COULD be the MSD, but I'd look into swapping distributors first as you need to do that anyway and it's cheaper than a new MSD kit....

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree get an electronic dist in there

[mopar12372]

if you have the wrong trigger wire hooked up to the points distributer the car will not run right