MSD - CDI box rusting points which then break
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2023 12:36 am
I have a 1971 Porsche 911T - 2.2litre.
It is originally a USA car which was imported into the UK in 1993.
The car is running Zenith carburettors. The USA emissions kit has been removed from the carbs.
The car has an MSD - CDI box with Blaster coil.
I purchased the car in August 2022 , after it had been fully dismantled , media blasted , rust removed, re-pained and rebuilt.
I have spent the winter sorting lots of small rebuild issues you would expect following such a deep restoration.
The car is now in good order and now runs well ....BUT .....it has burnt out 2 sets of points in the last 3 months....leaving me stranded beside the road.
With the MSD ignition system, I understand that ozone is created within the distributor cap due to the high voltage and multi spark scenario....and the air is electrified due to the high voltage, I understand from research.
This together with the heat, causes condensation, which when combined with the ozone causes rapid rusting and deterioration of metal...hence the broken points.
MSD suggest a fix, which is to drill 2 holes in the distributor cap to dissipate the ozone and electrified air.
However, with the rain in the UK, that causes wet weather running issues, such as misfires and can stop the engine working at its worst.
The car originally had 2 holes in the distributor cap, and I replaced it with a new cap to solve the rain issues....seems I have now re-created the ozone rusting / points breaking issues.
Does anyone have any similar experiences?
Does anyone know of a fix for these issues?
Any suggestions for the ignition system would be appreciated.
I have been advised to scrap the MSD system and move over to a Permatune system.
Does anyone have any experience with a Permatune system?
I would look forward to hearing from you with ideas or assistance
Many thanks
Rob911T
It is originally a USA car which was imported into the UK in 1993.
The car is running Zenith carburettors. The USA emissions kit has been removed from the carbs.
The car has an MSD - CDI box with Blaster coil.
I purchased the car in August 2022 , after it had been fully dismantled , media blasted , rust removed, re-pained and rebuilt.
I have spent the winter sorting lots of small rebuild issues you would expect following such a deep restoration.
The car is now in good order and now runs well ....BUT .....it has burnt out 2 sets of points in the last 3 months....leaving me stranded beside the road.
With the MSD ignition system, I understand that ozone is created within the distributor cap due to the high voltage and multi spark scenario....and the air is electrified due to the high voltage, I understand from research.
This together with the heat, causes condensation, which when combined with the ozone causes rapid rusting and deterioration of metal...hence the broken points.
MSD suggest a fix, which is to drill 2 holes in the distributor cap to dissipate the ozone and electrified air.
However, with the rain in the UK, that causes wet weather running issues, such as misfires and can stop the engine working at its worst.
The car originally had 2 holes in the distributor cap, and I replaced it with a new cap to solve the rain issues....seems I have now re-created the ozone rusting / points breaking issues.
Does anyone have any similar experiences?
Does anyone know of a fix for these issues?
Any suggestions for the ignition system would be appreciated.
I have been advised to scrap the MSD system and move over to a Permatune system.
Does anyone have any experience with a Permatune system?
I would look forward to hearing from you with ideas or assistance
Many thanks
Rob911T