My 69 Camaro was running a MSD 6AL. Had not driven it in a while and needed to move it to storage to make way for stripping parts off a victim for my Pro Street Chevelle. I took for a quick trip to get some gas and after filling up the car went about 500 feet and then lost spark. Following the TS guide from MSD I figured out the 6AL was bad. Had a buddy who had a spare(new) so I borrowed it and the car was fixed. Feeling the need for a drive 2 weeks later I went and got the camaro out of storage and the exact same thing happened. Fortuneately the local Schucks had MSD 6A in stock and once again the car is fixed. I am sending both units(out of warranty) back to MSD to see if they can figure out anything. The only thing I can figure is there might be some wiring issue in my car but using my fluke I was not able to find a short or anyhting suspicious. Anyone had something similar happen and know what caused it? It kinda has me leary since I have the same setup on my Chevelle and don't like the idea of being stranded with no way to wire around it since both cars also run MSD distributors. Thanks in advance for any replies.(It figures it would happen right after selling my HEI setup to a buddy http://www.chevelles.com/forum/mad.gif )

------------------
Jeff Angerstein
ACES#841 TCG#158
68 SS396(454)
68 Pro Street
69 SSRS 396(427) 4spd
87 MC SS

My Chevs (http://www.tcg158.homestead.com)
My Favorite (http://tcg158.homestead.com/files/drvr.jpg)
If you don't have time to do it right, make sure you have time to do it over!

[This message has been edited by ACE841 (edited 01-03-2001).]

I know that if they are not grounded very well, they won't like it. Make sure the ground connections are big enough, clean and tight.

Jim R

------------------
My 70 Chevelle (http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/jim/)

had a friend with same problem....everything had been fine untill he went to move his car in the garage(just went 11.40's at the track the week before)...no start.....checked everything...it was a hi6 crane...put a new msd box on....nothing....new coil....nothing...new pickup.....the same.......when it was all said and done......one little ground wire caused all that time and money.....so don't forget the GROUND......

Good suggestions for you Jeff. In addition, you mention in your post that "both cars run MSD distributors" and I'm wondering if the Camaro's uses a magnetic pick-up. I ask this because my brand new MSD system (6AL, coil and distributor) died on me only after 4 months of use. This was 3 years ago. I trouble shooted the MSD box till I was blue in the face and their techs stated that it had to be the magnetic pickup. Sure enough, it was the culprit and it's been fine ever since. Not sure if it's your problem as well but might be worth checking into. Hope this helps.

------------------
502 Rat Infested 1970 Malibu - Gold Member #39
Keep America Beautiful - Drive A Brute Force Chevelle!
http://pages.about.com/wescolby/personal.html

I will confirm Wes's post with a similar issue. I had a problem with the My 68 Z/28 that runs a MSD 6AL, MSD Coil, and a Mallory Distributor w/Unilite ignition module. On my way to Super Chevy 2 seasons ago, the car crapped out as I moving through the gears but without my foot all the way into it. Dead...nothing...nada. Towed it back to my buddies garage. I assumed it was the MSD iginition also. Went onto Super Chevy and bought MSD and re-installed. Fired right up and ran for about 1-2 minutes and died. Checked all the wires and changed the rev limiter also & checked my kill switch to make sure nothing was wrong with this.
Decided to try and start again and it fired right up and ran agan for maybe a minute or less and then...dead...nothing...nada. Only this time it was dead complete and would not start even after letting it sit & cool down. Tried a new coil...nothing.

Followed instructions in assembly manual and determined nothing was wrong with new MSD. Opened the distributor cap and detemined that the only thing left was the Unilite ignition module. Bought a new one and installed and it fired right up and has run good ever since. My suspicion was that as the engine heated up, what ever made the contact separated and then lost spark. This happened a couple of times until the separation was too great even after cooled down. Now I keep one of those $70.00 modules in my glove box...just in case. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Not sure if this has anything to do with your problem but thought I would relate ...just in case

Mytmouse

------------------
67 SS396 350HP 4 sp 3:55 Posi Butternut Yellow w/Black Vinyl (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Mytmouse/mytmouse.html)
68 RS Z/28 302 350+Hp? 4sp 4:10 Posi, Euro Red on Black (http://www.pascale.org/Muscle_Cars/Myts_Mouse/myts_mouse.html)
70 SS396 350HP 4 sp 3:55 Posi, Black on Black
Mytmouse A.K.A. Robert Stacho

A freind of mine bought the dist, coil, and 6AL box. Same this happened, one day it was dead (still under warranty). MSD sent a new one and told him to run an additional ground strap from the 6AL box to a good ground. It seemed to have worked. Honestly, after seeing so many previous posts about this box going bad I decided not to get one.