RANT: HEI/ MSD Streetfire vs Skipwhite...

[hillytim69]

just in case anyone is interested they are the same identical Chinese made unit. the MSD just has a different coil, drive gear and a MSD sticker on it. I bought one from Skipwhite on Ebay for $43 plus shipping and felt bad about my decision to run a china distributor so i up and ordered me a MSD Streetfire for $143 plus shipping and was gonna send Skipwhite the china one back. Then I compared them and they are the same, same casting marks, letters, chinese words on the wiring, same module etc. Can't get anything good quality anymore. All the big names are selling China crap with a huge markup. My B&M shifter is China made, Edelbrock aluminum valve covers, now this MSD. Its just disappointing, this is my first real project in about 15 years and i didn't realize the Chinese had taken over performance parts. I'm willing to bet my Skipwhite mini starter is also the same unit sold for 3 times as much by some name brand manufacturer. At least when you buy the Skipwhite one you know what you are getting, when you buy trusted brand names and get chinese knockoffs for brandname price, that is BS my friends.

[78 Big10 454]

The U.S. has sold its soul to the Devil...

[dieselarmy13]

Bummer

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by hillytim69

All the big names are selling China crap with a huge markup. My B&M shifter is China made, Edelbrock aluminum valve covers, now this MSD. Its just disappointing.

If they are genuine Edelbrock and not some "knock-off" then they are made in USA....California, to be exact.

[hillytim69]

Ok I thought I recalled seeing made in China on the Edelbrock box but its been a long while so could be wrong. But the B&M and MSD are both chinese for sure. Well the MSD is going back and I'll run the Skipwhite unit. I've been looking at other brands basic hei's and I 'm willing to bet they all use the same Chinese housing with some of their own parts like cap or coil added. Its hot rodding meets the Walmart age. The Skipwhite hei units are $42.50 plus shipping right now...

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

If they are genuine Edelbrock and not some "knock-off" then they are made in USA....California, to be exact.

Their valve covers have been made in china & taiwan a long time. Cyilinder heads, intakes, carbs are made in the USA. MSD street fire is a cheaper line.
their pro billit stuff is USA made

[83burban]

Even though the t0p-line stuff is still made in USA its still BS to make the "bargain" products in China, since all they are doing is marking prices up and making it appear that it is quality.

Does anyone know if MSD makes their ignition boxes in China...mainly the "bargain" 6 series?

[clinebarger]

All my old 6 series boxes are usa but their aleast 10 years old. I dont agree with these companies going off shore but they ALL do it. They all have the Wallmart syndrome

[old Rusty C10]

Im going to just add lets not make this the least bit political as the mods are watching!!

[Rob73-87]

That disappoints me too - the whole world produces their stuff in china and taiwan !!
Just read the summit catalogue "carefully" - then might see a lot of interesting parts - cheap or expensive - they are of THE SAME manufacturer...
...not always ... but more often

I prefer to m ix those parts:

Important things are purchased from name brands (carbs, rims, tyres, a.s.o.) and less important stuff (valve covers, pulleys...) "has to be " cheaper....

what cha think?

[Pyrotechnic]

MSD really makes some great products and is a good company, but they are really soiling their name with the Streetfire distributors.

http://www.msdignition.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12857

That's a good read where they told me that the Streetfire is not for performance use. Sure isn't marketed as a stock replacement distributor though.

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

Im going to just add lets not make this the least bit political as the mods are watching!!

maybe a political forum here whould be good.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Found this thread after I tuned up my engine today. Was going to ditch my china procomp distributor today since I can't get a stable fire at 3000rpm and above anymore. Sad to see msd even knows their distributor sucks.

Anyone know a good alternate that can be tuned for a performance engine with a healthy cam?
Posted via Mobile Device

[meatwagon83]

davis unified ignitions, good stuff

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Found this thread after I tuned up my engine today. Was going to ditch my china procomp distributor today since I can't get a stable fire at 3000rpm and above anymore. Sad to see msd even knows their distributor sucks.

Anyone know a good alternate that can be tuned for a performance engine with a healthy cam?
Posted via Mobile Device

http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/

[KQQL IT]

What about these?

http://www.performancedistributors.com/
Posted via Mobile Device

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by Redcap

http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/

As cool as a small hei is thi big cap of an hei has an advantage in the fact that it has more space to dissipate ionized air
Posted via Mobile Device

[meatwagon83]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

What about these?

http://www.performancedistributors.com/
Posted via Mobile Device

these are the distributors i was talking about, probably the best hei out there

[S10Fan]

Just a thought...... If any of you guys have a local type speedway close by, circle track paved or dirt, you're in luck. Talk to some of the folks that race there, preferably in the top division, find out who does their distributor work. A stock HEI or old style point case distributor can be tuned into a monster if it's in competent hands.

[bk2life]

good info here. im just about to pull the trigger on a new distributor, and need the info..

[Scotty-D]

The Davis unified stuff is top notch quality.

That being said, dont overlook the MSD pro billet or the Mallory 75 series HEI. Both are quality American made parts, and both have all the bells and whistles on them.

[rfmaster]

Originally Posted by 78 Big10 454

The U.S. has sold its soul to the Devil...

Yes and No - only the frequent wallmart shoppers did. I try to make conscious decisions regarding what I purchase, but this has become increasingly more difficult. The SW starter is a china made and surprisingly has performed very well.

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Anyone know a good alternate that can be tuned for a performance engine with a healthy cam?
Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

As cool as a small hei is thi big cap of an hei has an advantage in the fact that it has more space to dissipate ionized air
Posted via Mobile Device

The MSD Pro-Billet HEI is about your only choice then. It has an advance mechanism based on the old GM points distributors, which is an excellent design that is completely tunable. The MSD Pro-Billet stuff is quality and worth every bit of the price, you won't regret the purchase.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8365

Now before you keel over at the price, keep in mind that you are getting your big cap, plus an upgraded module and coil all in one shot. No china trash here.

The reason that any HEI sucks, be it original GM or Skip White is that the advance mechanism design is terrible and doesn't lend it self to easy adjustment. Not sure why they didn't keep the great advance mechanism from the points distributor.

Circle track guys run the HEI because they are cheap. All they do is install a lock out plate on the advance mechanism and run the timing fixed since a race car doesn't need the timing to vary. No magic to it.

[Firebirdjones]

I'm somewhat of a mixed bag.

I prefer the MSD Billet distributors and their digital 6 boxes. Run it on a couple cars. Never a hickup. For serious performance oriented stuff this is all I consider.

Not a big fan of the bulky HEI mainly because of it's size, even though it can be made into a decent performer, I only use the OEM version on one vehicle here, nothing aftermarket.

On some other cars here I prefer to stick with the OEM points distributors. Once rebuilt properly they perform fine, trouble free for years. Again, nothing aftermarket.

[Pyrotechnic]

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

I'm somewhat of a mixed bag.

I prefer the MSD Billet distributors and their digital 6 boxes. Run it on a couple cars. Never a hickup. For serious performance oriented stuff this is all I consider.

Not a big fan of the bulky HEI mainly because of it's size, even though it can be made into a decent performer, I only use the OEM version on one vehicle here, nothing aftermarket.

On some other cars here I prefer to stick with the OEM points distributors. Once rebuilt properly they perform fine, trouble free for years. Again, nothing aftermarket.

Agree with you 100% here. For the high performance stuff I like an MSD Pro-Billet small cap with a separate ignition box and coil.

The points distributors are great units though if you are on a budget and need a good distributor. Use the points to trigger to an MSD 6 box and it gets even better! Most people think points are terrible and are quick to ditch them.