Igntion Replacement Cap - Corvette Product Reviews

Author

Hib Halverson
Technical Writer for Internet & Print Media

Registered: January 2001
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5273

Review Date: Thu May 17, 2007

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 10

Positive aspects of the product (pros):	Quality workmanship
Cons:

Delco-Remy "Window" distributors for Corvette and other Chevrolet engines were produced from 1960 to 1974. Because tens of millions of them were made and several aftermarket distributors use some of Delco’s architecture; there remains a large, installed base of distributors using the same, 40-year-old cap and rotor design. As a result, some ignition parts suppliers continue to sell premium replacement parts and a few have even developed new and better parts.

The MSD alkyd cap for '60-'74 Delco 'Window-type' distributors.
This cap also fits aftermarket distributors that use a Delco cap.

With its MSD Ignition brand, Autotronic Controls Corp. markets high-performance caps and rotors for Delco’s Window distributors. In addition, if you want to change the cap ends of your plug wires from socket to HEI-type, MSD has a new, even better, cap design for pointless distributors originally equipped with a Window cap.

The MSD replacement cap (PN 8467) is made of brown alkyd plastic and duplicates the O.E. cap in fit and function. Unlike caps which use aluminum to cut costs, the MSD unit has brass socket connections and internal contacts for lower resistance and better durability. If your Delco distributor has points, this is the best replacement cap on the market.

The MSD alkyd cap should be used on Delco distributors
with points and can be used on electronic ignition distributors.

The MSD “Racing Rotor” (PN 8433) fits all GM and aftermarket distributors using a Window cap. It is made of Dupont Rynite. A few years ago, MSD pioneered the use of Rynite in ignition parts because it has a higher dielectric property, making it a better insulator, and it is more resistant to breakage. Not only is MDS’s rotor made of Rynite, but It has additional ribs on its top which further prevent arcing.

For about 15 years, I’ve used the MSD replacement cap on the Delco distributor in the Rochester fuel-injected, 400 cuin. Small-Block in one of my cars. Besides the FI, the engine has Crane hydraulic roller lifter cam and roller rockers, ported L82 cast-iron heads, MSD ignition amplifier and Hooker headers.

When MSD switched to Rynite several years ago, I began using the upgraded rotor on this engine. As the 400 uses a MSD 6T capacitive discharge system and Blaster coil, Rynite’s better insulation prevents arcs that could be caused by the system’s higher energy.

The MSD "Racing Rotor" for Window distributors and
aftermarket distributors that use a Delco rotor.
Rynite gives the cap its distinctive color along with better dielectric property.

The Racing Rotor fits distributors with points,
factory magnetic triggers (such as that in this FI distributor), along with Window distributors
that have been fitted with aftermarket electronic ignition triggers.

The MSD HEI Tower Window Cap fits Delco distributors that have magnetic
triggers or other electronic triggering system. This cap cannot be used
on point-type distributors because it lacks the point adjustment window.
HEI-type wire ends must be used and the cap kit comes with the wire
retainer shown here.

About a month before I did this review for the Corvette Action Center, it was again time to replace the rotor and cap. I installed a new, MSD rotor but, this time, upgraded to MSD’s “HEI Tower Window Cap” (PN 8437). This cap is for pointless distributors only as it lacks the window through which you adjust point gap. Use of this cap, also, requires changing the plug wire ends at the cap (MSD has a kit for this, PN8849) but that was worth the extra effort because of the Rynite cap’s increased dielectric qualities, improved durability and...its cool-looking, bright red color.

Want to know more about MSD replacement ignition parts? Contact the Autotronic Controls Corp., 1490 Henry Brennan Dr., El Paso TX 79936
Tel: 915 857 5200. Web: www.msdignition.com

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Hib Halverson

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