Installing An MSD Ignition System In Our ’56 Fairlane
Story: T-Bone, Photos/Video: Billy Colombini, Blacktop Media Network
Don’t you just love it when your car is running at its peak performance? For the past several weeks, though, the old 390 has been running a bit rough.
It got real bad when I took her to show at the Irwindale Speedway on opening night of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. My Mercifuls buddies met up with Rebecca from Whitewalls and Hot Rods shop. We parked among some other really nice hot rods, customs and classics between the grandstand and the pits.
Then we staged on the other side of the track come down to the start/finish line and park during the driver autograph session before the race. In the “hurry-up-and-wait” program to get on the track made the girl run a bit hot and rough. Thankfully, she started up each time, however it appears I fouled a plug and we limped 36 miles home in the Saturday sunset in So Cal freeway traffic.
The boys hung it out with me as they flanked me on the ride home. I knew there was going to be some wrenching in my future. I was anxious to spend some time in the garage. I’ve missed working in the garage with my boy and buddies.
Cylinder number 8’s plug was caked in carbon and most likely wasn’t sparking regularly, if at all. Fortunately, I knew this was going to happen soon enough. The coil wire was really soft with a hole nearly blown through. I am sure there was some arching. With a bit of research I found an MSD Performance Ignition was in order. I ordered-up a set of Super Conductor 8.5mm Plug Wires, a Blaster 2 Coil, Digital 6AL Control Module and Pro-Billet Distributor. All of this is connected to a set of E3 spark plugs with “Diamond-Fire Technology” and wrapped in Heatshield Products’ Lava-Shield spark plug boots.
For this task I invited Gordon McIlonie, President of the Mercifuls So Cal Car Club to help out. He rolled down after work one day and dove right under the hood. Here’s a guy, who is supposed to be semi-retired, worked a full day at the Catalina Express docks, shuffled through traffic for nearly an hour, and first thing dug his nose right into the engine compartment. I had it all prepped and ready to go.
We took off the cap and the rotor was sitting in the number 1 position. Cool. In a matter of seconds, he yanked the distributor out like a fresh new-born calf dripping with 30 weight. He lubed up the new distributor gear, installed the o-ring, and slid that billet shaft deep in the block without hesitation.
I started dis-assembling the old coil and controller. They appeared archaic compared to the new parts. This is the same ignition the car has had since I bought it in 2004.
My car is a runner. I try to keep the engine compartment clean, but this ’56 Fairlane is a driver. One look at the grime and grease in the engine compartment shows how rough I take this beast. This will be a good time to clean it up, I am thinking to myself, but this project went real fast. Under two hours and we had it all installed and wired up.
Gordon enjoyed a cup of coffee as Billy and I worked the spark plug wires.
I couldn’t wait to spin the key and hear how it sounds.
Incredible. She fired right up. It’s as if the new Optima Red Top Battery in the trunk was wired right up to the ignition. She roared to life without a gasp or chug. Smooth as can be. We let it idle a bit, and Gordon adjusted the timing by feel.
Gordon said: “Clean up the wires and bring it to Glory Days on Sunday and we can fine tune it after you have driven it a bit.”
I spent an hour cleaning up the wires, heat shrinking the connectors, and zip tying the loose ends. I didn’t want to cut any of the wires coming from the control module, because I plan to cleanup the engine compartment and may relocate things a bit.
Days later and I am still floored by how smooth she is running. Man, I really appreciate being part of the club. It’s a great brotherhood and the guys are all eager to help you out.