They pickups are a wear item. Some live a long time and others not so long. I would throw a new pickup on it and see if the problem is solved. Worst case you will have a spare pickup.

 

This. Happened to me. New pickup, everything ran fine.

 

Crank trigger is just a magnetic pick-up, I would be looking at the box or coil.

 

The pick ups do go bad. I had to replace mine after it was real old. The car did not start at all. I would replace the pick up first. They are not real expensive. Also check the inside of the distributer cap. Check for worn rotor or cap, carbon trail.

 

The pick ups do go bad. I had to replace mine after it was real old. The car did not start at all. I would replace the pick up first. They are not real expensive. Also check the inside of the distributor cap. Check for worn rotor or cap, carbon trail.

X2
And agree on carrying a spare ign box, coil, and pick-up.

 

Ok thanks I'm going to pick one up - Part # 8276

 

Borrow another 6A box too.

 

Have you tried the MSD trouble shooting procedure? It is on their site and ion their ignition box instructions.It will tell you if the box, coil or pick up are failed.

 

Troubleshooting Techniques

Troubleshooting typical symptoms that arise during installation.

www.holley.com

 

You need to be sure the distributor is clocked correctly so the rotor blade is aligned with the plug wire terminals so the spark can't jump to the wrong cylinder. Do the routine with a hole drilled in the cap near a plug wire terminal and a timing light on that wire. Rotate the distributor to align the rotor with the terminal.

 

I tested this a a couple of years ago with MSD ,and found they should be no farther the .050, we run them at .030
ohm test you pickup ,should be 65 to 85,if its 86 or 64 its junk.

 

I put a new pick up in the car and it had the same problem.
I bought a New MSD 6al-2 with the 2 step built in. #6425
It fired right up - problem solved

The only complaint about the new MSD - they eliminated the chips. now it has some really small dials that you adjust with a screwdriver. My MSD is mounted under the dash on the passenger side. I can get to the dial but really can't see them well enough. I left some slack in the wires so I can remove to adjust it. MSD makes a 6AL, but you have to buy the 2 step separately. The two step has a bigger dial on the front.

 

See post #6. And once you have a known good spare 6A box, never, ever sell it! I keep two around, even though my car uses coil packs, just to help friends out that have the issues you did.

 

Glad to hear you have it fixed !!

 

Yea, sometimes you just have to start replacing electrical parts until you find the problem child. Glad you found it