How is best way to tell if the ignition box took a dump or just the coil??
While running the other day, the port motor just shut down... seconds before it happened, all gauges showed to be good; good oil, fuel pressure, temps, etc.... motor just shut down.
trying to restart it just turns over and over with no spark or fire at all... doesnt even try to sputter or cough or start.... should I throw a coil at it first or should I assume with so many of the bad reviews out there that the box went out?
Thoughts? Thanks....

Swap coils from the running motor first but it's probably the box. I've had both fail within the past year.

Nothing quite like having bad box

MSD = My Sparks died

there is a test on MSD site(and instructions for a box to test it. betting box...MSD May Soon Die...

Many Suspicious Devices

Yes MSD has a diagnostics part in the manual....should be on the website if you dont have the manual. This is why I carry a known good HEI in my boat for an emergency spare.

so, I replaced the coil.... that didnt work, then I replaced the MSD box to a known good one and still no fire... now im stumped... I guess I should start looking at the distributor? coil wire? this is quickly getting above my knowledge grade

silly question but the kill switch for that engine didn't get pulled did it?? also I would check input power and ground into the box and make sure you didn't lose a power or ground source....then if that still doesn't work I would look at the module in the distributor....you have a known good one right next to it so you could always pull that one and swap it into the "bad" one and see if that does it...that way you're not buying useless parts

Stewart

This^^^^^^^^^^and as mentioned earlier there's a fairly simple troubleshooting table on MSD website.

^^^I agree^^^

Many Schit Daily

does it have the 50amp red reset button back by the dist ?? cant remember if it will crank if this is tripped ?? popped breaker fuse on the starter that sends power up top ?