Thread: Fake MSD Units

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Just saw a report that details how to identify counterfeit MSD 6AL units that have been found in the market. Apparently MSD received two units for warranty work, and when they looked they were obvious fakes, but only obvious inside the case at first glance. Here's a link to a report filed by MSD showing how to know if your unit is the real deal or not - Counterfeit MSD 6AL Ignitions | Product Alert

Thanks for the heads up!

they been at this for some time one company was taken to court by MSD about five years ago ? or longer ? there is knock off ARP fasteners as well .over 15 years ago i know of one fastener company that had fastener.s with no real grade or traceability i think you can still look up the court cases

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

they been at this for some time one company was taken to court by MSD about five years ago ? there is knock off ARP festeners as well

Pat, I'm sure that there have been earlier problems, but this is pretty recent, within the past nine months and the quality of the counterfeit units from a visual perspective is the problem. There are a couple external things you can look for (Torx head screws vs phillips, and relative position of the tach output and the mag pickup), but the average guy isn't going to be looking for those things unless he's forewarned. Just trying to give some protection out there for anyone who may have bought a unit recently, or who may be shopping.

Originally Posted by rspears

Pat, I'm sure that there have been earlier problems, but this is pretty recent, within the past nine months and the quality of the counterfeit units from a visual perspective is the problem. There are a couple external things you can look for (Torx head screws vs phillips, and relative position of the tach output and the mag pickup), but the average guy isn't going to be looking for those things unless he's forewarned. Just trying to give some protection out there for anyone who may have bought a unit recently, or who may be shopping.

yes that good of you. many of the over seas shops are going to copy parts. for the bad guy there is no reason to stop .just add,s cost to the real deal part to take this up in court

Thanks for the link, Roger! One heck of a scam that some low life company has going on....

this months hot rod mag has a story on this as well ...

And MSD filed for Bankrupcy protection a few weeks ago....not due to the
fakes.

Originally Posted by robot

And MSD filed for Bankrupcy protection a few weeks ago....not due to the fakes.

Yep, they did file for a voluntary Chapter 11, but if you take time to read through all of the company press releases they are basically re-financing their business loans in a structured, controlled manner which can be accomplished quickest and with the least disruption to business under the protection of bankruptcy law. Seems very similar to a guy buying a house when the market's high and interest rates have peaked, then a few years later taking advantage of declining interest rates to reduce monthly payments while still keeping the house & all assets. Seems to be a good thing.

This is a growing problem with everything from cable to Rolex watches - the old "buyer beware" adage is more than ever applicable. The difficult thing is that these counterfeiters have refined the process to the point of being nearly impossible to detect unless you happen to be a subject matter expert. In my industry, the influx of counterfeit telecommunications product is overwhelming - especially with cable.

I have used MSD products and generally like them. Buying from first tier suppliers is another level of protection as most of the Chinese knock-offs tend to show up on e-bay and Craig's list. I helped a young man not long ago with a distributor problem - he had bought a no-name "billet" HEI unit on-line for $69 that at first glance looked pretty good. He couldn't get it to seat and it's just as well he didn't as it was absolute junk, collar was too large and the gear looked like it was made of some kind or pot metal. I happened to have a used "genuine GM". New cap and rotor and he was down the road. Of course, he couldn't return the junk and his Visa had long since been charged.

Gotta be on the lookout all the time!

PT Barnum said "man is the only animal that can be skinned more than once"