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I mounted my MSD box yesterday, I plan on pure stock racing this car and this is my first time running a box. I usually run the MSD ready to run if i vary from stock but a deal on this dist and a new box came up so i went this route. This car is in no way gonna be a race car being that its originally an L71 but i do plan on racing it in pure stock and street driving it until i am able to build another car and frame off this one. No drill just some industrial velcro. Wires are run through existing holes in the battery box and will be run with the positive battery cable. making/installing the grommets was less than fun....
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I mounted my MSD box yesterday, I plan on pure stock racing this car and this is my first time running a box. I usually run the MSD ready to run if i vary from stock but a deal on this dist and a new box came up so i went this route. This car is in no way gonna be a race car being that its originally an L71 but i do plan on racing it in pure stock and street driving it until i am able to build another car and frame off this one. No drill just some industrial velcro. Wires are run through existing holes in the battery box and will be run with the positive battery cable. making/installing the grommets was less than fun....
Don't know what Pure Stock racing you're thinking of and I don't know anything about it but the term "Pure Stock" and MSD Ignition doesn't seem like it would be allowed. Came up with Pure Stock drag racing and checked their rules. Here is the quote and link to it.
The ignition system must be stock, including the distributor, cap, coil, and wires. Points may be replaced with any electronic conversion that fits under the stock distributor cap. Replacement coils are allowed as long as they are the correct shape, color, and size. Coils must be mounted in the correct location with correct brackets for the make, year, and engine combination. We will no longer allow the use of aftermarket ignition boxes like MSD, Crane, Jacobs, etc. We made this decision based on participants using these ignition boxes for traction and total timing manipulation while making runs. You will be allowed to use a rev limiter, but the unit must be only a rev limiter and nothing else. Spark plug wires must be of correct appearance in size and color for the vehicle
The ignition system must be stock, including the distributor, cap, coil, and wires. Points may be replaced with any electronic conversion that fits under the stock distributor cap. Replacement coils are allowed as long as they are the correct shape, color, and size. Coils must be mounted in the correct location with correct brackets for the make, year, and engine combination. We will no longer allow the use of aftermarket ignition boxes like MSD, Crane, Jacobs, etc. We made this decision based on participants using these ignition boxes for traction and total timing manipulation while making runs. You will be allowed to use a rev limiter, but the unit must be only a rev limiter and nothing else. Spark plug wires must be of correct appearance in size and color for the vehicle
They've said alot in the last few years about some stuff, ive run a few different cars up there and ill say that when i ran in 2024 alot of the rules were blatantly disobeyed, Saw some cars with accell plug wires, others with roller valve trains, hell i was parked next to a 65 galaxie that had a chrome Holley and a Blue K&N air filter. I think its more about car count and participation these days, just my opinion. i assure anyone who was running a box likely isn't going to take it out and swap back to pertronix or crane due to a multitude of issues that we have all had with them. All of the obvious stuff must still be in place, (exhaust manifolds, exh syems etc). If they do say anything about it this year ill just run the car in FAST and be done.
CD Box will likely live longer, when it has some air moving around it.
called msd on this and although the normally do recommend that its has some airflow over it they didn't seem concerned on the mounting being that they a rigorously tested in extremely hot environments. Time will tell, thanks for the input.
Should be no issue with the box mounted there. Virtually anywhere is better than the engine bay. I usually mount mine under the dash on most cars, and zero failures.
Should be no issue with the box mounted there. Virtually anywhere is better than the engine bay. I usually mount mine under the dash on most cars, and zero failures.
I've had mixed opinions on it, I'm going to try it out and hope it works because it was about 3 hours of messing around to make it look nice. I've never liked how the boxes look in engine bays and i really dislike crappy wiring. Thanks for your input anything helps.
Mount the box inside the vehicle....NASCAR style! Keeps it out of the harsh Envior.
Back when NASCAR ran CD boxes (long gone, now both Ignition + EFI per McLaren), cars had an A-B selector switch, Dual Boxes (A-B), Dual Coils, an automatic coil selector (MSD), single dist w/ twin pickups. NASCAR mandated how-where to mount CD boxes And their shared plate. All that redundancy because CD box reliability wasn't the greatest (& still ain't).
Back when NASCAR ran CD boxes (long gone, now both Ignition + EFI per McLaren), cars had an A-B selector switch, Dual Boxes (A-B), Dual Coils, an automatic coil selector (MSD), single dist w/ twin pickups. NASCAR mandated how-where to mount CD boxes And their shared plate. All that redundancy because CD box reliability wasn't the greatest (& still ain't).
Yes, I remember from the "in car" camera shots. I agree about the redundancy, maybe it's time to go back to a magneto. Airplanes still use them but they have to be redundant, which is understandable.
I like where you mounted your box, but did MSD say anything about mounting the box so far away from the coil and distributor?
I was thinking about mounting my MSD 6 AL box where the charcoal canister and windshield washer reservoir used to be and was planning to call them about wire run lengths even that far from the coil and distributor.
I like where you mounted your box, but did MSD say anything about mounting the box so far away from the coil and distributor?
I was thinking about mounting my MSD 6 AL box where the charcoal canister and windshield washer reservoir used to be and was planning to call them about wire run lengths even that far from the coil and distributor.
That is a great question, they didn't express concern about it when i called but i also didn't ask that question directly. i may move it if i run into issues, however i think i am going to try it at this time to see how it works. I got a very firm phone call from a member on the yenko site yesterday that stated where i put it was never going to work and i was going to burn it up(among other things). Others on this forum has stated it will be fine, even preferred. I am an industrial engineer by trade (although it doesn't pertain to this per say) and was a field service mechanic for caterpillar before my current venture and ill say this. When i was working on equipment prior to finishing school, the wire runs from tcms and body control modules, engine control modules were very far (20'+) and worked without issue. hopefully that's some help. By no means am i saying that my way is correct but im gonna give it a try because the function of the box shouldn't be effected, its all solid state components anyways so i would think it would be okay?? im open to any and all input.
For just an FYI.
I just called and talked with an MSD representative on their customer service line.
They said not too install the MSD box inside the battery box because it does not have any air circulating through the box to keep the box cool.
They said the box needs air flowing around it to keep it from overheating.
Mounting the box in the engine compartment is ok as long as it isn’t near a direct heat source.
I asked them how far away from the coil and distributor the box could be mounted and they said the included 6 foot long harness is about the maximum distance they recommend.
They said in extreme situations the wiring could be extended a maximum 1-2 feet, but it’s not recommended.
If the wiring does need to be extended to make sure up upgrade to a larger gauge wire.
For just an FYI.
I just called and talked with an MSD representative on their customer service line.
They said not too install the MSD box inside the battery box because it does not have any air circulating through the box to keep the box cool.
They said the box needs air flowing around it to keep it from overheating.
Mounting the box in the engine compartment is ok as long as it isn’t near a direct heat source.
I asked them how far away from the coil and distributor the box could be mounted and they said the included 6 foot long harness is about the maximum distance they recommend.
They said in extreme situations the wiring could be extended a maximum 1-2 feet, but it’s not recommended.
If the wiring does need to be extended to make sure up upgrade to a larger gauge wire.
MSD box mounting
