MSD Questions
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Waukesha WI
MSD Questions
Here is the problem from my other post "The wires that connect to my coil, (small ones, not the top wire) are looking really weak, and insulation looks like it is falling off. I can only trace the wires back to the firewall. Can someone tell me how to replace this and how much of a beeeatch it is?"
If I upgraded to a MSD would this eliminate those wires. I dont really know how a MSD setup works, could someone give me the basics?
If I upgraded to a MSD would this eliminate those wires. I dont really know how a MSD setup works, could someone give me the basics?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Re: MSD Questions (DollaGreen)
One coil wire comes from the Ignition switch and the other goes down to the starter area to pick up a ground. You could probally change them out without much problem but the way I see it is you'll have to either take the steering column apart to get to the ignition swithc or pick up the wire under the dash somewhere :eek: :eek: Not something I would want to do.
As far as the MSD system is concerned. The coil wires come from the ignition box to fire the coil and all you do is supply battery power/ground plus a switched 12 volt ignition supply to the box for hookup and the wire coming from the points in your distributor......very simple. I went with the MSD 6AL ignition box and a MSD Pro Billet Tach Drive Distributor. This is a great combo IMO and I have had no problems with them at all. I suggest you do this. Jegs or Summit have the best prices on these units. Hop this helps.
John
As far as the MSD system is concerned. The coil wires come from the ignition box to fire the coil and all you do is supply battery power/ground plus a switched 12 volt ignition supply to the box for hookup and the wire coming from the points in your distributor......very simple. I went with the MSD 6AL ignition box and a MSD Pro Billet Tach Drive Distributor. This is a great combo IMO and I have had no problems with them at all. I suggest you do this. Jegs or Summit have the best prices on these units. Hop this helps.
John
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Greenfield OH
Re: MSD Questions (DollaGreen)
I wish to echo what theandies said. It is a user friendly system. I have the MSD6A, Blaster II coil, and Pro-Billet Tach drive w/vac advance, and 8.8 wires. It gives my 454 everything it needs.
Weasle :cool:
Weasle :cool:
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
From: Waukesha WI
Re: MSD Questions (WeasleVette454)
My other thread concening this basically tells me that replacing the small wires that go to the coil is a major pain. They are resistor wires.
So I could use the MSD and bypass them. Am I understaing you guys correctly. Also, what do you use for the switched source? Can I use my Lars redone stock dist?
This seems to be the way to go, I need more tech info.
Thanks for the responses!
[Modified by DollaGreen, 10:49 AM 6/16/2002]
So I could use the MSD and bypass them. Am I understaing you guys correctly. Also, what do you use for the switched source? Can I use my Lars redone stock dist?
This seems to be the way to go, I need more tech info.
Thanks for the responses!
[Modified by DollaGreen, 10:49 AM 6/16/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, IN USA
Re: MSD Questions (DollaGreen)
Yes you can use your dist. As for switched source I used the stock connetion under the dash. I justed hooked up the MSD wire to the connection I unhooked while taking out the old ignition.
The MSD is a great improvement over stock.
The MSD is a great improvement over stock.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria VA
Re: MSD Questions (DollaGreen)
I am 95% finished with an MSD upgrade. Yes you can use the MSD 6A/Coil with your existing Distributor, but I also upgraded the distributor to the MSD Pro-Billet Corvette Tach with mechanical tach and vac advance. Its a sweet setup.
Its a pretty straight forward process if your comfy working on your car. This is my first project under the hood so I've been a little slow at getting it done.
Its a pretty straight forward process if your comfy working on your car. This is my first project under the hood so I've been a little slow at getting it done.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: MSD Questions (DollaGreen)
Look at the other post. No using an MSD will not replace those wires. The one with asbestos insulation comes from the ignition switch and is a PITA to replace. I would just run some shrink tubeing over it and use it. The other is from the distributor.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria VA
Re: MSD Questions (bigvette1)
I dont know what differs from 73-74 or across engine types, but my coil has 3 wires connected to the (+) side. You can see in this picture...
The one coming out of the bottom of the picture goes down to a little round battery looking thingy, maybe its a resistor of some kind, who knows? The other two coming out of the positive side are actually connected to the same wire connector that is then connected to the positive terminal.
Is this similar to how yours is setup?
The one coming out of the bottom of the picture goes down to a little round battery looking thingy, maybe its a resistor of some kind, who knows? The other two coming out of the positive side are actually connected to the same wire connector that is then connected to the positive terminal.
Is this similar to how yours is setup?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: MSD Questions (pingdashf)
The little round thing on the (-) side is a capacitor to reduce arcing. Is this MSD box a new install or did someone else put it in?
Do you still have a point distributor?
There has to be a wire running from the distributor to the coil on the (-) side on a stock setup.
Do you have one or has it already been run to the MSD box?
Let me know how this thing is wired with the MSD box, coil and distributor.
Do you still have a point distributor?
There has to be a wire running from the distributor to the coil on the (-) side on a stock setup.
Do you have one or has it already been run to the MSD box?
Let me know how this thing is wired with the MSD box, coil and distributor.