MSD Box conversion for 84 Vette
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 3
From: MD
MSD Box conversion for 84 Vette
So, my old distributor is pretty worn and with my new 383 going in soon I'm looking at options for ignition. What exactly do I need to buy to put an MSD 6AL box into my car? Is it worth it? I like the programmable rev limiter, which is the main reason I'm considering it. Can I program a rev limit into a 7747 ECM with an ostrich?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
Originally Posted by JLeatherman
So, my old distributor is pretty worn and with my new 383 going in soon I'm looking at options for ignition. What exactly do I need to buy to put an MSD 6AL box into my car? Is it worth it? I like the programmable rev limiter, which is the main reason I'm considering it. Can I program a rev limit into a 7747 ECM with an ostrich?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 714
From: Bartlett IL
Originally Posted by edcmat-l1
Your rev limiter in your 747 is a fuel cut off. The MSD is an ignition interupt. Yes, you can change the fuel cutoff in the ECM. Not sure about the ostrich, I use an autoprom. I would think the ostrich is similar. There is a thread on here about MSDs and the benefits of them. Probably on page 2 now. Quite a debate. My personal (professional) experience is that they work. That is, they do what they say they do. The mutiple spark discharge helps lopey cams idle, engines seem to run a little smoother, and they MAKE POWER (even in mild combos). I'm sure others will chime in and tell me (you) I'm full of hoowey. The programmable rev limiter is nice, but probably the least benificial feature.
I use the Ostrich and it works great for modifying calibrations "on the fly". It is not an emulator. As for the other strengths of the MSD unit,
I agree with edcmat said.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
Originally Posted by Dominic Sorresso
Just a point of clarification. The 7747 doesn't have any kind of cutoff. It was a truck ECM and there was no need for one. EBL is custom code using a modded 7747 or other similar ECM. The code has a Fuel cutoff based on RPM or MPH.
I use the Ostrich and it works great for modifying calibrations "on the fly". It is not an emulator. As for the other strengths of the MSD unit,
I agree with edcmat said.
I use the Ostrich and it works great for modifying calibrations "on the fly". It is not an emulator. As for the other strengths of the MSD unit,
I agree with edcmat said.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by JLeatherman
So, my old distributor is pretty worn and with my new 383 going in soon I'm looking at options for ignition. What exactly do I need to buy to put an MSD 6AL box into my car?
Originally Posted by edcmat-l1
My personal (professional) experience is that they work. That is, they do what they say they do.
RACE ON!!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 714
From: Bartlett IL
Originally Posted by JLeatherman
How do you program the EBL? Do you use the ostrich to change the table individually? I guess I'm still a little unsure of exactly what EBL does and how you use it.
for TunerPro. You make the changes in the calibration and either burn a new chip or download to the Moates Ostrich. Ostrich emulates a chip.
The benefits of EBL are 1. a more comprehensive code for running modded motors, 2. greater VE and SA table resolution than the 7747 code, and ALDL datastream that puts out 17frames/sec instead of the 1 frames/1.5 sec like the 7747, 3. A Learn capability that can be used to modify VE tables based on either BLM or WB input. If you are already wired for a 7747 or 8746, EBL plugs right into the ECM harness connectors. The 84 Corvette used an ECM with "edge connectors". You can get a "HAM" adapter on www.crossfire.webhop.net to do the conversion for the pin connectors. Bottom line is if you are going to run a modded TBI based motor, this is the ECM to do it with.
Third Gen has a whole thread devoted to tuning with EBL in the DIY Prom Forum.
Here's a screenshot of the Whats Up Display. And this is just the start of it:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 3
From: MD
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
An MSD 6AL box is not going to cure your worn out distributor.
Dominic,
I think I understand EBL now. It is the same as a regular 7747 ECM, except if samples faster and has larger tables with higher resolution. Does the EBL get soldered into my 7747 or is it an entirely different ECM?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 714
From: Bartlett IL
Originally Posted by JLeatherman
...
Dominic,
I think I understand EBL now. It is the same as a regular 7747 ECM, except if samples faster and has larger tables with higher resolution. Does the EBL get soldered into my 7747 or is it an entirely different ECM?
Dominic,
I think I understand EBL now. It is the same as a regular 7747 ECM, except if samples faster and has larger tables with higher resolution. Does the EBL get soldered into my 7747 or is it an entirely different ECM?
EBL is another board to a 7747 or 8746 ECM. Some others also. You can either send yours to Dynamic EFI or do it yourself and save a couple of bucks. It requires de-soldering one board and soldering the EBL board o a ribbon cable
http://www.dynamicefi.com/EBL_Install.html
But rather than a 4k chip, you'll use a 32k.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,303
Likes: 714
From: Bartlett IL
Originally Posted by JLeatherman
How does the "learn" function of the EBL work?
It'll ask you for the .bin you datalogged with and then the name for the new .bin you'll be creating. Then you tell it to Playback the datalog. It will then do the calc's for modifying the VE Tables and create the new .bin. You can watch as it makes the changes to the current VE table. Pretty cool. Saves tons of time. The modification of the VE table can be based either on BLM or WBO2 data. Awesome stuff. This does not negate the need to know how to tune. Just makes it faster and easier.
Check out the screenshots:
http://www.dynamicefi.com/WudScreenshots.html
