MSD 8381 and wiring
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
MSD 8381 and wiring
After much profanity I got the MSD distributer in. My car is a 92 LT1. I went to hook it up and low and behold the wiring connectors dont match up. from the msd their is a flat (pins in a row) and where the connection comes out on the head their is a square plug using 5 connectors as opposed to the MSD's 4. Their is only 4 wires going into each of the distributers. Anyone know of a work around for this?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Newburgh NY
After much profanity I got the MSD distributer in. My car is a 92 LT1. I went to hook it up and low and behold the wiring connectors dont match up. from the msd their is a flat (pins in a row) and where the connection comes out on the head their is a square plug using 5 connectors as opposed to the MSD's 4. Their is only 4 wires going into each of the distributers. Anyone know of a work around for this?
http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/8381_frm27275.pdf
I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "connection comes out of the head".
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Newburgh NY
According to the schematic:
From the distributor to ECM:
A: Blk/Red - Low Resolution
B: PPl/Wht - High Resolution
C: Yellow - Ignition Feed
D: Blk/Pnk - System Ground
There is no schematic in the MSD doc but maybe this will get you where you need to be.
From the distributor to ECM:
A: Blk/Red - Low Resolution
B: PPl/Wht - High Resolution
C: Yellow - Ignition Feed
D: Blk/Pnk - System Ground
There is no schematic in the MSD doc but maybe this will get you where you need to be.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Mustang Oklahoma
I'm in the process of this job myself. I double checked my connector last night after reading this thread, and mine appears fine. I'll snap a few pics this morning. Maybe that'll help?
Still in process! Pics to come!
Still in process! Pics to come!
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Just talked to tech support at MSD.
It has to be spliced:
Black/Red ---> Brown/Yellow
Purple/White---> Brown/Orange
Yellow----> Red
Black/Pink----> Red/Green
Their is a shield wire that you can just leave
It has to be spliced:
Black/Red ---> Brown/Yellow
Purple/White---> Brown/Orange
Yellow----> Red
Black/Pink----> Red/Green
Their is a shield wire that you can just leave
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Just talked to tech support at MSD.
It has to be spliced:
Black/Red ---> Brown/Yellow
Purple/White---> Brown/Orange
Yellow----> Red
Black/Pink----> Red/Green
Their is a shield wire that you can just leave
It has to be spliced:
Black/Red ---> Brown/Yellow
Purple/White---> Brown/Orange
Yellow----> Red
Black/Pink----> Red/Green
Their is a shield wire that you can just leave
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Newburgh NY
Don't you love when you buy a product that states it's designed for a specific application, and for one reason or another does not work/fit, and there is little to no documentation to help in a pinch! 
The shield wire comes from the ECM. It was in the schematic but I though the connector issue was the other way around so I didn't mention it. You still would have needed their wiring map though. What would it have taken for them to put in the doc up front?
Hope it works out for you.
The shield wire comes from the ECM. It was in the schematic but I though the connector issue was the other way around so I didn't mention it. You still would have needed their wiring map though. What would it have taken for them to put in the doc up front?
Hope it works out for you.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 274
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, TX
After much profanity I got the MSD distributer in. My car is a 92 LT1. I went to hook it up and low and behold the wiring connectors dont match up. from the msd their is a flat (pins in a row) and where the connection comes out on the head their is a square plug using 5 connectors as opposed to the MSD's 4. Their is only 4 wires going into each of the distributers. Anyone know of a work around for this?
