MSD 6A on an LT1
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
MSD 6A on an LT1
I was thinking about putting an MSD 6A unit on my car. Do I need an adapter or anything to hook it up on a '95 LT1 car? I see that they have different harnesses and stuff but I don't see one for an LT1 so I assume that I can just buy the unit and be done with it?
Does anyone know if that is the case or not? If it needs an adapter, any idea what part #?
Thanks!
Does anyone know if that is the case or not? If it needs an adapter, any idea what part #?
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
they have everything you need... but I am not a fan of what they can do to kill a cap and rotor... and replacing those parts on an LT1 is nothing short of a bitch.
Save your $$ and consider one of the upgrades to coil pack ignition... either the LTCC or the Del-Teq system.
Save your $$ and consider one of the upgrades to coil pack ignition... either the LTCC or the Del-Teq system.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,504
Likes: 4
From: Mexico Beach FL
Originally Posted by Timmy!
I was thinking about putting an MSD 6A unit on my car. Do I need an adapter or anything to hook it up on a '95 LT1 car? I see that they have different harnesses and stuff but I don't see one for an LT1 so I assume that I can just buy the unit and be done with it?
Does anyone know if that is the case or not? If it needs an adapter, any idea what part #?
Thanks!
Does anyone know if that is the case or not? If it needs an adapter, any idea what part #?
Thanks!
That's why the later OEM igntion systems (LT5, LS1, etc.) are multiple coil instead of Capacitive Discharge. A CD ignition system would be less expensive for the manufacturer to put on, and their bean-counters would definitely go the less expensive way if they could. But, the multiple-coil inductive-discharge systems are much superior -- even at high rpms.
Like the previous post said, go with LTCC or Delteq.
Tom Piper
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,713
Likes: 105
From: Manassas VA
They do make a optional harness that makes it a plug and play installation. I dont have the part no. in front of me, but I can get if for you tomarrow. I installed the 6al for the rev limiter. As far as performance goes I cant say it helped or not. I have heard others say it smoothes out the idle on the LT1.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 4
From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
I am in the middle of that install as we speak. I aquired all of the nessesary hardware and wiring kits plus the MSD 6AL for 200 bucks shipped thanks to Whitvette aka quiksilver!
With the adapter kit there is really nothing to it. Just pick a place and follow the instructions. Not hard at all. I know a Delteq etc would be much better but I couldn't pass that price up!
With the adapter kit there is really nothing to it. Just pick a place and follow the instructions. Not hard at all. I know a Delteq etc would be much better but I couldn't pass that price up!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
Originally Posted by VictorRussell'92
I am in the middle of that install as we speak. I aquired all of the nessesary hardware and wiring kits plus the MSD 6AL for 200 bucks shipped thanks to Whitvette aka quiksilver!
With the adapter kit there is really nothing to it. Just pick a place and follow the instructions. Not hard at all. I know a Delteq etc would be much better but I couldn't pass that price up!
With the adapter kit there is really nothing to it. Just pick a place and follow the instructions. Not hard at all. I know a Delteq etc would be much better but I couldn't pass that price up!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 0
From: OH
I have one on my car. Previous owner installed it, said it made a HUGE difference in the idle quality so I'll just have to go on his word. I'd spend a little extra for the 6AL because I wish that is what I had. Really could use the SoftRev limitor, I hate fuel cutoff I have programmed in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I've had one since I got my car last spring break time. If you want a good place to place the unit, or I think it's good anyway, consider using the bin behind the passenger seat, I put it in there with a little fan that turns on when I put the key in. Wires easily run under the carpet around the driver's seat and up under the plastic rim around the two bins. Good luck 
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Originally Posted by rsafier
I have one on my car. Previous owner installed it, said it made a HUGE difference in the idle quality so I'll just have to go on his word. I'd spend a little extra for the 6AL because I wish that is what I had. Really could use the SoftRev limitor, I hate fuel cutoff I have programmed in.
My MSD-6AL is about 7 years old now (started life on my previous LT1 Trans AM)... One thing I did notice on the last 2 LT1 cars it was installed on was the improved idle... FWIW, it also gave me between .5 and 1mpg improvement in the city (driving the same route to work everyday before and after)...
I still have it so one of these days it will make it's way under the hood of my current Vette... Originally I bought it in anticipation of going forced induction on my old T/A, but it never materialized...
As far as opti cap and rotor wear, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary after about 30K miles but it did seem to accellerate replacement of wires...
I figure if you already have one or get ahold of one cheaply then why not???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
Timmy that old MSD 6AL is an old tech box, if you are going to go through the trouble of installing one of these boxes you are better off going with their new MSD Digital 6 box or the Crane Hi 6 box. MSD came out with the Digital 6 to compete with the Crane box. And one of the advantages of the Crane box is that it is weather proofed with weather pak connectors and potted guts making it extremely durable. Suposidly the new Digital 6 box mimics Cranes weatherproofing design but they omitted the weather pak connectors 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,595
Likes: 1
From: Thornton CO
I read too many posts where people had the Digital 6 go out on them so I wasn't considering it anymore. I thought this would be a cheap experiment since I can get the box new for $125. The digital 6 is $249 or thereabouts and if I was going to spend that much I'd just go all the way and get the Delteq or LTCC at that point.
