Where to mount MSD box on Kirkham?

[Supercobra]

Wondering where to mount the MSD box on my Kirkham. Anyone have any photos of their installation?

Thanks,
Paul

[Jamo]

Under the dash...right where a glove box would go.

[Supercobra]

Thanks Jamo - is yours mounted to the back of the firewall - i.e. bolted to the aluminum panel?

Thanks,
Paul

[Bud Man]

Jamo is correct. It should be bolted to the inside of the aluminum firewall, passengers side. Be sure to use the rubber mounting studs that they provide, as they offer insulation and shock absorption qualities. Also, be very particular where you locate the mounting holes, as you need to make sure there is adequate room for the puke tank which resides on the opposite side of the firewall. You don't want to inadvertently have a MSD mounting stud interfere with the puke tanks mount.

Bud

[ToyCollector]

Everything above is exactly how I did mine, and if using the MSD extension cable to the distributor, you have plenty of cable to route it along the left fender to the coil. Bud's advice on making sure you watch out where your holes go so you can get to them without removing puke tank is a good one. I used allen bolts to mount the MSD box onto the rubber pads as for me it is easier to work with an allen under the dash. Grab your 12 volt switched from the ignition key siwtch that should have an empty spade waiting for it.

[ItBites]

I don't have a Kirkham, but I have mounted MSD boxes to aluminum panels in many cars. What I've done for mounting usually is to put the bolt (usually pan-head) from the far-side of the panel and then tighten a nut directly onto the front-side of the panel. This creates a locked stud that the MSD can be mounted to with nuts and makes for easy removal of the MSD later since you don't need another person to hold a wrench on the front of the firewall. Just remove the nuts and take the MSD off. To put the MSD back is also a piece of cake, since the studs are there and aligned.

Just a suggestion.

[David Kirkham]

EW,

Now that is a cool idea!

David

[BevanWright]

But what about all that extra weight of those nuts! A proper race car would have the msd cabletied in!

[Brent Mills]

EW/David, help me understand this a little more....Got pictures of a pan-head nut and how to attach?

Paul, thanks for asking this question...I was planning to ask this weekend.

[HIQ]

Brent,
Thanks for asking for the clarification. I thought I was the only one who could not figure this out.

[Jamo]

All they're saying is to stick the bolt in from the engine side, and put a nut on it, tightened down to the firewall. Then attach the MSD to the bolt and attach with another nut. The first nut keeps the bolt tight and located so you won't have to have an extra set of hands holding the bolt to get the nut started. You'll probably still need someone when it comes time to tighten.

It's a great idea...and even more usable the reverse direction for more commonly replaced items like fan relays, so you don't have to get your wife to go under the dashboard to hold your nuts.

That last part didn't sound quite right.

[ToyCollector]

Jamo,

Your last few sentences make perfect sense to me!

[Rick Parker]

The threaded stud that is on one side of the rubber isolator has a 10-24 thread on it. You could make a plate of 1/8" aluminum (shorten the studs), drill and tap the plate for the mounting pattern of the MSD box and bond it with structural adhesive to the inside top of the footbox, install the isolators with 242 locktite and install the box, be sure to ground the case. It would be a much more accesable and still be out of sight and no screws heads showing anywhere on the firewall. Downside is there wouldn't be any nuts for the wife to................there I go again.

Rick

[PatBuckley]

....or you could use steel rivnuts and avoid all that.

[Guinness]

My MSD is mounted like Jamo's, Bud Man's and TC's.

Once you have that figured out your next question might be, " Where should I mount the fuel pressure isolator?"

Jeff

[PatBuckley]

Kind of underscores the need for a manual, doesn't it?

[Supercobra]

Thanks for all the great help and ideas on mounting the MSD.

U-2 Driver: You read my mind - where do you mount the fuel pressure isolator?

Thanks,
Paul

[Jamo]

Right below the puke tank. Remember to put a "u" bend in the fuel line between the engine and the isolator to allow for engine flex.

[Supercobra]

I was looking through the gallery and found this picture that shows the isolator (thanks to side oil'r 69).

[David Kirkham]

Pat,

Are you volunteering? I know you are highly capable and could do a great job.

David