Whaler,

Try this. Can you trace out the other end of the IGN SW Coil wire? From what you are telling me I am assuming that it's just a short wire that runs from the 'IGN' terminal of the switch directly to the coil to provide the 12V when the ignition switch is energized. If this is the case, you're all set. Just wire the one end to the ignition switch and the second end to the small red MSD wire (the 'switched power' wire, as MSD refers to it). Wire in a toggle switch if you like, somewhere inconspicuous, so it's not easily found. Let us know where the second end of that wire goes. If it's a painless kit, I believe it will say PPI or something to that effect directly on the fuse block. Does it? We'll get to the bottom of this yet ;)...

Mike

Mike said....

'Whaler,

Try this. Can you trace out the other end of the IGN SW Coil wire? From what you are telling me I am assuming that it's just a short wire that runs from the 'IGN' terminal of the switch directly to the coil to provide the 12V when the ignition switch is energized. If this is the case, you're all set. Just wire the one end to the ignition switch and the second end to the small red MSD wire (the 'switched power' wire, as MSD refers to it). Wire in a toggle switch if you like, somewhere inconspicuous, so it's not easily found. Let us know where the second end of that wire goes. If it's a painless kit, I believe it will say PPI or something to that effect directly on the fuse block. Does it? We'll get to the bottom of this yet ...

Mike"

Mike it looks to simply go back and ORIGINATE at the fuse block. I also looked under the hood and the only wires marked for the coil are all spoken for and connected. Nothing is wired back to the coil except my "original harness independant" MSD wiring

As I said before I am using the complete MSD system, so the coil only sees the black and orange wires that MSD feeds it.
This is where my confusion occurs in that I think the harness wire marked "Ign Sw coil" is a redundancy. I believe the MSD AL6 will supply the coil its voltage, not the harness wire (asking to be wired to my ignition switch)
But the catch is that we must wire that other small red MSD wire to the switched 12 volts on my ign sw.

I take it thats the On terminal of the ign switch? ( switched on and off by the key)

Sorry for the confusion but does this sound likely?

Tim

Tim,

Yes, the ONLY wires that will be connected to the coil are the black and orange wires from the MSD unit directly. DO NOT hook any other wires to the coil.

I suspect the "Ign Sw coil" wire that is coming from your fuse block is hot when the ignition switch is turned on (ie switched on and off by the key). If so, you can hook this wire directly to the switched 12V on the MSD (the small red wire). OR, you can do exactly what you said and just wire the switched 12V to the MSD directly to the 'On' terminal of the ignition switch. Either way will work IF the wire marked "Ign Sw coil" is hot when the key is turned on (you should be able to check this easily with a volt meter). The only benefit to wiring it using the "Ign Sw coil" wire is that wire is probably protected by a fuse marked 'COIL' in the fuse block. I really hope I'm not confusing you more than I'm helping :(

Mike have a look at this Adobe file from MSD website
It shows the red switched wire from MSD we speak of going to the ign switch and also labels it "From ignition key (Original Coil + wire)"

Mike I agree with your lasat post and all this hashing it out has made some sense of it. Not confused now...LOL

I will check that wire to see if it becomes hot in the key on position. As you said its easy to check.


http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/pdf2.pdf


Thanks for the quick reply

Tim

Tim,

Glad I could help. Sounds like you have it all straightened out now. Sorry for the initial confusion ;).

Mike

Best Power Source ???
 

I am completing the installation of Cibie head lights and the relays for the low beam and high beam circuits. It has been recommended to connect the main power wires from the relays to the battery terminal on the alternator. The reasoning is that the power from the alternator is more direct to the new headlight circuit. This avoids the alternator having to provide power through the amp meter, existing wiring, etc, to reach the battery cable on the starter soleniod. Most people would attach to the battery cable on the starter soleniod. Which is best?

My ERA Cobra has an early Ford alternator (3 wires; battery, field and ground) and an external regulator. I believe it has about 64 amps output. I will use fuses on the power supply wires either way.

Mike and Roscoe
 

I finally found out what manufacturer made my wiring harness...
Its made by Gearhead...they have no website that I know of.

Gearhead Enterprises Inc.
PO Box 4114
Waterloo Iowa 50704.

Still picking away at it.

Cobra 29, I am wiring my hot buss for 3 relays to use from the hot side of my starter solenoid...it's only 3 to 4 feet away from the alternator output also which is wired using 10 gage.

To me there's no diff.

whaler

Does anybody have a Painless wiring diagram they can send me?

I'm using the Painless fuse block but want to do all my own wiring/relays, etc.
thx
gn