Question on MSD ignition box

COACH MIKE · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2005, 07:31 PM

Gentlemen:
I have just added a MSD 6AL ignition box to my ignition set up (408 stroker). I had a ford (heavy duty) ignition box with a MSD Blaster 2 coil and MSD billet distributor. Once I got the MSD 6AL hooked up properly the car started but ran very rough and I could hardly get any rpm's out of it. It sounded as if the timing was off drastically. The timing had been just right prior to the instillation of the MSD box (18 degrees initial and a total advance of 36 degrees at 2800 rpm).
I set the idle up enough to get the engine to at least idle at 900 rpm. When I checked the timing it was retarded considerably. I than advanced the timing to the aformentioned specs and the engine runs fine. Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon and if so can you explain why and if something is wrong?
Your experienced suggestions are much appreciated.

Rick Parker · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2005, 09:37 PM

You may have the trigger wires going to the distributor reversed. The distributor is out of phase. Check the colors of the wires from the distributor to the MSD box.

Rick

http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/6%20series/6series.pdf

Jack21 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2005, 09:48 PM

If you changed nothing else, you reversed the 6A box leads to the distributor. (Changes where the mag pickup triggers the coil) Swap ends on box to dist leads and timing should be where it was originally.

scottj · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2005, 05:10 AM

When wiring the mag pickup, the polarity is correct when the timing is most retarded. That would be MSD box-violet to MSD distributor- orange/blk and green to purple/blk. Make sure your mag pickup lines aren't running parallel with the orange and black coil primary leads or a spark plug wire.
Scott

COACH MIKE · #5 (**permalink**) 02-06-2005, 09:16 AM

Gentlemen:
Thanks for the suggestions. The two wires coming off the MSD ignition are Violet and Green. When the end of the MSD attachment snaps into the MSD distributor the green wire lines up with the orange/blk wire and the violet wire lines up with the distributor purple/blk wire. I will push the ends out of the snap in fitting and reverse them.
The MSD directions did not say anything about shortening the wires coming out of the box so I have considerable length to some of the leads. I have tucked them back in behind the coil. I am asking if it is ok to shorten these with a butt splice so I have no lead wires running near the coil wires (+ & -) or the coil wire to the distributor?
Again, thanks for the suggestions. I will commence with the reversing of the distributor leads.
One other item. My radiator electric fan is on a thermostat control and would only come on if the temperature exceeded 190. Now the fan runs constantly. I think this would indicate feed back from the MSD box. I have checked all the fan wires and they are exactly as they were before. Is this another indication I have something wrong with the wiring at will be cleared up by reversing the dist. lead in wires and shortening the other wires?

Rick Parker · #6 (**permalink**) 02-06-2005, 09:35 AM

Mike:
The heavy red lead from the MSD box should be connected directly to the post that the (+) pole of the battery connects to at the starter solenoid. The black heavy wire from MSD box directly to chassis ground. You can shorten the leads from the MSD box to the distributor. Is your fan run through a relay (it should), or with a switch. Remove any other electrical items that are on the same circuits as the fan. Be sure you have a ground cable from block to chassis.

The fan and the MSD should not influence each other.

Rick

COACH MIKE · #7 (**permalink**) 02-07-2005, 01:15 PM

Thanks fellas:
I got it wired correctly and it runs! now I have to get the fan situated. Many thanks for the suggestions and help.
Mike

G.R. · #8 (**permalink**) 02-07-2005, 04:43 PM

Coach it sounds as if the fan relay may have gone bad. Or the ground for the relay is loose(not likely but possible). I encountered a similar problem with my fan/relay while working out some other electrical gremlins, turned out the relay chose that time to go belly up also, the fan ran continuously. Put a new relay in and see if that works. After trying to figure out what the heck was wrong I put in a new relay(painless had enclosed 2 in the fan kit I ordered, by mistake I'm sure) worked great after that.