Need Advise on MSD6AL2 install

[mdripley]

Well it is almost time to install the MSD. But before I do, I have a few questions for others here who have already gone through this on their 930's. Mine is an 87 bone stock and I wish to keep it close to stock or easily revert to stock. I will adapt the msd wiring harness to plug into the original harness. My question has to do with the MAP sensor where is the best place to pick up manifold pressure?
any advice based on your experiences would be greatly appreciated.

TIA
Mike

[PrimeMvr]

I T'd mine off the same line as the boost recirc valve.

[flat_6]

Same here. Tee from the Boost recirc valve. You want it to see boost and vacuum

[krasuskyp]

how about any suggestions on spark plug gap?

I've read that most suggest to open 'em up a bit when going to MSD

my MSD's 1/2 in & my plugs are all out and ready to go - so the timing of this thread is perfect... thanks... now know where to T in for my MAP sensor 8-)

Bueller?

[mark houghton]

Originally Posted by krasuskyp

how about any suggestions on spark plug gap?

I've read that most suggest to open 'em up a bit when going to MSD

my MSD's 1/2 in & my plugs are all out and ready to go - so the timing of this thread is perfect... thanks... now know where to T in for my MAP sensor 8-)

Bueller?

I ran with a .040 gap and NGK "race" plugs. Ran fine all the way up through full tilt boogie...though I do remember hearing of some people having problems with that large a gap. Probably some trial and error involved.

[fredmeister]

I could not get 0.040 to run at high boost.

I was getting flame out until I dropped the gap to 0.028". I did it progressively through the 0.030's but kept having trouble above 0.7bar until I ran the gap down to under 0.030".

Let us know what you wind up with.

Fred

[T77911S]

when you wire the MSd to the dist, the violet wire goes to the braid and the green wire goes to the center conductor.
i too wanted to keep mine original or so it could be put back to original, if nto, then i wanted it to look factory.

[flat_6]

I never changed my plug gap and run great.

[mdripley]

Excellent all of the advice is perfectly timed for my install thanks for the tips on plugs & gaps and wiring to the dizzy. on the sparkplugs I take it the stock plugs cannot be used?

believe it or not I do search the forum and have found many threads that discuss this install, but for all the advise other questions arise out of difficulties during and after install. I wanted to used the MSD as a straight replacement for the stock cdi box.
I did not want to alter my dizzy as it is new. I want to see how it runs first before attempting to lockout a second dizzy I have on hand to experiment with mapping the timing.

Thanks I will post pics when I am doing the install My new dizzy should be here in a week.

Mike

[mdripley]

PS this forum is the greatest place to go for advise. I wish to thank all of you for the help given on this forum you guys are the greatest Bar None

Mike

[krasuskyp]

thanks Fred / T77911S - those are helpful replies!

Mike... I too am initially only swapping just the boxes and deferring dizzy lock until I get the car running, etc. (my motor's out from cam & turbo swap).

Can't add toooo many variables to the mix...

[mdripley]

Exactly what I was thinking keep it simple go slow until she's running.

Mike

[T77911S]

mine is not locked. when it comes to timing/advance, unless you have a dyno to set it up, its better to just use the stock dist timing.

you can see the connector i used to connect to the original harness. i am not thrilled with that connector. it is very hard to line up the pins to connect it up.

bosch CS plugs W4 are good, i have the NGK coppers in now. BP8. i think iwould try a 9. i need to recheck after gettting some air leaks fixed.

[mdripley]

I am going to make an adapter plate to mount the msd in the location of the original CDI box. One of the guys on the forum posted a template of an adapter plate he made with all of the dimensional info for fabbing one up. I got a lot of aviation metal working tools available to fab one up. My understanding Is, and feel free to correct me if I am wrong is to not program the MSD or zero out the program to have it function as a replacement to the original CDI box with a working unmodified stock distributor.

Regards
Mike

[snbush67]

You can lock out the distributor with a locking plate, that way you can always go back to stock.

MSD 6AL-2 Digital Programable Install and Distributor Lockout

[snbush67]

Originally Posted by mdripley

I am going to make an adapter plate to mount the msd in the location of the original CDI box. One of the guys on the forum posted a template of an adapter plate he made with all of the dimensional info for fabbing one up. I got a lot of aviation metal working tools available to fab one up. My understanding Is, and feel free to correct me if I am wrong is to not program the MSD or zero out the program to have it function as a replacement to the original CDI box with a working unmodified stock distributor.

Regards
Mike

Right, you still have to set the program for 6 cylinders, but I believe in the default configuration that the program is set to not pull any timing out.

[mdripley]

Thank you Shane for the info and the link you provided

Mike