MSD Gurus I need help.
 

Well my MSD unit is installed but I am not getting my starter to turn.

I think I wired everything correctly.

MSD Wires:
Larger Red wire to the solenoid with the big black wire on the solenoid.
Larger Black Wire attached to ground at the aluminum plate on the left side of engine bay.

Orange wire to + on Coil.
Black to - on Coil

Small red wire plugged into red wire on control unit plug.

When I turn the key, the seatbelt light buzzes and the Alt light comes on. I can hear the solenoid click but that is it.

Is it possible that the red wire to the solenoid is connected to the wrong terminal. I attached to the terminal that had the largest black wire attached to it. Is that the correct one?

Any input is welcome.

Thanks,

Make sure the aluminum panel is really grounded..they are usually mounted to rubber bushings.
Also make sure the battery is fully charged.

The ground is one of my two concerns. There is a smaller wired grounded to the plate but I think I will find another spot to ground.

Monday will be my next chance to work on it.

Hopefully that is it.

I had to have a new solenoid and my starter re built. I guess it was just time.

Now that I have the starter back in, I have been going over the wiring instructions from MSD. I am also using the MSD Tach Adapter as recommended in the 101 Projects book.

I have two wires that I have questions on.

Before I do the wires it makes a difference if the Tach in a 1980 911 SC is Voltage Triggered or Current Triggered. Can anyone tell me this.

If Current Triggered the instructions show the Red wire from the Tach Adapter going to "Trigger Wire (Orignal Coil + wire)" What wire would that be exactly. I am thinking the Black with purple stripe that is mentioned in the 101 Projects book.

Then there is the white wire from the MSD Ignition. Instruction just show it sitting there and and says "White wire or Magnetic pickup to Trigger source".

Okay what is the trigger source?

Help. Novice at work.

i ran the large red wire to the big cable on the solenoid, the one from the battery with the 13mm nut. i was too lazy to look for another source so others may have a better place.
first i would check the batt voltage. check it while someone else has the key turned to start. if the batt drops below 10v, its bad or needs charging.
the yellow wire on the solenoid is the start signal, make sure it has a good connection and that all grounds are good. check the big one from the tranny to the body. clean both batt terminals.

Msd
 

Rob, the SC shouldn't need the tach adaptor, the tach wire (black/purp.) should plug into the single spade on the side of MSD box, there will be a short pig tail with a 2 pin plug in that will go to your dist. for the magnetic pickup (there should be someone here that has hooked the stock dist. to MSD that can help with this) the white wire is not needed it goes to a points type dist. (just put some small heat shrink on it and fold it back. The heavy red wire should go to the battery terminal on the starter, check to be sure that you have the yellow wire on the correct spade on the starter. be sure to clip the proper wire so your MSD rev limiter will work for a 6 cyl.(its in the MSD directions)

Mike Bruns JBRacing.com

Mike,
Thanks those are the best instructions I have received, including from MSD.

Looking at the wiring harness for the CD there is a black wire (small) with what looks like a purple stripe. It is the middle connector across from the red (switched) wire. Is that where I connect the purple wire?

MSD did clear up the pig tail wires. I have their instructions written down at home. Give it a go tonight.
Thanks,

Msd
 

No problem, jump the blk/purp. wire to the MSD box and the tach should work, be sure to verify the ign. timing with a light, if the polarity is switched the timing will be off.
Mike