MSD wiring advice (connectors)

[red-beard]

I have a slightly used tach adapter mounted in my car, you can have for the price of shipping...

I expect it will work just about as well for you.

[pope]

Redbeard, thanks a lot for the offer but I had ordered an adapter with the MSD itself just in case. I put it in and the tach works just fine.

The problem is that this cute little thing:



which was working fine up to now, doesn't work anymore.

How can I check my rpms now?

[red-beard]

I installed a second tach in the engine compartment with a digital readout, for tuning. I hooked it up to the same lead wire as the MSD tach wire to the main tach.

[pope]

Redbeard, 'scuze the ignorance, will any digital tach do? Should I just go in a shop and ask for any tach or is there something special about this one?

[pope]

I assume that my timing light will not be working now too. Am I right?
Are there electronic timing lights?

[fred cook]

Most timing lights work by connecting an inductive clamp on the #1 plug wire and then connecting to a +12volt and ground. As long as the engine will run the timing light should work. If you have a "spare" 911 electronic tach you could mount it in the engine compartment and wire it to the MSD using a switch between the engine compartment tach and the dash tach. Or, you could put in a quick disconnect where you could simply plug in the engine compartment tach when you want to use it.

[pope]

Yeah, that's the type of timing light I have. But this tachometer I posted above is also inductive in that I clamp it round the plug wire. Unfortunately I'm away on a trip now and I can't test the timing light.

[samjepperson]

Okay I have been following this thread in detail trying to get ready for my own install of a 6AL and Tach Adapter into my 70 coupe. I have printed all the diagrams out and none of them seem to correspond to my car. Can someone please help point me in the right direction so that I don't screw this up! Specifically tell me what wires below to use and what goes where...

THANKS IN ADVANCE

- Thin black wire is connected to the negative coil lead (Okay)
- Orange wire is connected to the positive coil lead (Okay)
- Thick red wire goes to the power - positive terminal on the starter (Okay)
- Thick black wire goes to the ground - lug behind the fuel filter on the body (Okay)
- Small red wire (Help)
- Small white wire (Help)
- Tach adapter wires (Help)
- What the heck is the switching SCR???

This is a picture of the unit installed:


Here is a picture of the old cdi plug (has two wires only; black/red and red):


Here is a picture of the main engine harness plug and another plug (has two wires only; red/white and blue/yellow):



Finally here is a picture of the distributor wires (has Pertronix), green wire tied in with purple/black from engine harness and red):

[RWebb]

- Small red wire (Help) ---> switched power; one of the 3 fuses on the rear panel should be good for it

note - not all wires are used in every install... didn't msd give you a hookup sheet?

[RoninLB]

on page one jluetjen posted a diagram.

[samjepperson]

Well I guess I am an idiot then because I have printed off all the diagrams and still confused on what wires to splice in. All the diagrams have different color wires and none match my specific car. I even have the whole car colored wired diagram and can't figure it out. I was hoping someone could chime in and direct me through my pictures on what to do...

[Superdave1]

HI:
If it helps anyone, here is my setup. I have a 1975 2.7 block in a 1982 sc targa. The red power MSD (switched 12volt with key) is plugged into the factory 6 pin plug with a spade connector. The tach output of the MSD is also plugged into the factory 6 pin plug(black/ purple wire) with a spade connector. The heavy 12volt + feed is connected to the fuse block in the rear quarter of the car. The heavy ground is connected to the mounting bolt of the coil. The white trigger is connected to the distributor/points. The two coil wires are connected to the + and - of the coil. Very easy install and NO factory wires cut. I can go back to the original 3 pin CDI in a few minutes....on the side of the road if I have too. LOL!! The car runs much better with the MSD. Quicker starts, smoother idle, and more power in the midrange rpm, also no longer have a bouncing tach! It all good!! I also swapped out the silver bosch coil for a MSD blaster. I have all of the original ignition and wiring in the trunk of the car, just in case.

VERY happy with the MSD!

dave...

[RoninLB]

small dia Red is the turn on for the MSD. I tapped into engine compartment fuse panel. Check which breaker is switched.

I ran MSD large dia Red to starter lug. It's hot all the time.

tach adaptor.. see diagram below

[samjepperson]

Ronin,

That makes sense with my setup - thank you very much for putting up a diagram that fits my application. Always appreciate the input of the members of this board!

Sam

[RoninLB]

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[pope]

Just to say that I switched the direction of the spark plug wire in the inductive tachometer and now it works. For some reason before it was working even though the spark went the opposite direction of the arrow on the device