MSD #8387 RTR distributor wiring question

[440beep]

Here's my situation: I'm running the Rev-n-nator (ECU orange box) and was running the Mopar electronic ignition distributor and so the ECU box J6 Brown w/white stripe wire connected to the orange wire on the distributor; and the J7 gray w/black stripe wire connected to the black wire on the distributor.

On the MSD #8387 RTR distributor, there's an orange and red wire, red wire goes to positive side on coil, and orange wire goes to negative side of coil. There's also a separate black wire on the distributor that goes to ground.

So now with the MSD distributor I've lost the tach function on the Rev-n-nator, so my question is: where should I splice the J6 and J7 wires to the MSD distributor red, orange and black wires. I'm guessing the J6 wire should go to the MSD orange wire, and should the J7 wire go the MSD black wire?

Or does the MSD RTR distributor completely bypass the ECU box?

TIA!!!

 

[Shorthorse]

The "ready to run" distributors completely bypass the old ignition box including the ballast resistor.

 

[440beep]

Yes I'm realizing that now. Just need to sort through the wiring and figure out what to remove if I stay with the MSD dizzy.

Any idea if the gray tach wire from the dizzy also gets connected to the negative side of the coil where the stock tach wire goes?

 

[Burns69RT]

Yes gray tach wire stays on negative side of the coil.

 

[Shorthorse]

The gray wire connects to the tach's trigger wire.

 

[440beep]

I've already got the MSD dizzy installed and HEI plugs installed on the plug wires. BUT I really like the Rev-n-nator and its proven trouble free in the two years that I've been running it. Going to see how difficult it is to get my Mopar dizzy apart and recurve it before committing to the MSD dizzy. So stupid I am.

 

[Burns69RT]

I love the msd bro billet dizzy. Put the two soft silver springs in it and get a 10* mech advance bushing from 4 seconds flat and you'll be set. That and a digital 6al2 box, the best thing ever. And I got rid of all that crap on my firewall. Smoothing the firewall as we speak.

 

[440beep]

I went back and recurved my Mopar dizzy and will stay with the Rev-n-nator. Glad I finally took the time to learn how to take apart a Mopar dizzy. I have two so now I can set up the other one a bit different and see how they work.

Now to sell the MSD #8387 dizzy.

 

[Burns69RT]

You can probably get $350 for it.

 

[Shorthorse]

You can probably get $350 for it.

Not to be a bummer but, maybe. The big online stores have them on sale now for $359.00, free shipping. There's a lot going on in the parts world. First MSD bought Mallory (Jan, 2015) which included ACCEL, Mr. Gasket, Lakewood, Quicktime, and Hays. Then Holley bought MSD (Sept, 2015). Despite what they say, Holley will probably kill the MSD just like MSD killed the Mallory brand name and others. Thus the "sale" price on the MSD's. This happens all the time when companies get gobbled up. Most just do it to kill the competition although they offer lip service about making a better combined product which usually never happens. The next step is they will deem the old brand parts "end of life". That's when parts and support stop. In the end, everything will come from the same gigantic parent company with parts made in China. But all is not doom and gloom. New smaller, more innovative and more customer centered companies will show up.

 

[Burns69RT]

Well since Holley is predominantly made in the us. We won't be seeing too much China product. But I get what you're saying about smaller more innovative companies climbing up. For example fitech efi. They're going to drive the efi prices from other companies down because for $995 you can have a simple efi setup that handles up to 600hp, msd only 525hp and its $1000 more, Holley terminator efi while being a great hands down product still only handles up to 650hp and is $1800 unless you upgrade to the 900hp bigger fuel injectors. And for 1400 you get fitech's 1200hp system. You can't beat it. These small innovative companies are coming up with a superior product that is well engineered for a fraction of the price and still is made in the US.

 

[Shorthorse]

Well since Holley is predominantly made in the us. We won't be seeing too much China product. But I get what you're saying about smaller more innovative companies climbing up. For example fitech efi. They're going to drive the efi prices from other companies down because for $995 you can have a simple efi setup that handles up to 600hp, msd only 525hp and its $1000 more, Holley terminator efi while being a great hands down product still only handles up to 650hp and is $1800 unless you upgrade to the 900hp bigger fuel injectors. And for 1400 you get fitech's 1200hp system. You can't beat it. These small innovative companies are coming up with a superior product that is well engineered for a fraction of the price and still is made in the US.

Predominantly is a key word. Holley has been manufacturing parts in China for a long time. Here's one example -

http://ky.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20070214_0000095.WKY.htm/qx