Who has an MSD ignition (6AL)

[BuiltPoly318]

Other than the full on race set ups, who is using an MSD ignition for your street car and what did you eliminate when hooking it up?


I have the upgraded Mopar ignition - newer distributor & ignition box, MSD coil.

Specifically, if I install an MSD ignition:
Does the Mopar ignition box get removed?
Does the ballast resistor ger removed?

Pics too, if you have them!

thanks!

 

[Dodge 330]

No ballast or Mopar ECU is needed when you use the MSD.

I used it on both big and smallblocks in a street driven car that saw a lot of miles. It really cleans up the idle and if you get a 6AL it has the advantage of a built in rev limiter.

It is also really easy to hook up if you have an electronic distributor. A hot positive battery lead, switched 12v lead, ground, and 2 leads going to the magnetic trigger in the distributor.

I don't have pics of mine because it's hidden under the battery tray in the latest car. It's still easy to get to the chip for the rev limiter.

Make sure you have good 8mm or larger plug wires and good plugs!

 

[MoParFish]

Yep. No separate box or ballast needed. Just a stock Mopar electronic (mag pickup) distributor and coil. The 6AL becomes the brains of the operation. Using this setup now. You should be able to download the instructions from Summit or MSD website to see wiring diagram.

 

[BuiltPoly318]

Thanks. No ballast? I was looking around the internet and found an MSD hook up that shows the ballast still attached. It shows that the MSD should be hooked up to the non-IGN 1 side of the resistor (where the original coil + wire was). The other wire goes to IGN 2. On the Ignition side is the Ignition wire and the Voltage Regulator wire.

Did you just bypass the ballast and hook IGN2 to IGN1?

Here's what I found - I made a new graphic to show both my current set up and how they say to hook up the MSD.

 

[greenmonsta79]

I think MSD just came out with a digital 6 box that takes no rev-limit chips, just dial in your rev limiter on the box itself, I will run one on my 69 Charger.

 

[Dodge 330]

The keyed source can be the blue wire going from ballast to coil.

If you want to remove the ballast resistor then use the blue wire originally feeding ballast and regulator.

Personally I've left all the components on the firewall (including the ballast) for a "stock" look and hidden the connection to the MSD.

 

[BuiltPoly318]

I think MSD just came out with a digital 6 box that takes no rev-limit chips, just dial in your rev limiter on the box itself, I will run one on my 69 Charger.

Yes, that's the new one they just came out with and the one I'll get. I have one that needs a repair, but since that one is CARB certified and the new one isn't, I'll put the older one in my Toyota and the new one in the Plymouth.

The MSD instructions don't show a ballast, but they don't tell you what to do with the wires on either side, so it's not clear in their instructions whether you need to keep it or it can be removed.

 

[BuiltPoly318]

The keyed source can be the blue wire going from ballast to coil.

Yes, that's how they show the MSD being connected.

If you want to remove the ballast resistor then use the blue wire originally feeding ballast and regulator.

On the opposite side of the ballast from that blue wire (IGN1) there's a wire that connects to IGN2 (Brown wire). What do you do with that wire if you remove the ballast - do you connect it to the DK Blue Wires (IGN1 and Regulator)?

 

[MoParFish]

If you call the MSD tech line, they should be able to tell you for sure. I have the older non-digital type.

 

[65-440]

This is very simple, Also in another thread ! ... 12V hot, ground, key'd hot, 2 wires go to coil and 2 go to distributor. DONE ! .... once you do that, you can completely remove ballast resistor and factory wiring. or leave it there just for looks. your resistor should have 4 wires on it. 2 brown, and 2 dk/blue. the brown wire is hot from your ignition switch to resistor, then to coil. the dk/blue wire, also hot from ignition switch to resistor then to voltage regulator. If you want to remove resistor off firewall, you will have to hook both blue wires together for charging system to work. Unless it is aftermarket, internally regulated alternator. then the wires are useless.Or you can still use the dk/blue wire for key on 12V for new alternator. the brown wires can be removed from the bulkhead connector and taken out of engine bay.....MSD eliminates that setup completely .... i know this is long, but hope it helps !!

 

[daredevil]

Yes, that's how they show the MSD being connected.



On the opposite side of the ballast from that blue wire (IGN1) there's a wire that connects to IGN2 (Brown wire). What do you do with that wire if you remove the ballast - do you connect it to the DK Blue Wires (IGN1 and Regulator)?

Thats what I did.

 

[BuiltPoly318]

kewl, thanks. I'm almost at the point where I should just have the entire car rewired, I've changed so much already!