MSD Distributor Install

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KOZ45

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I have a 1968 440 in my 70 Duster.......I am upgrading the entire ignition system and I have a few questions on a installing a full MSD system.

MSD 6AL box
MSD 32739 wires
MSD 8202 coil
MSD Pro Billet 8546 distributor
Champion RJ12YC plugs

Tips or tricks on the distributor install? Never installed one on a 440 and its been a long long time since I last had to mess with one......

Where is the best place to mount the coil?

What gap should the plugs initially be set at?
 
All Mopar V8's have a screwdrive like slot/ tang drive, so if you don't crank the engine when you pull the old one, just look and see at what plug tower the rotor points. Better yet, before you yank the old one, bump the engine around until the timing marks are "where you want" initial timing, AKA 15BTC or whatever. Now look at the rotor, it will be coming "to" either no1 or no6.

Just stick the new one in with the rotor in that position. The drive tang on the new one MAY NOT be referenced exactly to the old one so you will still have to adjust timing

On the MSD box the "big red" goes to a "heavy" 12V source such as the starter relay big stud. I would fuse/ breaker that wire. The "big black" goes to a good ground

The "small red" is the trigger/ switch wire, and it goes to your old ignition feed. Just bypass the coil resistor, take the old coil+ wire and connect that to the small red on the box.

The rest of it follow MSD destructions

The white MSD box wire, you can run into an unobtrusive toggle switch to ground, and it makes a simple not very obvious anti theft device. Don't forget to turn the switch OFF when attempting to start the car!!!
 
KOZ45 said:
I have a 1968 440 in my 70 Duster.......I am upgrading the entire ignition system and I have a few questions on a installing a full MSD system.

MSD 6AL box
MSD 32739 wires
MSD 8202 coil
MSD Pro Billet 8546 distributor
Champion RJ12YC plugs

Tips or tricks on the distributor install? Never installed one on a 440 and its been a long long time since I last had to mess with one......

Where is the best place to mount the coil?

What gap should the plugs initially be set at?
Click to expand...

Other than the box hook up , and eliminating the stupid ballast resister , aint no diff than any other one . I run 44 thou on my plugs-------------
My coil is laying down on the fender close as possible to the dist. , been that way for about 10ish yrs. , The new msd box will come w/ instructiuons that will cover it ..
 
Be particularly careful with trigger wire routing and keep it "down near" a ground plane, IE engine block. It is helpful to keep that short. There is instances of the MSD plug wires SELF TRIGGERING the MSD box causing misfires

This is in part because the MSD spark is so powerful
 
Thanks for the good info on the distributor install.....sounds like a somewhat straightforward swap with the old unit

Should the MSD 8202 coil be installed vertical ?

Where is a good mounting location for the MSD box?
 
Old plugs are out..........with headers it was a tad more challenging than a normal R&R

It was so tight up against the inner fenders I had to use a wrench for a few, and not a spark plug socket
 
I assume the groove in the MSD distributor is for an oring???

I didn't come with one......can anyone verify if it's needs one for the install?

The old distributor I removed from the motor didn't have an gasket or an oring
 
KOZ45 said:
I assume the groove in the MSD distributor is for an oring???

I didn't come with one......can anyone verify if it's needs one for the install?

The old distributor I removed from the motor didn't have an gasket or an oring
Click to expand...

Mine in the past have had o-rings -------------
 
MSD recommends mounting the Blaster 2 Coil in the vertical position so that the internal winding is completely covered with oil. Mounting the coil horizontally does not allow the oil within the coil to sufficiently transfer the heat out of the coil.
 
I can lengthen the MSD 6AL wiring as needed, correct?

Looks like I will also need to get some spark plug wiring heat protectors...........the headers are a close fit
 
Can anyone confirm if Felpro #6464 kit will fit and work on the MSD distributor?

This kit looks to come with a flat gasket and also an o-ring
 
KOZ45 said:
MSD recommends mounting the Blaster 2 Coil in the vertical position so that the internal winding is completely covered with oil. Mounting the coil horizontally does not allow the oil within the coil to sufficiently transfer the heat out of the coil.
Click to expand...

Hasnt been a problem on any of my cars over the years !
 
KOZ45 said:
MSD recommends mounting the Blaster 2 Coil in the vertical position so that the internal winding is completely covered with oil. Mounting the coil horizontally does not allow the oil within the coil to sufficiently transfer the heat out of the coil.
Click to expand...

how critical is having the coil in vert position? mine has been in horz position and i haven't noticed anything odd
 
KOZ45 said:
I have a 1968 440 in my 70 Duster.......I am upgrading the entire ignition system and I have a few questions on a installing a full MSD system.

MSD 6AL box
MSD 32739 wires
MSD 8202 coil
MSD Pro Billet 8546 distributor
Champion RJ12YC plugs

Tips or tricks on the distributor install? Never installed one on a 440 and its been a long long time since I last had to mess with one......

Where is the best place to mount the coil?

What gap should the plugs initially be set at?
Click to expand...
My coil is mounted upright on the right side of the engine bay closest to the distributor . .My 6AL box is mounted inside the car on the passenger side up under the dash where the foot well meets the firewall..High enough to where it's almost not seen.What type of cylinder heads are you running?Because as far as spark plugs I'd go with the AR3911 Autolites..With MSD I gap my plugs at .040 I've never been much of a Champion fan..

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Funny, the only coil I've ever had leak, on any car, was an MSD blaster mounted vertically, per their instructions...go figure! Never had a problem mounting one horizontal like the factory did.
 
beanhead said:
Funny, the only coil I've ever had leak, on any car, was an MSD blaster mounted vertically, per their instructions...go figure! Never had a problem mounting one horizontal like the factory did.
Click to expand...
I can't remember ever having but a couple or so factory coils leak because the ceramic material at the tower part of the coil cracked. I've had a few factory coils go bad after many years of use. I've used MSD coils for many years and haven't had but maybe a couple go bad after years of racing. But I guess you can get a lemon in anything from time to time.
 
Per MSD:

The coils are oil filled to keep internal windings cool, and they are filled to a certain point to allow for expansion. When laying on its side, it will expose the inner winding and can overheat.
 
AND NOW yet another annoying story from the old days

Working part time at the NAS Miramar auto hobby shop, two guys came in with a 55 Chev they were installing a brand new Mallory coil--the big 'ol huge rectangular coil. Now those requred an ADDITIONAL coil resistor supplied by Mallory in series with the stock resistor. I don't remember "could not get it to start" or something so I went out there. They were clear out front of the shop, don't know why. Anyway I go out there, and get maybe 10-15 ft from the car, and I "see stuff." ???? It was the brand new coil, exploded all over the engine bay.

They had NOT used the additional resistor, and had left the key "in run" Boy did THAT make a mess!!!
 
Does the power wire on the MSD ignition box require or need a fuse?
 
I would sure as hell fuse it. If the MSD destructions don't give you a clue, go by the wire size. What are they, no 10? 12? 30, 20A or so
 
The black/red wires coming out of the box are 12G

Should I continue to run 12G to the battery? Upsizing to 10G seems too much
 
No I meant I wasn't sure how large they were. I'm sure 12 is big enough if it's front mount battery.
 
Will a 20AMP fuse work then?

Inline or blade style or does not matter?
 
KOZ45 said:
The black/red wires coming out of the box are 12G

Should I continue to run 12G to the battery? Upsizing to 10G seems too much
Click to expand...

10 WILL CHARGE BETTER .
Of a side note , since my post of running my coil laying down (always have) , mine died , fortunately I had a new alum. housing ford type laying on the bench !
First coil failure in 50ish yrs of laying them down !
 
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