MSD Pro Billet Distributer

[KANE]

Hey all!
Looking for some help with a new to me MSD Pro-Billet Ready To Run #8350 setup. I bought this off a member here so I have no paperwork. I currently have the duraspark setup and want to switch to this but I’m a bit gunshy and don’t want to screw my timing up. Any tips would be great!!
My truck is a 75 with a 351W.

Thanks !!

 

[DirtDonk]

You don't have to worry about screwing up your timing. Just accept the fact that you ARE going to screw up the timing, and problem solved and worries melted away!;D

Here are some instructions for the #8352 from our site: MSD Distributor Instructions that you might be able to put to use.

Good luck!

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Sorry, forgot to add some details.
For one, do you have a timing light? You should, as it's needed to verify timing no matter how accurate and careful you are, and how close you get to original. You just want to know for sure.

Yes, you can "time by ear" like many do, and if you're like many of us you are going to experiment anyway. But it still helps to be able to put a number on it so you know where to go from there, if needed.

Just changing the distributor can very easily change the timing by anything from a few degrees, to a LOT of degrees. But maybe you're lucky and the two distributors are not far off in design and implementation. But all it takes is for the gear's roll-pin hole to be a few degrees off, or the pattern of the teeth to be off, for the timing to get seriously skewed.

As you no doubt suspect, if you leave the engine alone and don't rotate anything while the distributor is out, mark your rotor position and match the new distributor to it as close as you can, you are going to be close, but only as long as the new distributor goes right in and does not fight you to the point that you have to turn the engine slightly to get the gears to line up while the pump shaft is lined up.
Just too many variables, so always best to expect it to change and to verify with a timing light after you're done.

Paul

 

[KANE]

Thank you for all your info! I've got the Distributer in, the Pump Shaft was a little tricky but I feel as though I got it close. Regarding the wiring....I have a Centek Wiring Harness and the purple wire labeled "Start"...is this the only wire I will reuse from the Duraspark? I cranked it quick and cough a bit, but feel like it wants to start. Being that's its 1:30am and my family is fast asleep, I felt like Ill wait till the am to see how it sounds. Your 100% correct...I don't own a timing light but will as of tomorrow!! Thanks for the guidance..ironically I down loaded those exact instructions from WH and that gave me the push to wade in the shallows!
I'll report back to tell how bad I screwed it up!!

Mike

 

[KANE]

This morning I went to start it and it turns nice and fires but only for a moment. If I advance the timing too far it locks up. if I retard it wont fire. Either way it wont run...like it out of gas but obviously its not. BTW ran fan before...maybe I shouldn't have touched it!!
Thanks

 

[66broncoCT]

If you only hooked up the start wire then the distributor is only getting power when the key is in start. So when it catches you let off the start position to run it loses power and the truck dies. You need power in start and run.

 

[SHX669]

MSD has install instructions on their site also . It's pretty easy to remove the Duraspark and replace with the R-T-R . I've done a couple

 

[KANE]

If you only hooked up the start wire then the distributor is only getting power when the key is in start. So when it catches you let off the start position to run it loses power and the truck dies. You need power in start and run.

This definitely makes sense and it exactly what I thought, but what would the other wire be? The MSD has only 3 wires...black(ground), red(positive to coil) and orange(negative to coil). The only wire I took from the duraspark is the start wire(which is purple from the Centek harness)
Thanks!

 

[66broncoCT]

What did you connect the purple Start wire to?

 

[KANE]

Ok it’s all set!! Thanks to all for your help!!

I called Centech and the guy was really helpful. Like mentioned above I hooked the start wire but I needed to hook the ignition wire. I did that and it fired right up! When the weather clears I’ll take it for a blast. I actually bought a timing light and I think I was pretty close. Seems to be good but my tick marks are fairly tough to see. There was a noticeable mark which seemed to be the right mark to go off of. I guess I’ll see soon enough!
Thanks again to all who chimed in...it really set me on track!
Mike

 

[KANE]

If you only hooked up the start wire then the distributor is only getting power when the key is in start. So when it catches you let off the start position to run it loses power and the truck dies. You need power in start and run.

Bingo!!

 

[KANE]

Well, I have a side effect....I was doing some audio upgrades and had the radio on for 1/2 hour or so and smoked the brand new coil. This happened years ago when I tried a different newish style coil with my Duraspark and returned it back to the original and never had an issue, even after I’d run the system for a while. Not sure but would my original coil work with the MSD? I know there’s a resistor someplace but I haven’t exactly seen it.
Any thoughts? I trying to get this straight before the Fall Cruise...if I was smart I would’ve messed with this after. Lol...clearly not smart!

 

[DirtDonk]

T

...I have a Centek Wiring Harness and the purple wire labeled "Start"...is this the only wire I will reuse from the Duraspark?

Do you have an automatic or manual transmission?
Centech provides TWO of the Purple (Violet in GM-speak) wires to energize the starter relay/solenoid to crank the starter.
Did you install the wiring harness yourself, or was it done already?

The one that's easy to connect is for manual transmissions, while the other, longer one, is for use with an auto and it's neutral-safety switch.

You no longer need the White wire from the "I" terminal of the starter relay by the way. It won't hurt anything if you've wired it up, so you can leave it if you did.
All you need is the Blue "IGN+" wire to the coil's positive side. Like it sounds as if you already did.
Glad you got it running! Jim is very helpful there at Centech. Or did you talk to someone else?

Paul

 

[KANE]

T

Do you have an automatic or manual transmission?
Centech provides TWO of the Purple (Violet in GM-speak) wires to energize the starter relay/solenoid to crank the starter.
Did you install the wiring harness yourself, or was it done already?

The one that's easy to connect is for manual transmissions, while the other, longer one, is for use with an auto and it's neutral-safety switch.

You no longer need the White wire from the "I" terminal of the starter relay by the way. It won't hurt anything if you've wired it up, so you can leave it if you did.
All you need is the Blue "IGN+" wire to the coil's positive side. Like it sounds as if you already did.
Glad you got it running! Jim is very helpful there at Centech. Or did you talk to someone else?

Paul

Yes Jim, great and to the point! I did just use the Blue wire and fired right up. I just need to figure this coil thing out.
Thanks for your help!

 

[DirtDonk]

Sorry, missed that my last time around.
And sorry too, that you went through this.

Well, I have a side effect....I was doing some audio upgrades and had the radio on for 1/2 hour or so and smoked the brand new coil.

Well first, were you running all that time with the key in the ON position, or ACC? Your ignition should never be powered up in ACC for this exact reason.
And as far as I know, the Centech setup is wired this way.

Not sure but would my original coil work with the MSD? I know there’s a resistor someplace but I haven’t exactly seen it.

Not sure, but probably. But likely only if you run a resistor to the positive side, and run a separate 12v wire to the Red wire of the distributor.
The instructions might say, but I didn't memorize them previously. Will check them out to see if I see anything. In the meantime of course, you could get back on the phone (again!) and check with MSD to see if they're compatible if wired properly.

Good luck.

Paul

 

[KANE]

Thanks Paul!

 

[blubuckaroo]

This "ready-to-run" name they give these things really need some "clearing up."
It's not really "ready-to-run" at all. But it will run, but inefficiently. No matter how much spark that the manufacturer claims.
The advance curve still needs to be calibrated. That job is best trusted to a shop with a distributor machine. It's just too hard to run an unloaded engine up to 3000 RPM+, to check the full advance.

 

[KANE]

Update- MSD Distributer is smoked!! Switched back to Duraspark.
I guess I’ll leep it old school.
Thanks again for the help!

 

[blubuckaroo]

Update- MSD Distributer is smoked!! Switched back to Duraspark.
I guess I’ll leep it old school.
Thanks again for the help!

Contact this shop. They can set the advance on any distributor, but specialize in the Duraspark.
Make the call, you'll be a customer.
http://reincarnation-automotive.com/