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Smooooth! MSD Box installed.

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by sparky, Nov 11, 2005.

Page 2 of 3
  1. Nov 12, 2005
    Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Los Alamos, NM
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    8,360
    My dad has the MSD, and loves it.... He did have an SS coil go bad, though, and is just running the Blaster....
     
    Patrick, Nov 12, 2005
    #21
  2. Nov 12, 2005
    termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Mason, MI
    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
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    4,422
    The one I got from Jon works really good8) I mounted mine inside on the firewall so if you open the glovebox(without the actual box):oops: you can see it. Wiring is pretty easy, you can even bypass it and use the regular points if for some reason you need to.
    The good thing about the msd is it doesn't use the points to send high current to the coil. It just uses it as a switch to tell it when to fire. Sooo, the points stay good longer.
     
    termin8ed, Nov 12, 2005
    #22
  3. Nov 12, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    Yup, if it malfunctioned it'd be a piece of cake to go back to stock in a few seconds.
     
    sparky, Nov 12, 2005
    #23
  4. Nov 12, 2005
    tgregg

    tgregg Member

    Oak Hills, CA...
    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2005
    Messages:
    529
    A few questions: I have HEI on my 225. I haven't hooked up the vacume advance. Would MSD work on mine? Do you not use the coil in the cap? Does this MSD do the advance? so far I am pretty unimpressed with HEI but I've never run this Jeep without it. Also I expect the vacume advance will make a difference.
     
    tgregg, Nov 12, 2005
    #24
  5. Nov 12, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2002
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    It'll work.

    I don't have vacuum advance on mine at all.

    It's just plug 'n play as I said. Instructions cover three types of GM HEI, Fords, Dodges, etc.

    Read this: http://www.msdignition.com/pdf/6%20series/6series.pdf PDF File! Explains how this works.

    What's unimpressive about HEI in your Jeep now? Sure points can be set up correctly and work well, but in my experience over time the performance degrades until you go back and check everything again. HEI won't do that. If nothing else it's worth that. Put it in and forget it, well sorta, until the coil dies. ;)
     
    sparky, Nov 12, 2005
    #25
  6. Nov 12, 2005
    tgregg

    tgregg Member

    Oak Hills, CA...
    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2005
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    529
    It has been a long time since I drove anything with an old engine. My Saturn Vue has a 250hp Honda motor in it and will scare you, even has traction control.
    The CJ runs fine it just isn't very powerful. I guess I need to drive an F head so I appreciate the V6 huh!! With 16 forward gears though it will go anywhere I want. It is all about torque, not HP.
     
    tgregg, Nov 12, 2005
    #26
  7. Nov 12, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    I'd reckon, I think of my V6 as being pretty powerful. But then I drove a 4 cylinder TJ for 8 years and have a VW 2.0 as the other car...
     
    sparky, Nov 12, 2005
    #27
  8. Nov 12, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
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    4,275
    You might be surprised at how much having the vacuum advance hooked up will wake up your Jeep. ;)
     
    w3srl, Nov 12, 2005
    #28
  9. Nov 12, 2005
    tgregg

    tgregg Member

    Oak Hills, CA...
    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2005
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    529
    I have the adjustable vacume advance and weight kit to put on it. I've been trying to get my boat barn done though before winter comes roaring in. Since I got into this old Jeep thing my 3 car garage isn't big enough anymore to winter the boat. The Jeep takes 2 stalls plus my shop:?
    I'm just happy to have the CJ running. I took it out into the dirt yesterday and it does really well. Only thing I need to work on is to tie the spare tire rack down better as it is really noisy and build a new tranny floor board to keep the dust out. I have a hurst shifter on the 4 speed and it is cut out right up against the gas tank. I'm thinking 16 gauge steel for the cover, any suggestions?
    Also thinking about building up the floor under the accelerator pedal as my foot and it don't work together very well.
     
    tgregg, Nov 12, 2005
    #29
  10. Nov 22, 2005
    michigan_pinstripes

    michigan_pinstripes I'm not lost, I'm wandering

    Clarkston MI...
    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2003
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    605
    Important info on these MSD boxes.... They have a bad rap for failure and performance guys have told me that it is typically voltage spikes or shock (impact), not defects.

    1. Mount box according to instructions and use shock insulators
    2. Invest in MSD Noise filter/Surge Protector P/N 8830 (most important)
    3. Mount in fairly ventilated space (Jeeps not an issue)
    4. Sometimes may be noisey (normal)

    These precautions should provide years of service! 8)
     
    michigan_pinstripes, Nov 22, 2005
    #30
  11. Nov 22, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    Where to get shock insulators?
     
    sparky, Nov 22, 2005
    #31
  12. Nov 23, 2005
    Mark Mann

    Mark Mann Kermit

    Huntsville, AL
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    Jan 8, 2003
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    Just sounding in so I can track this thread- Sounds good to me!
     
    Mark Mann, Nov 23, 2005
    #32
  13. Nov 23, 2005
    vanguard

    vanguard

    Just some rubber washers or fat o-rings would do.
     
    vanguard, Nov 23, 2005
    #33
  14. Nov 23, 2005
    sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Perth, WA
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    Sep 20, 2002
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    I can do that. Thanks Joel.
     
    sparky, Nov 23, 2005
    #34
  15. Nov 23, 2005
    ljspop

    ljspop Lurking Bronco Dude

    San Diego, CA
    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2003
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    394
    Good info guys. Now where is that spare $150....... :rofl: :D
     
    ljspop, Nov 23, 2005
    #35
  16. Nov 23, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
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    The regular 6A units are always on eBay, but you might luck out and find one for an odd-fire. They usualy go for under $100. ;)
     
    w3srl, Nov 23, 2005
    #36
  17. Nov 23, 2005
    John A. Shows

    John A. Shows Comic Relief

    Mendenhall...
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2002
    Messages:
    938
    My jeep has a box like that except mine has some dials of some kind on one end. It's called a MSD Digital 6 or something like that. I've got the same MSD wires and distributer cap as well as an MSD coil. Is this what y'all are talking about?
     
    John A. Shows, Nov 23, 2005
    #37
  18. Nov 23, 2005
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    5,349
    Your MSD box is the same but probably has the tach control so you can set the motor so that it won't over rev or has the timing control on it.
     
    Mcruff, Nov 23, 2005
    #38
  19. Nov 23, 2005
    BlueFlu

    BlueFlu past owner of some ecj5's

    Hermitage, TN
    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2004
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    1,552
    My last MSD box had chips for the rev limiter. Course its been more than a few years ago.
     
    BlueFlu, Nov 23, 2005
    #39
  20. Apr 6, 2006
    Roboter

    Roboter Klaatu Barada Jeepto

    Loomis California
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    Roboter, Apr 6, 2006
    #40
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