TI

[Jimmy G.]

Is anyone using a MSD unit with a TI car. I have a 65 with TI and it works OK. I am trying to hook up a MSD unit but either it is malfunctioning or the standard MSD hook up recommentation does not work with a TI distributor. Any thoughts?? BTW, I have installed a MSD coil and it has a much superior spark to a standard 207 GM coil.

[Clem Z.]

Re: TI

Is anyone using a MSD unit with a TI car. I have a 65 with TI and it works OK. I am trying to hook up a MSD unit but either it is malfunctioning or the standard MSD hook up recommentation does not work with a TI distributor. Any thoughts?? BTW, I have installed a MSD coil and it has a much superior spark to a standard 207 GM coil.

i have use a MSD box with lots of GM mag pluse distributors in race cars. send me your e mail addy and i will scan you the MSD instructions.

[Alan D.]

Re: TI

Jim, the only thing I can tell you is that the MSD does work with the 64 TI and stock coil. That was the only option I had back in the 70's when I got tired of replacing Germanium Transistors found in radio's - worked but that's about all.
Will try to find my old setup since the quick look failed to find.

Have you though about using the solid state replacements? I'm happy with mine. Not sure if the spark becomes important after a certain point, but others may have a better idea on that.

[Clem Z.]

Re: TI

i will try and post it here. the wires from the dist to the MSD MUST be TWISTED together to shield it from the EMF that comes from the ignition system.

[Clem Z.]

Re: TI

i will try and post it here. the wires from the dist to the MSD MUST be TWISTED together to shield it from the EMF that comes from the ignition system.

the biggest mistake that most people make is NOT CONNECTING the MSD leads directly to the battery

[Jimmy G.]

Re: TI

I wilol try Clems instructions but the ones with the MSD do not work. Fortunately the old TI still works. Just made up a set of Packard 440 wires (supposedly a no no with MSD). I have a full MSD tach drive distributor set up and wires but was hoping to go one step at a time. 1. coil OK 2. MSD box ??? 3. Distributor - later. Thanks for the help I will copy and print your instructions and try them . I have driven it some WHAT A BLAST !!! 600 HP Tremac 5 speed 1996 Grand Sport Suspension and Brakes One of these days I will figure out how to post photos. BTW I started with a 1965 matching numbers NCRS Top Flight Blue Blue coupe 3 inch sidepipes Neat ride Torque Thrust wheels

[Clem Z.]

Re: TI

I wilol try Clems instructions but the ones with the MSD do not work. Fortunately the old TI still works. Just made up a set of Packard 440 wires (supposedly a no no with MSD). I have a full MSD tach drive distributor set up and wires but was hoping to go one step at a time. 1. coil OK 2. MSD box ??? 3. Distributor - later. Thanks for the help I will copy and print your instructions and try them . I have driven it some WHAT A BLAST !!! 600 HP Tremac 5 speed 1996 Grand Sport Suspension and Brakes One of these days I will figure out how to post photos. BTW I started with a 1965 matching numbers NCRS Top Flight Blue Blue coupe 3 inch sidepipes Neat ride Torque Thrust wheels

solid wire will work but the MSD box should not be in the engine compartment. i have used it with the box inside the car. also the polarity of the dist to MSD wires must be correct

[Dick W.]

Re: TI

I wilol try Clems instructions but the ones with the MSD do not work. Fortunately the old TI still works. Just made up a set of Packard 440 wires (supposedly a no no with MSD). I have a full MSD tach drive distributor set up and wires but was hoping to go one step at a time. 1. coil OK 2. MSD box ??? 3. Distributor - later. Thanks for the help I will copy and print your instructions and try them . I have driven it some WHAT A BLAST !!! 600 HP Tremac 5 speed 1996 Grand Sport Suspension and Brakes One of these days I will figure out how to post photos. BTW I started with a 1965 matching numbers NCRS Top Flight Blue Blue coupe 3 inch sidepipes Neat ride Torque Thrust wheels

Jim, you must have a problem with one of the components. I have installed a MSD box on three cars with factory TI. Just followed the MSD instructions

[Jerry G.]

Re: TI

I just went through this on the race car. Msd boxes can be triggered by either a point contact closure or a magnetic pulse voltage. BUT they are different hookups on the box. You just need to switch from the point input to the pulse input.

[Mike R.]

Re: TI

what benefits are you guys seeing by using the MSD vs the stock K77 system?

Mike

[Jerry G.]

Re: TI

For the race car I have 14/1 compression ratio and I can't get a stable spark with a stock coil. It wouldn't even start with a stock TI system. The motor revs to 7500 regularly. In a previous configuration( non HMSA) the motor reved to 9500. The spark needs to be hot for good firing consitantly. I don't think this is a problem for street driven cars.

[Mike R.]

Re: TI

Thanks Jerry, I have always been dubious of performance ignition claims. It seems that if the system can reliably produce a spark under the conditions it operates under, then having more spark energy doesn't help. Using a match or a plasma cutter to light my BBQ doesn't seem to affect how hot it gets....

I was hoping that I was wrong and there was some magical improvement availible.

Mike

[Clem Z.]

Re: TI

Thanks Jerry, I have always been dubious of performance ignition claims. It seems that if the system can reliably produce a spark under the conditions it operates under, then having more spark energy doesn't help. Using a match or a plasma cutter to light my BBQ doesn't seem to affect how hot it gets....

I was hoping that I was wrong and there was some magical improvement availible.

Mike

the big advantage of MSD,Multilable Spark Discharge, is up to 3000 RPMs you get the MSD which helps keep the plugs clean which is a big help on street driven BBC

[Mike Z.]

Re: TI

Seems like an active thread with much interest-here is my two cents worth. I build K-66 distributors (mostly #263 bearing units and L-88 mechanical advance type) for a couple of Vintage Sports Car Race teams and the feed back is: the amp and coil must be compatible. In other words if you use the MSD amp, use the MSD coil-if OEM amp, use OEM coil.
The distributor in the system is simply acting as a "trigger" or pulse to the amp, but the amp may produce multi pulses or pulses at different resistance or voltage than the OEM counter part. On the distributors, we have measured the AC voltage generated by the coil P/U (these are by definition an electro-magnetic generator), and both the OEM and MSD generated very similar ACv. at our base RPM of 1000 (distributor speed). We however, are not capable of measuring the multi-pulse spikes, which would have a huge impact on the coil. Based on the known fact that the MSD coils have heavier windings and larger cooling oil capacity, it would be logical that it would be more durable and capable of larger loads, including higher number of multi pulse signals.

Mike Zamora
#12455

[Ken A.]

Re: TI

And, as Mike is aware, GM used this system (and recommended it in the Chevy Power books) in the mid 80's for all their NASCAR teams-which I'm sure had a lot of compression.