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MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

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Old 04-21-2018, 08:18 PM
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MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

EDIT: This is super confusing. See post #2.

Got this setup a while back from a friend who had it on his thirdgen. Not sure how he had this wired up.

I see you unplug the ignition module inside the distributor and plug the black connector into the dist. And you ignore the tach output on the dist and connect the tach wire to the 6A box.

But where do you plug these loose spade connections in to?

Attached Thumbnails MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?-20180421_175727.jpg   MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?-20180421_151955.jpg  

Last edited by aaron7; 04-22-2018 at 06:47 AM.
Old 04-22-2018, 06:46 AM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

After watching a few youtube videos on how to wire the 6A to an HEI distributor... I honestly have no idea how this was wired up previously!

The magnetic pickup plug on the MSD box is crusty as if nothing was ever plugged into it.

Going to just hack all this off and wire it up properly.

Can I buy the plug for the magnetic pickup connection on the MSD box? Rather not cut the pigtail off.
Old 04-22-2018, 06:48 AM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

Ahh, yes I can. MSD 8860.
Amazon Amazon
Old 04-22-2018, 11:58 AM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

You know there are instruction sheets out there to explain how to install an MSD? Because shitdawg, I haven't even looked at them in a decade and I know you don't use the crank trigger harness with a stock distributor.

You'll shoot your eye out.

Here, five minutes Googling, 20 seconds scanning the instructions.
Full instruction PDF - https://static.summitracing.com/glob...s/MSD-6201.pdf

Old 04-22-2018, 12:05 PM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

That's not for an HEI setup. And yes, you do use the magnetic pickup with the stock distributor. Know where I read that? The instructions. Because I DID Google it. Then I even posted that I found further information via YouTube.

I answered my own questions. Going to pick the magnetic pickup cable up and wire it in.
Old 04-22-2018, 12:29 PM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

If you're sure you've got it all figured out, then good for you. If not, look through the instructions until you get to the diagram that matches your distributor/coil/module, and read it.

If you're using a 4-pin module, you probably don't want the 6ft extension cable. The PN 8861 is the 8" harness to connect the pickup in the distributor directly to the box. With the 5 or 7 pin modules, or any of the other ignitions used stock on thirdgens, you just tap into the existing wiring at the coil.
Old 04-23-2018, 06:29 AM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

Sorry, was dealing with some asshats on FB groups for the same question and got a bit frustrated with the whole thing there.

I do know the setup was installed and working on an HEI thirdgen, so I really have no idea how it was all connected. Those extra spade connectors really threw me.

Ended up hacking that whole mess off and just wiring the two from the MSD box to the C- and B+ terminals on the cap & grounding the center pin.

Ordered the MSD 8861 magnetic pickup adapter as well as the 8860 pickup cable to get the dist signal to the MSD box.

Then I believe it's connected correctly according to the instructions I found!


Old 04-23-2018, 09:29 AM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

Yep, sounds like it should work.

When I first glanced at the thread, I missed that it wasn't a stock ignition. For all the TPI and computer controlled carb setups, you would just tap in at the cap.
Old 04-23-2018, 03:48 PM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

Ok, so found what he had done to use without the magnetic pickup. Second setup.


Old 05-03-2018, 02:15 PM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

Good thread
I've been wondering about this
Old 08-11-2018, 10:12 AM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

How would this work for going from hei to msd 6 box and billet msd distributor . My setups too big for stock style 7pin module so ive moved to the msd distributor non hei . Got spark working from the box but it's cut out signal to the ecu for the injector pulse.
Old 08-11-2018, 10:47 AM
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Re: MSD 6A to coil in cap style distributor?

How would this work for going from hei to msd 6 box and billet msd distributor . My setups too big for stock style 7pin module so ive moved to the msd distributor non hei . Got spark working from the box but it's cut out signal to the ecu for the injector pulse.
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