I'm having troubles figuring out how to hook up my MSD 6AL box! I have a 1986 Trans Am with TPI... it has the HEI with IN cap coil and 7 pin module! Please click the link below to go to the topic I posted in the Electronics section about this if you think you can help me out! Thanks!

https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/001690.html

 

Are you sure you have the 7 pin module?? I have an 85 and mine has the 5 pin module. My MSD didn't replace the module, and I've never heard of it doing so on our cars, but I could be wrong about that. I don't have the installation instructions in front of me (still unpacking) but just pay close attention to the drawings and you should be fine. Double check that module too.... make sure you don't have the 5 pin setup. Installation took about 40 min on mine, not including mounting the box (PITA).

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Kevin Irving
85 Trans Am WS-6, 305 TPI, custom burned '86 PROM with '87 "165"ECM, Accel Supercoil & 8.8 Wires, Rapidfire #2 @ .055", MSD 6AL, 1.6:1 Roller tipped rockers, Homemade AFPR, K&N cone, no airbox, Aluminum Driveshaft, Wonderbar, TB Coolant Bypass, Ported Plenum, Descreened MAF, Syclone Fuel Pump, JET Airfoil, Mobil 1 synth in all but transmission.

http://www.geocities.com/transam85tpi/

 

OK, I have the instructions in front of me now.... whether it's the 5 or 7 pin module the wiring is still the same. It's pretty easy although the diagrams aren't that good. You have the five pin connector that plugs into the cap, right? plug the red & white jumpers into the top of the connector just as it is shown in the diagram. You will either have to get yourself a mirror or take the cap off for the next part. Looking at the cap from the driver's side, you have five terminals, three on "top" (farthest from you) and two on "bottom" (closest to you). The black wire from the MSD plugs into the left terminal that would be farthest from you, the ground wire plugs into the middle terminal farthest from you, and the orange wire plugs into the terminal closest to the firewall. Wire up the power, (Heavy red and black wires) and mount it in a secure place, (don't forget to use the anti-vibration feet!) and let 'er rip.... LOL, I didn't really notice a big difference after I installed mine. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the help.... you really helped out alot! Now I understand completely what I'm doing!! I'm POSITIVE I have the 7 pin module and not the 5 pin module but like you said it doesn't matter because it all uses the same wiring diagram!! About the MSD REPLACING the module.... take a look on the previous page as the diagram for the 4 pin module distributors.... you'll see that the module is completely eliminated by the MSD in that instance! My friend converted his 1989 Formula to Carb and replaced his distributor with a vacuum advance distributor as required when eliminating the ECM! The older vacuum advance distributors like the one he put in has the 4 pin module so when he hooked up his MSD it eliminated the module...... all this is what was confusing me because I helped him hook up his box and we were both under the impression that the MSD replaced the module on ANY car it was hooked up too.... guess we were wrong! Anyhow, thanks again.... I appreciate the help very much!



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1986 Trans AM
305 TPI
Well over 200,000+ miles (speedo/odometer non-funtional! Odometer reads 142,000)
4 Wheel Discs
9 bolt Borg Warner Rear (2.77's....oh joy) :P
Completely Stock
Current Project: upgrade to a 355 TPI, 6" rods, 9.5:1 Compression, Stock TPI ported, 24#/hr LTI injectors, Hedman Shorty Headers, SBC Stock Casting heads pocket ported, Comp Cams XE262-14 TPI Cam, Ed Wright Fast Chip, Holley AFPR, TPIS airfoil, MSD wires, MSD 6-AL Box, Hypertech hot coil!!