[Jack21]

Have same setup only using an Accel coil.

Stock ignition is wired differently than MSD, and you must follow the MSD wiring directions or it won't work. A ballast resistor is NOT used on an MSD ignition.

A stock ignition runs 12 volts to the coil while starting, then drops the coil voltage to 7 - 9 volts when running through the ballast resistor. The MSD, or for that matter a Crane, or Accel, runs about 460 volts to the primary side of the coil to CD ignition only type coils. That's why no ballast resistor.

The heavy red wire goes to a battery+ lead, and the heavy black wire to a chassis ground. The thin red wire goes to ignition hot in run. The tach lead goes to the tach terminal on the MSD box. One pair of leads goes from the MSD box to the coil, and another pair of leads goes to the distributor, assuming you're using a magnetic pickup. Polarity to the coil and distributor is critical.

From the ignition switch, start energizes the starter solenoid. The run position is hot in start, and hot in run. The second wire that went from the starter solenoid to the ballast resistor is no longer needed, nor is the ballast resistor. Any wiring that went from the ballast resistor to the coil is also not needed. Only the wire pair from the MSD box should be connected to the coil.

Spend $20 or $30 at Radio Shack and get yourself a volt-ohm meter (VOM). A handy aid for checking wiring continuity.

Also check fuses for some you may have blown while experimenting.