Ignition problems

[SVMCOBRA]

I need some help from the experts . I am down to hooking up my MSD 6AL box to my ford duraspark distributer. Here is the problem I have. I hooked up the box per the instructions. When I turn the key to the run position I am not getting any power to the coil. When I crank it over the coil shows power (test light blinks). I then took my test light and checked the battery side of the starter solonoid and it blew the fuse in my test light???? I had done this before I hooked up my MSD box and had no problems. when I touched the battery side of the starter solonoid. The ground wire is hooked up to the same ground I used for my starter solonoid. This is the only thing that is keeping me from starting up the cobra. Also I am using the painless wiring harness.

Thanks in advance
Ray

[Okiesnake]

I also have a 351W with a MSD 6AL box and a Ford Duraspark distributor.
First of all, don't hook up any of the Painless wiring harness to the coil. The Painless wiring harness assumes you are not installing a high output electronic ignition. All that you should have hooked up to the coil is the thinner black (-) wire from the MSD and the orange (+) wire from the MSD.
The Heavy Red (+) wire from the MSD to the battery side of the starter solenoid and the Heavy Black wire (-) from the MSD to a good frame ground.
The black/violet wire from the MSD is butt spliced into the green wire of the distributor and the black/green wire of the MSD is butt spliced into the violet wire of the distributor. The black wire on the distributor is not used.
The thin red wire from the MSD is attached to a switched 12 V source (i.e. the ignition key switch).
The white wire from the MSD is not used.
Take an extra piece of wire and put an electrical female spade connector at the one end and attach it to the male spade connector of the MSD (Tach Output connector - the little black round connection on the end of the MSD). The other end of this wire is attached to the tach (S) signal connector on the back of your tach gauge.
Your harness probably came with a fusible link. You need to install it where they instruct (at the battery side of the starter solenoid).
Good luck, hope this helps, been there - done that, had the same problem myself.
Okiesnake

[Jack21]

While you're at it, consider replacing the Ford Duraspark with an MSD Pro Billet distributor. What a difference.

[Don]

On the 351W, already had the MSD-6A installed and replaced the Ford electronic distributor with the MSD Billet , #8584. Purchased from Summit for $189. Nothing unusual about the wiring, but the interface connection harness from Ford to MSD is eliminated. Yes, with the timing and advance options available on the MSD Billet, made a substantial difference in overall performance and starting a hot engine.

Seems also with a total MSD system the components are in synch with each other and the potential of any wiring difficulties are greatly reduced.

[JAM1775]

DON...THANK YOU FOR POSTING THAT MSD PART NUMBER ! THAT IS TOP ON MY 351W WINTER MOD LIST. WAS IT EASY TO INSTALL ? DID YOU JUST DROP IT IN ALIGN THE #1 AND FIRE IT UP ? MY DURASPARK CAME FROM FMS WITH AN 18 DEGREE ADVANCE CURVE. IT IS SET FOR TOTAL 36 DEGREE TIMING AT 2300 RPM WHICH LEAVES ME AN 18 DEGREE INTIAL TIMING....UUGGH.

[Don]

I did not install the MSD myself, but I did " watch " the procedure. From selecting the springs and stop busings, removing the old distributor and installing the MSD was approx 1/2 hour by an experienced mechanic. Time includes answering my questions

Regarding the timing options. The MSD includes three sets of advance springs and four stop bushings. The springs determine the rate of the advance, how fast the timing advances. The stop bushings limit how far the weights can travel, stopping the advance. In addition to the initial or base timing. That said, it sure did make a difference and allows for a variety of settings based upon driving needs.

Also replaced the spark plug wires with MSD 31349, $72 from Summit

www.msdignition.com