Changing Ford Motorsport Ignition to MSD

Ray Russell · #1 (**permalink**) 11-07-2001, 08:19 PM

I Currently am running(?) a Ford Motorsport Ignition (made by msd) that just went South. I am going to install a MSD 6AL box and coil. What is involved in the changeover? Will my Smith's tach still work without modification?

Dave Samson · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2001, 01:15 AM

I have just installed an MSD 6A and coil,etc. My research convinced me not to use the electric Smiths tach because it would not interpret the square shaped signal from the MSD unit. The MSD provides signal for the tach and separate Autometer Shift Light module. I bought an Autometer tach for $90 , stripped it down and fitted it into the body of the Smiths tach - worked first time, is accurate and esthetically looks the same.

Bob Putnam · #3 (**permalink**) 11-08-2001, 04:52 AM

There are a pile of Smith tach variations. While most don't work unmodified with the MSD, some do. I wouldn't toss it out the window yet!

If it doesn't work, it might be possible to modify it with an internal capacitor. I remember seeing a thread here or on cobraforum. Actually, if the square-wave tach output is indeed the problem, the capacitor might work externally too.

Ray Russell · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-2001, 06:42 PM

Thanks for the info Dave & Bob! I talked to Doug Reed at Superformance South. It just so happened he had a step-by-step procedure for the changeover that he so graciously e-mailed me. He also informed me that my current Smith's tach would not work..something you already told me. He referred me to Mark Dove at Dynamic International, who sells replacement Smith's tachs that will recognize the square wave that the MSD generates. Thanx, Ray

Dave Samson · #5 (**permalink**) 11-08-2001, 06:52 PM

Ray,
Don't know what Smiths tachs cost in the US but here in Australia they are very expensive and usually not as accurate as Autometer or VDO tachs. That's why I solved my problem the way I did.
Good luck mate.
Dave

Ray Russell · #6 (**permalink**) 11-08-2001, 06:58 PM

They cost 140.00, but thats less than a rebuild job. Call me traditional, I guess I'll stay with 'em for now...Ray

Jack21 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2001, 06:19 PM

Hello Dave,

On a previous post we were reminiscing about the Texas Tavern at Kings Cross in Sydney. It was 1971. Remember it well for the very brief period of time I was in it. Recall being reasonably well behaved.

Young woman catching my distinctly non-Aussie accent asked if I'd met anyone yet. Replied I had not, to which she stated, "Well, you have now". Shortly thereafter, we departed.

As far as swapping out a FMS for MSD, follow the instructions that came with the MSD. While you're at it, swap the distributor out for the MSD pro-billet, or pro-billet street.

Cobras seem to be an ongoing compromise between originality and practicality. I went with Autometer gauges and they work great. Smiths don't have the best reputation for reliability. That being said, there are enough Smiths tach's and MSD ignitions attempting to co-exist in the same vehicle that a solution to making them do so should be off-the-shelf.

Dave Samson · #8 (**permalink**) 11-10-2001, 10:16 PM

Hi Jack,
Well I guess if you were well behaved at the Tavern then you must have not had enough Aussie beer under the belt.

I have replaced all ignition components with MSD pieces but as for a billet distributor,just can't find one from any company to fit my Holden V8 engine. Noone lists them in catalogs so I will have to try to find some racing nurds and ask what they use.
I'm satisfied with the one Autometer guage that I have, namely the tach, as for all the Smiths guages, as close as possible to crap.

Have you been down-under since 1971 ?

Jack21 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-11-2001, 12:43 PM

Dave,

What exactly is a Holden? Not being facecious, I really don't know.

Is it a Ford? GM? Honda? If it's a standard engine, there should be aftermarket parts for it. Canada has some oddly named cars that are really Fords & Chevys with different cosmetics.

Haven't been "Down Under" since that fond experience, but have come close on several ocassions to doing an extended visit or relocation.

Although Aussie beer is some of the best in the world, catching up on any drinking wasn't at the top of my agenda. (Had more horizontal recreation in mind)

Being of good Irish peasant stock ancestry as many of you Aussies are, later in life I would become acquainted with a certain Mr. Bill W. He's a popular guy in Aussieland too, I understand, for the same reason.

Perhaps we should go off-line with this mate(jwalsh21@ix.netcom.com).