MSD EFI

Has anyone installed a MSD efi in there car? If so what was the difficulties installing this kit, and did it perform well

 

I have been running the MSD Atomic system since it came out a few years ago. I ended up running it with a fuel pressure regulator and a return line after trying the returnless and having some issues. I have tied to my MSD 6AL box and MSD distributor so that the Atomic can control the timing. This is a huge benefit to this system as you can set the base timing, total timing, and vacuum advance from the handheld in realtime in 0.5 degree increments. You can also set the base RPM, and the RPMs where the timing starts to come in and is fully in, in 50 RPM increments. This makes optimizing your engine's performance much easier and faster than the old fashion way.

I did have some initial issues that caused me to upgrade my electrical distribution system. I had previously upgraded the alternator after adding electric fans and water pump. With that upgrade I upped the size of the wire from the alternator to the battery. Going EFI adds an electric fuel pump and the EFI itself. I was only seeing around 12V to the Atomic so I upgraded ALL my power, ground, and power distribution (2AWG and 4AWG). This put the voltage at the Atomic up at 14V and I haven't had any issues since. Moral of the story is that if there are any latent issues with your electrical system, EFI will find it.

The Atomic was the first of the 'no laptop tuning' EFI systems out there and other's have brought competing products in the mean time that have pluses and minuses. The Atomic has no provisions or capability for data logging so if you do have an issue, there is no data to hunt down what is causing it. The MSD support techs are good though (haven't used them since the install in 2012) and I like the cleanliness of the install and the timing control is a HUGE plus.

 

I’ve already made those mods. I’m ready for the system lol. Last winter I put a electric fuel pump with a regulator and my car already has the the return line. I made my return line 3/8 and it works great. I wanna put this kit on my 1967 buick riviera with a 430 with TA performance shorty headers a 290-94h cam Msd pro bullit 8517 distributor.

 

Good thing you have the return. I originally went returnless and I was having off-idle response issues...long story short in talking with the MSD techs, they had issues with large displacement engines using the returnless. Running the return fixed the issue but it meant dropping the tank again. Should be a great setup for your '67...really helps with warmup and drivability.

The tuning is fairly forgivable I setup a spreadsheet with my tunes over time and built in a calculation for the power valve setting based on the vaccuum at idle and off. Helpful to keep track of what is working/fine tuning the settings. I hope it works out well for you as well.

 

Send me a copy of your spreadsheet if you don’t mind, that way I can get an idea of what’s goin on. I would appreciate that very much

 

Absolutely. My setup changed a bit when I changed the heads and headers but feel free to use it as another data point. I also have a column for some settings I got from another board member a few years back.

I had to change the file extension from .xlsx to .txt to allow it to upload. Let me know if you have any issues.

 

Thank you very much. I will play around with different set ups and see what one is the power master lol

 

I'm running the atomic system as well. here is a little video

 

That is very nice! Can you send me your spec please, I would like to at least have the throttle body close before firing up

 

I tried to read it but it srambled

 

displacement: 462
cam type: performance
fuel pump: non pwm
idle rpm: 875
rev limit: 4700
air fuel target: 14.o
cruise: 14.0
wot: 12.8
nitrous: off
boost: 11.9
idle rpm: 900
total rpm: 2500
1dle advance: 14
total advance: 3400
vacuum advance: 00
vacuum type: unported
nitrous: off
boost retard: off
pump squirt: 25%
power valve enrich; 19%

 

Rev limit 4700?

 

for around town driving, I really don't race this car too much anymore

 

Come on! Life begins at 5500! And ends abruptly at 6,000 when you drive over your crank

 

Thanks for the spec. I will try this set up and go from there

 

Hello wormwood lol that’s a hell of a user name. Any way your car is very nice. Did you have any clearance issues with the Msd atomic efi? And how thick is the throttle body? I finally pulled the trigger on purchasing one. Do you know if it is thicker than the street demon carburetor? Your video is awesome.

 

I received my box today and thank goodness the throttle body is 1/8th smaller than my street demon carburetor, so I won’t have any clearance issues. Now I have to wait for some time off work so I can put this plan into motion.

 

71 purple buick, what distributor are you using? Did you rotor phase your timing?

 

I'm using Atomic to control my timing, using an msd distributor

 

I am using the MSD8517 (Pro Billet Distributor for BBB 455) with the MSD 84211 (adjustable rotor kit) all connected to the MSD Atomic and MSzd 6201 (6A ignition box). Been running it with the timing control for a few years now.