Actually, just playing with my new digital camera, and setting picture sizes... But, as many have asked me, this is where we mount the MSD in an A-Body. JW
msd mouting/GS Jim, got mine mounted over the spot where the heater core would go i think its a good spot!! need accessability. getting my pro billet soon time to rewire anything i should be careful of? Rich Martel BPC member :beer
My MSD is mounted beside (to the outside of) the battery on the inner fender. It is barely visible, but it is still easy to change rpm chips is necessary. I have been told that the boxes "prefer" to be mounted horizontally. Has anyone else heard this?
MSD mounting John, you got me curious... so I broke out the instructions and looked. They say: "The unit may be mounted any way except upside down, if it is mounted upside down condensation will not be able to escape. It can be mounted in the engine compartment, as long as it is away from sources of heat" Where we put it, you can just barley see the chip, but can access it to change it. The unit is almost invisible when the car is all put together... just the way I like it. Check it out:
I found that the MSD box mounts very nicely vertically to the left side of the radiator support. Very visible, but also very accessible.
I mounted my Stinger S-4 (yeah, there's still one out there working!) on the back of the passenger fenderwell. You can't see it at all. I have a velcro-mounted plate with relays on it for nitrous, converter lockup, and fuel pump, mounted where Jim mounts his MSD.
Jim, How difficult is it to mount there with the car assembled? Next question: How about the Digital 6+ with retard? Is it a much better choice than the 6AL or just more money? I'm wondering because of the recent posts about running with 18 degrees initial and figure I'd need start retard with that much initial. Current timing is 12/34. Thanks.
This is where I had to mount mine. I don't really care about hiding it, I would have just put it on the inner fenderwell, but the factory cruise is there
Gary, The LH inner fender must be removed to mount it there. I have not used the digital stuff yet, as the old standby MSD 6AL is a proven durable unit, and I have heard mixed reviews on high speed retard, from a host of folks, from full tilt race guys, to street strip speed artists. Some swear by it, others say it makes little or no difference. I personally have not experimented with it yet. That is another of the things on my "to do" list. I think it is dependant on your combo. And I typically like to let new technology "age" for a while, so the manufacturer works out all the bugs. As far as startup goes, I have yet to have any problems starting this 500+ HP street stuff, with nothing more than a set of good #2 cables that we make up here, and a good batt, and stock high torque GM starter. Those cars typically run initial timing in the 20-25* range. Keep in mind my "killer " street motors run only 9.8-1 compression, and the TA 290-08H cam, with it's 20* of overlap blows off a lot of cranking compression. One of these cars is in Miami, and it's owner reports no problems at all, even on the hottest days, after a short hot soak. I do run the TA heat shield on the stock starter, and have never had any problems installing that, even though it does take just a little bit of tweeking to get a real good fit. Building hot rods, I am used to tweeking! Later, JW
I've got a 6al box I mounted it in about the same spot that the vacum reserve can is in in Jim's picture right next to the soon to be deleted AC box took some time and a couple freinds too mount it there but it is very accesible and the wires run right into the factory loom and reach everything with out extensions
Jim I am considering a CDI system and just for looks would like to avoid an under-the-hood mount. Have you or others who have already been down this path ever considered a mount under the dash? Is there a limit on the length of the wiring that would prevent this? Since heat exposure is a consideration, this seems to me to be a better option plus you can avoid removing the fender which I have done but never enjoyed. What am i missing? Jim Lore
