I picked up a nice MSD distributor (pn 8517) for my 455 a couple of years ago at a swap meet. Price was too good to pass up. Can this be used with my Stinger S4 ignition module? There are two wires coming off the distributor pickup. Does one go to coil plus and one to coil minus? Anyone know the color code? Thanks Patrick
Patrick, I can't answer your question, but I have a dist. that has the Stinger S4 conversion done to it, (The box went bad, but the dist/and pick-up check out good). I'd gladly swap you for the MSD unit dist....o No:
Patrick, You should be able to do this. There are 2 wires coming off your MSD distributor. One is black with a purple stripe, this is -, the other is black with an orange stripe, this is +. The Stinger box harness has 5 more wires. Black goes to engine ground, yellow is distributor -, green is distributor +, white goes to coil -, red goes to coil + along with the existing resistor wire in the stock wiring. Just make sure you get the polarity on the distributor right, or the engine won't run or if it does the timing will be very advanced. Hope that helps.
Yup, that'll work, and it gets rid of that ultra weak junker Chrysler pickup. I do this same MSD pickup conversion to stock dists that have the Chrysler Stinger pickup, and even further, I gut the Stinger boxes when they go bad, installing an HEI module into them, to retain the old timey hot rod ignition Stinger look.
MSD distrib + Stinger S-4 = ??? Patrick, I posted this at the MSD board, hope you don't mind cause I am curious myself: Is this possible? If so how do you hook it up? Is there a harness available to connect them? msdtech2 Posted: Sep 11 2003, 09:40 AM Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 332 Member No.: 19 Joined: 18-June 03 Unfortunately, we would have to see the instructions on the Stinger S4 Module, if you could please fax it to us at 915-857-3344 and put a note describing what you want done. Thanks, msdtech2 I would be concerned about the S4 module frying if it is hooked up wrong. Jeff
Jeff, The MSD distributor and the Stinger Distributor are both magnetic pick up designs(the stinger uses the popular Chrysler pic up). Lots of guys use theStinger distributor to trigger an MSD box. It will work the other way also. It's just a trigger, nothing will fry. The instructions I gave patrick are right of the Stinger instruction sheet.
Larry, Don't get me wrong, I'm just being cautious. I've done a little research, on the web and by looking at my old Stinger setup that I still have. I sure you're right, everything you said makes sense, now that I looked at the Stinger 5-wire harness. I was just curious what MSD would say about this. Not having an MSD distrib, do you know if their two-wire plug is the same as Stingers? (Rectangle w/a triangle on one side) Or do you have to cut and splice? IgnitionMan, So the mag pickup in the Stinger is Chrysler JUNK?? Can it be inexpensively upgraded? Is it worth it? I liked the auto-retard feature of the S4, which seemed to work well. But is Stinger's S4 and coil providing as much spark as 6AL & Blaster II?? To all, I don't use the Stinger S4 box or distributor anymore. I've been using Mallory's in another distrib and MSD6AL, mostly for the rev-limiter. I've been wanting to get the MSD billet distrib for some years now, just havn't got around to spending the $280
I need a coil for an S-4. I hear you can use just any coil. Anyone use an aftermarket sucessfully?? Bruce
Jeff, Stinger plug is different than an MSD plug. But, thats no impediment. MSD sells their connector under part # 8824. This is commonly available at Summit or Jegs as they are full line suppliers, you just need to ask for it. The MSD magnetic pickup has a + wire(black/orange) and a - wire (black/purple). The MSD wiring harness to the magnetic pickup has a purple wire which is + and a green wire which is -. Don't know why they didn't match the magnetic pickup wires, but all you need to remember is don't wire purple to purple. Stinger is Green for +, and yellow for - I'm sure MSD is just being cautious, they probably don't even know what a Stinger ignition is. If you asked them if their distributor could replace a magnetic pickup distributor, I'm sure they would tell you yes. I switched to the Digital 6 MSD box. The Stinger would misfire at times on the top end, and you should only run a .035 gap maximum with it. The MSD gives you multiple sparks over 20* of crank rotation, up to 3300 RPM, than one long spark after that. MSD recommends .050-.060 plug gaps for compression under 10.5:1, I'm running .050 with no problem. The box I have also has 2 rev limiters, a single stage of high speed retard, and a 20* start retard. It's all selectable with dials on the box. I find that I can run colder plugs and they stay clean, where the stinger would let them foul out.
Bruce, I'm running a Borg-Warner aftermarket coil with Stinger S-4. I found this out with some research from this or another board. Working great so far and it replaced my original Stinger coil. If you want a PN for the BW coil, do a search on my name here and you can referrence it. If memory serves me, less than $20 at Pep Boys.
Thanks Larry!! I REALLY APPRECIATE your input here!! You've been WAY more helpful than even MSD Tech's, which quite frankly, suprises me a little, and it should in my mind anyways. They're supposed to be GURU's. You floored me with most of your data!! I LOVE this board! Thanks Larry!
I use a genuine MSD 8466-1 magnetic pickup for both my small body full HEI AND MSD trigger only conversions. This makes the stock dists I convert work EXACTLY like the MSD distributor does, electronically. I use that pickup to trigger Stinger, Chrysler performance, and other boxes, like Crane Digital6 and others that can trigger with magnetic pickup. Now, there ain't nothing different in any Stinger setup than what you'd find in a Mopar Performance box. And, they use the same magnetic pickup the Chrysler uses. I have one person with a number of Hemi and 440 engines in various cars, all with Direct Connection perf tack drive dists. All use the D/C Gold Perf box and Mopar pickups, until I get the dists. I remove the Mopar pickups and ark style plates, install a Ford concentric plate and MSD pickup. That fellow, and a few of his friends that have had me convert their dists to the Ford/MSD pickup, all say the same thing, the engines run better. This, and the facts that the Mopar pickup is weaker and less specific, are all proven, by a few people wityh Stingers and those Mopar people I've converted dists for. BTW, just FYI, there's only ONE knowledgeable tech on the phones and e/mail at MSD, the rest are nut cases, and I'm just not gonna tell you whom he is, you'll just have to find him yourself.
My Pleasure Jeff, I got all of my information from reading MSD literature, and Charlie Evans posts on the old GSCA BB. Glad I could help.:TU:
