MSD 6AL with HEI?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Hardesty454 · 03-08-2011, 10:28 PM

I have a brand new MSD 6AL that was under the seat of my truck when I bought it. Not hooked up, wired, nothing....

Curious if these can be installed with HEI? Any Benifits? I thought these had to be hooked to pos/neg on the coil and direct to pickup?

Any help is MUCH appreciated!

HavinSomeFun · 03-08-2011, 10:31 PM

you can run them with HEI. The 6AL is a great box and offers many perks to running. Go to the MSD site and they will have directions. Follow them or you will have a no good MSD6AL.

darthwall · 03-08-2011, 10:41 PM

you basically gut the hei out use the two wires from pickup to the box and wire the coil into the box it works great starts easier and you have a rev limiter

Hardesty454 · 03-08-2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HavinSomeFun

you can run them with HEI. The 6AL is a great box and offers many perks to running. Go to the MSD site and they will have directions. Follow them or you will have a no good MSD6AL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by darthwall

you basically gut the hei out use the two wires from pickup to the box and wire the coil into the box it works great starts easier and you have a rev limiter

Awesome... So essentially the MSD wil take the place of the coil on top?

k5hart · 03-08-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hardesty454

Awesome... So essentially the MSD wil take the place of the coil on top?

Yes. You buy an external coil and a piece that replaces the HEI coil. Check MSD. They have all the pieces. Mine works great.

darthwall · 03-08-2011, 10:58 PM

no the coil will stay there the msd will replace the internals forgot whats its called just google msd 6al wiring diagram and you will get it it's pretty simple to do

k5hart · 03-08-2011, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darthwall

no the coil will stay there the msd will replace the internals forgot whats its called just google msd 6al wiring diagram and you will get it it's pretty simple to do

I had to use an external coil when I did mine. Maybe they've come up with some other kit.

todd99 · 03-09-2011, 12:48 AM

I just talked to the tech support this morning about installing a 6A. Follow the instructions for GM four pin module.

http://www.msdignition.com/uploadedF...structions.pdf

Jessechop · 03-09-2011, 07:15 AM

Stock coil, simple to do really

cdowns · 03-09-2011, 10:57 AM

loads of times installs of those boxes are quite shody and screw the whole ignintion system up
not really any great advantage on a daily driver street machine but more of a potential source of being stranded on the side of the road

Lee H · 03-09-2011, 11:18 AM

For a stock to mild set up you will not see any improvement over your stock HEI. Just my humble opinion.

68 IRON · 03-09-2011, 11:33 AM

I had an MSD on my Jeep back in the 80's. It starter running poorly one day and I thought the MSD failed. Come to find out about a month ago it just burned the coil. My buddy at work checked it out and said it works fine......could probably weld with it! I'm gonna try it out on our 68 with I6. He also told me to use a coil with the lowest resistance possible. Besides, if it starts running rough, more than likely gonna be the coil that that failed (easy enough to reverse until I get a new coil).

k5hart · 03-09-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee H

For a stock to mild set up you will not see any improvement over your stock HEI. Just my humble opinion.

I highly agree with this statement. Get a good HEI coil and module instead. I think MSD is even building rev limiter into their HEI modules if it's something your interested in.

I do think the 6AL made a great improvement on my truck, which is a weekend driver, but it's fairly radical. Good installation is always key.

Hardesty454 · 03-09-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k5hart

I highly agree with this statement. Get a good HEI coil and module instead. I think MSD is even building rev limiter into their HEI modules if it's something your interested in.

I do think the 6AL made a great improvement on my truck, which is a weekend driver, but it's fairly radical. Good installation is always key.

I have a 454, mild cam, highrise intake, straight pipe 3" exhaust (no H or X) and stock starter. good install?

69sixpackbee · 03-09-2011, 01:00 PM

HEI over an MSD any day on a stock-ish setup. I regret putting one on my 402 but I had to because I needed the clean tach signal for my EFI otherwise I'd never have changed it.
Bud

AusTruck · 03-09-2011, 02:46 PM

I had a stock HEI on a 350 with a long overlap cam in my 65 Malibu. Barely got enough vacuum to run the power brakes. I put the MSD box on, just using the pickup from the HEI to send a signal to the box. Kept the stock coil on top of the HEI, but as I recall MSD tells ya to replace the carbon button that connects the coil to the rotor as it tends to burn out. Did all that and got a much better running motor and 2 more inches of vacuum.

Planning to do the exact same thing on my 69 C10, HEI with an MSD box. IMHO and experience, the hotter, and multiple spark helps when running a bit of a hot cam on a vehicle used on the street.

03-08-2011, 10:28 PM	#1
Hardesty454 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Riverbank, Ca Posts: 1,006	MSD 6AL with HEI?? I have a brand new MSD 6AL that was under the seat of my truck when I bought it. Not hooked up, wired, nothing.... Curious if these can be installed with HEI? Any Benifits? I thought these had to be hooked to pos/neg on the coil and direct to pickup? Any help is MUCH appreciated! __________________ Rob 1971 c10 - ground up in progress Tripp's Speed Shop Build - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=589750

03-08-2011, 10:31 PM	#2
HavinSomeFun Still Just Havin Some Fun! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Piedmont, Oklahoma Posts: 1,145	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? you can run them with HEI. The 6AL is a great box and offers many perks to running. Go to the MSD site and they will have directions. Follow them or you will have a no good MSD6AL. __________________ a green one with some stuff done to it....

03-08-2011, 10:41 PM	#3
darthwall Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: washington Posts: 274	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? you basically gut the hei out use the two wires from pickup to the box and wire the coil into the box it works great starts easier and you have a rev limiter

03-08-2011, 10:58 PM	#6
darthwall Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: washington Posts: 274	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? no the coil will stay there the msd will replace the internals forgot whats its called just google msd 6al wiring diagram and you will get it it's pretty simple to do

03-09-2011, 12:48 AM	#8
todd99 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: prescott, az Posts: 225	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? I just talked to the tech support this morning about installing a 6A. Follow the instructions for GM four pin module. http://www.msdignition.com/uploadedF...structions.pdf __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn Custom Camper

03-09-2011, 07:15 AM	#9
Jessechop Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: maine Posts: 191	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? Stock coil, simple to do really

03-09-2011, 10:57 AM	#10
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? loads of times installs of those boxes are quite shody and screw the whole ignintion system up not really any great advantage on a daily driver street machine but more of a potential source of being stranded on the side of the road __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

03-09-2011, 11:18 AM	#11
Lee H Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 4,141	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? For a stock to mild set up you will not see any improvement over your stock HEI. Just my humble opinion. __________________ 1972 C10 SWB, Air, PS, PB, 350/350THM. Second owner. 1965 Corvette roadster, 44K miles, 327/365 SHP, 4 speed, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak, second owner (bought in 1970), Have ALL numbers matching components. My frame off restoration thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556703

03-09-2011, 11:33 AM	#12
68 IRON Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 736	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? I had an MSD on my Jeep back in the 80's. It starter running poorly one day and I thought the MSD failed. Come to find out about a month ago it just burned the coil. My buddy at work checked it out and said it works fine......could probably weld with it! I'm gonna try it out on our 68 with I6. He also told me to use a coil with the lowest resistance possible. Besides, if it starts running rough, more than likely gonna be the coil that that failed (easy enough to reverse until I get a new coil).

03-09-2011, 01:00 PM	#15
69sixpackbee Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sabinal, Texas Posts: 1,706	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? HEI over an MSD any day on a stock-ish setup. I regret putting one on my 402 but I had to because I needed the clean tach signal for my EFI otherwise I'd never have changed it. Bud

03-09-2011, 02:46 PM	#16
AusTruck Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 90	Re: MSD 6AL with HEI?? I had a stock HEI on a 350 with a long overlap cam in my 65 Malibu. Barely got enough vacuum to run the power brakes. I put the MSD box on, just using the pickup from the HEI to send a signal to the box. Kept the stock coil on top of the HEI, but as I recall MSD tells ya to replace the carbon button that connects the coil to the rotor as it tends to burn out. Did all that and got a much better running motor and 2 more inches of vacuum. Planning to do the exact same thing on my 69 C10, HEI with an MSD box. IMHO and experience, the hotter, and multiple spark helps when running a bit of a hot cam on a vehicle used on the street.



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