MSD 6430 Installation

MSD 6 Series

6A, 6AL, 6T, 6BTM, 6TN, 6ALN

Par ts Inc lud ed:

1 - MSD 6 Series Ignition 1 - 100V/1A Diode
1 - Harness, PN 8860 4 - Wire Splicers
1 - Harness, PN 8861 2 - Wire Ties
1 - 18" Ground Wire 1 - Faston Receptacle
1 - White Jumper 2 - Faston Straight Terminals
1 - Red Jumper
4 - 45° Faston Terminals 6T, 6TN, 6AL 6ALN, 6BTM, 6-Offroad Only:
4 - #8 x 3/4" Screws 4 - Vibration Mounts and Hardware
2 - 10-32 x 1/2" Screws
4 - 10-32 Hex Nuts
6 - #10 Lock Washers 4 - RPM Modules, 3,000, 6,000, 7,000, 8,000

WARNING: During installation, disconnect the battery cables. When disconnecting the battery

always remove the Negative cable first and install it last.

Note: Solid Core spark plug wires cannot be used with an MSD Ignition.
Note: An MSD 6 Series cannot be used with distributorless ignition systems (DIS).

THEORY OF 6 SERIES IGNITION

6AL, 6ALN, 6BTM Only:

CAPACITIVE DISCHARGE

The MSD 6 Series Ignitions feature a capacitive discharge ignition design. The majority of stock
ignition systems are inductive ignitions. In an inductive ignition, the coil must store and step up the
voltage to maximum strength in between each firing. At higher rpm, since there is less time to charge
the coil to full capacity, the voltage falls short of reaching maximum energy which results in a loss of
power or top end miss.
The MSD Ignition features a capacitor which is quickly charged (within one millisecond) with 460

- 480 volts and stores it until the ignition is triggered. With the CD design, the voltage sent to the coil
is always at full power even at high rpm.

MULTIPLE SPARKS

The MSD 6 Series produces full power multiple sparks for each firing of a plug. The number of
multiple sparks that occur decreases as rpm increases, however the spark series always lasts for 20°
of crankshaft rotation. Above 3,000 rpm there is simply not enough "time" to fire the spark plug more
than once, so there is only one powerful spark.

REV LIMITER

6AL, 6ALN, 6BTM: These ignitions are equipped with built-in Adjustable Soft Touch Rev Controls.
MSD Rev Limiters are adjustable with plug-in modules which are available in 100 rpm increments.
The Soft Touch circuitry provides a smooth and accurate rev limit by dropping the spark to individual
cylinders. The Soft Touch produces a load-free rev limit that is within 1% of the selected rpm.

M S D I G N I T I O N • ww w. msd ig ni tio n. co m • ( 9 15 ) 8 57 -5 20 0 • FA X (9 15) 85 7 -3 34 4

2 INS TA LLA TIO N INS TR UCT ION S

MSD 6T, 6TN

These Ignitions feature a special 4-wire connector which plugs directly into an external rev limiter; the
MSD PN 8738 Rev Control or the Soft Touch Engine Control, PN 8968. The PN 8738 is a single rev
limit only, while the PN 8968 features two rev limits and an RPM Activated Switch.

GENERAL INFORMATION

BATTERY

An MSD 6 Series Ignition Control will operate on any negative ground, 12 volt electrical system with
a distributor. The MSD can be used with 16 volt batteries and can withstand a momentary 24 volts in
case of jump starts. The Ignitions will deliver full voltage with a supply of 9 - 18 volts and will operate
with a supply voltage as low as five volts.
If your application does not use an alternator, allow at least 15 amp/hour for every half hour of operation.
If the engine is cranked with the same battery or other accessories such as an electric fuel or water
pump are used, the amp/hour rating should be higher.

COILS

The MSD 6 Series Ignitions can be used with most stock coils and aftermarket coils designed to
replace the stock coils. There are some "race only" coils such as the MSD Pro Power Coil, PN 8201,
that cannot be used with a 6 Series MSD Ignition Control. For more information on recommended
coils, consult the supplied Coil Application Chart or check with the manufacturer of your coil. If you
have any questions concerning coils, contact our Customer Service Department at [phone].

TACHOMETERS

The MSD Ignition features a Tach Output Terminal on the side of the
unit. This terminal provides a trigger signal for tachometers, a shift
light or other add-on rpm activated devices. The Tach Output Terminal
produces a 12 volt square wave signal with a 20% duty cycle.
Some vehicles with factory tachometers may require a Tach Adapter
to operate with the MSD. For more information on Tachometers and
MSD Tach Adapters, see the Tachometer Section on page 7.
If your GM vehicle has an inline filter it may cause the tach to drop to
zero on acceleration. If this occurs, bypass the filter.

FOREIGN VEHICLES

Due to the fuel injection systems, some foreign vehicles may require a
special Tach/Fuel Injection Adapter to use an MSD Ignition. See pages
7 for wiring and Tach Adapter information.
Note: Vehicles originally equipped with a CD ignition control cannot use an MSD.

Figure 1 Tach Terminal

SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES

Spark plug wires are very important to the operation of your ignition system. A good quality, helically
wound wire and proper routing are required to get the best performance from your ignition, such as
the MSD Heli-Core or 8.5mm Super Conductor Wire.

Note: Solid Core spark plug wires cannot be used with an MSD Ignition.

A helically, or spiral wound wire must be used. This style wire provides a good path for the spark to
follow while keeping Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) to a minimum. Excessive EMI, such as the
amount that solid core wires produce, will interfere with the operation of the MSD.

M S D I G N I T I O N • ww w. msd ig ni tio n. co m • ( 9 15 ) 8 57 -5 20 0 • FA X (9 15) 85 7 -3 34 4

INS TA LLA TIO N INS TR UCT ION S 3

Routing: Correct routing of the plug wires is also important to performance. Wires should be routed
away from sharp edges and engine heat sources. If there are two wires that are next to each other in
the engine's firing order, the wires should be routed away from each other to avoid inducing a spark
into the other wire. For example, in a Chevy V8, the firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2. The #5 and #7
cylinders are next to each other in the engine and in the firing order. If the voltage from the #5 wire
is induced into #7 detonation could occur and cause engine damage.
To add more heat protection to your plug wires, MSD offers Pro-Heat Guard, PN 3411. This is a glass
woven and silicone coated protective sleeve that you slide over your plug wires. For extra protection
of the spark plug boots, MSD offers Pro-Heat Boot Guard, PN 3412.

Spark Plugs: Choosing the correct spark plug design and heat range is important when trying to get
the best performance possible. Since there are so many engine combinations and manufacturers,
MSD does not recommend which plug or gap is exactly right for your application.
It is recommended to follow the engine builder or manufacturer's specification for spark plugs. With
that, you can then experiment with the plug gap to obtain the best performance. The gap of the plugs
can be opened in 0.005" increments, then tested until the best performance is obtained. MSD judges
the plug gap by compression and components:

These examples are just starting
points to get you going in the right
direction. Every application is different
and should be tested and tuned.

Compression Spark Plug Gap

Up to 10.5:1: 0.050" - 0.060"

10.5:1 - 13.0:1: 0.040" - 0.050"
Above 13.0:1: 0.035" - 0.045"

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Sealing: Do not attempt to seal the MSD. All of the circuits of an MSD receive a thick conformal
coating of Humi-Seal. This sealant protects the electronics from moisture. If you were to seal the
unit, any moisture or water that may seep in through the wiring grommets will not be able to drain
and may result in corrosion.

Welding: If you are welding on your vehicle, to avoid the chance of damage, always disconnect both
Heavy Power cables of the MSD (You should also disconnect the tach ground wire too).

Distributor Cap and Rotor: It is recommended to install a new distributor cap and rotor when installing
the MSD Ignition Control. The cap should be clean inside and out especially the terminals and rotor tip.
On vehicles with smaller caps, it is possible for the air inside the cap to become electrically charged
causing crossfire which can result in misfire. This can be prevented by drilling a couple vent holes in
the cap. The holes should be placed between the terminals, at rotor height and face away from the
intake. If your environment demands it, place a small piece of screen over the hole to act as a filter.

Initial Spark: It is normal, yet not very common, for the MSD to produce a spark when the ignition
key is turned On. This is due to the capacitor being charged and if the pickup is in the right position,
it could trigger the ignition momentarily. This could also occur when installing the positive battery
cable.

M S D I G N I T I O N • ww w. msd ig ni tio n. co m • ( 9 15 ) 8 57 -5 20 0 • FA X (9 15) 85 7 -3 34 4

4 INS TA LLA TIO N INS TR UCT ION S

MOUNTING

The MSD can be mounted in most positions, except directly upside down (if upside down, moisture
or water cannot escape). It can be mounted in the engine compartment as long as it is away from
direct engine heat sources. It is not recommended to mount the unit in an enclosed area such as
the glovebox.
When you find a suitable location to mount the unit, make sure the wires of the ignition reach their
connections. Hold the Ignition in place and mark the location of the mounting holes.

• If you have a 6A Ignition, use an 1/8" drill bit to drill the holes. Use the supplied self tapping screws
to mount the box.

• If you have a 6AL, 6T, 6BTM, 6-Offroad or "N" Series, use a 3/16" drill bit and drill the holes for the
supplied vibration mounts. Install the vibration mounts, then mount the Ignition.

CYLINDER SELECT

Note: The 6A, 6T and 6TN do not require any modifications to run on 4 or 6-cylinder even-fire

engines.

The Soft Touch Rev Limiter that is built into the MSD 6AL, 6BTM and 6ALN is programmed for operation
on a 8-cylinder engine. If you are installing one of these units on a 4 or 6-cylinder even-fire engine,
the ignition must be modified. This is easily achieved through the cylinder select device on the side
of the ignition. To program the unit:

1. Locate and remove the round black cover with a single Phillips screw.

2. There are two wire loops, a Red and Blue loop. Refer to the chart in Figure 2 to determine which

loop to cut for your application.

3. After cutting the loop(s), turn the wire ends away from each other so they cannot come into contact.

Install the cover and screw.

Note: MSD offers Ignition Controls for odd-fire 6-cylinder engines: 6A, PN 6246 and the 6T, PN 6446.

Figure 2 Selecting the number of Cylinders.

WIRING

GENERAL WIRING INFORMATION

Wire Length: All of the wires of the MSD Ignition may be shortened as long as quality connectors
are used or soldered in place. To lengthen the wires, use one size bigger gauge wire (10 gauge for
the power leads and 16 gauge for the other wires) with the proper connections. All connections must
be soldered and sealed.

M S D I G N I T I O N • ww w. msd ig ni tio n. co m • ( 9 15 ) 8 57 -5 20 0 • FA X (9 15) 85 7 -3 34 4

INS TA LLA TIO N INS TR UCT ION S 5

Grounds: A poor ground connection can cause many frustrating problems. When a wire is specified
to go to ground, it should be connected to the battery negative terminal, engine block or chassis.
There should always be a ground strap between the engine and the chassis. Always securely connect
the ground wire to a clean, paint free metal surface.

Ballast Resistor: If your vehicle has a ballast resistor in line with the coil wiring, it is recommended
to bypass it.

ROUTING WIRES

The MSD wires should be routed away from direct heat sources such as exhaust manifolds and
headers and any sharp edges. The trigger wires should be routed separate from the other wires
and spark plug wires. It is best if they are routed along a ground plane such as the block or firewall
which creates an electrical shield. The magnetic pickup wires should always be routed separately
and should be twisted together to help reduce extraneous interference.

WIRE FUNCTIONS

POWER LEADS

HEAVY RED

HEAVY BLACK

RED

ORANGE

BLACK

TRIGGER
WIRES

These are the two heavy gauge wires (12 gauge) and are responsible for
getting direct battery voltage to the Ignition. The ignition has an internal fuse
so no fuse is necessary.

This wire connects directly to the battery positive (+) terminal or to a positive
battery junction or the positive side of the starter solenoid.
Note: Never connect the alternator.

This wire connects to a good ground, either at the battery negative (-) terminal
or to the engine.

Connects to a switched 12 volt source. Such as the ignition key or switch.

Connects to the positive (+) terminal of the coil.

This is the only wire that makes electrical contact with the coil positive
terminal.

Connects to the negative (-) terminal of the coil.

This is the only wire that makes electrical contact with the coil negative
terminal.

There are two circuits that can be used to trigger the MSD Ignition; a Points
circuit (White wire) and a Magnetic Pickup circuit (Violet and Green wires).
The two circuits will never be used together.

WHITE

VIOLET
AND GREEN
(MAGNETIC
PICKUP
CONNECTOR)

M S D I G N I T I O N • ww w. msd ig ni tio n. co m • ( 9 15 ) 8 57 -5 20 0 • FA X (9 15) 85 7 -3 34 4

This wire is used to connect to the points, electronic ignition amplifier output
or to the Yellow wire of an MSD Timing Accessory. When this wire is used,

the Magnetic Pickup connector is not used.

These wires are routed together in one harness to form the Magnetic Pickup
connector. The connector plugs directly into an MSD Distributor or Crank
Trigger. It will also connect to factory magnetic pickups or other aftermarket
pickups. The Violet wire is positive (+) and the Green is negative (-). When

these wires are used, the White wire is not.

6 INS TA LLA TIO N INS TR UCT ION S

Common Mag Pickup Wires

The chart shows the polarity of other
common magnetic pickups. If using a
different magnetic pickup, use the MSD
2-Pin connector, available as PN 8824,
for a direct plug-in installation.

Distributor Colors

Mag+ Mag-

MSD Org/Blk Vio/Blk
MSD Crank Trigger Violet Green
Ford Orange Violet

46/48000

Accel
Accel
Chrysler Org/Wht Black
Mallory Org/Blk Vio/Blk

Figure 3 Common Mag Pickup Wires.

Series Org/Blk Vio/Blk

51/61000

Series Red Black

WARNING: The MSD 6 Series Ignitions are capacitive discharge ignitions. High voltage is present

at the coil primary terminals. Do not touch the coil or connect test equipment to the
terminals.

PRESTART CHECK LIST

• The only wires connected to the coil terminals are the MSD Orange to coil positive and Black to

coil negative.

• The small Red wire of the MSD is connected to a switched 12 volt source.

• If running a 6AL, 6BTM or 6ALN on a 4 or 6-cylinder engine the cylinder select must be modified.

• The MSD power leads are connected directly to the battery positive and negative terminals.

• The battery is connected and fully charged if not using an alternator.

• The engine is equipped with at least one ground strap to the chassis.

THEFT DETERRENT

The MSD provides the opportunity to easily install a theft deterrent kill switch (Figure 4).

White Wire Trigger

When using the WHITE wire to trigger the MSD, install a switch across the magnetic pickup VIOLET
wire to ground. When the VIOLET wire is grounded, the vehicle will crank but not start.

Magnetic Pickup Trigger

When using the mag pickup to trigger the MSD, install a switch to the WHITE wire and the other side
to ground. When the WHITE wire is grounded, the vehicle will crank but will not start.

Figure 4 Connecting a Theft Deterrent Switch Through the MSD Ignition.

M S D I G N I T I O N • ww w. msd ig ni tio n. co m • ( 9 15 ) 8 57 -5 20 0 • FA X (9 15) 85 7 -3 34 4

INS TA LLA TIO N INS TR UCT ION S 7

TROUBLESHOOTING

Every MSD Ignition undergoes numerous quality control checks including a four hour burn-in test. If
you experience a problem with your MSD, our research has shown that the majority of problems are
due to improper installation or poor connections.
The Troubleshooting section has several checks and tests you can perform to ensure proper installation
and operation of the MSD. If you have any questions concerning your MSD, call our Customer Support
Department at [phone], 7 - 6 mountain time.

TACH/FUEL ADAPTERS

If your tachometer does not operate correctly or if you experience a no-run situation with your foreign
vehicle you probably need an MSD Tach Adapter. The chart below lists common tachometers and if
an Adapter is necessary.

Tachometer Compatibility List

AUTOGAGE 8910 8920

AUTOMETER NONE NONE
FORD MOTORSPORTS NONE NONE
MALLORY NONE NONE
MOROSO NONE NONE
STEWART (voltage triggered) 8910 8920
S.W. & BI TORX NONE NONE
SUN 8910 8920
VDO 8910 8920
AMC (JEEP) 8910 8920
CHRYSLER 8910 8920
FORD (voltage triggered) 8910 8920
GENERAL MOTORS Bypass In-Line Filter Bypass In-line filter
IMPORTS 8910 8920

AFTERMARKET TACHOMETER WHITE WIRE TRIGGER MAGNETIC TRIGGER CONNECTOR

Note:

On the list above, the trigger wire on tachometers that are marked NONE may be connected

Output Terminal on the MSD 6 Series Ignition Unit using the supplied Female Faston Receptacle.

to the Tach

NO-RUN ON FOREIGN VEHICLES

Some foreign vehicles with fuel injection systems may require an MSD Tach/Fuel Injection Adapter
to run with an MSD 6 Series Ignition. This is because many of these systems use the same trigger
source to operate the MSD, the tachometer and the fuel injection. This results in a voltage signal
that is too low to accurately trigger the fuel injection. To fix this, an MSD Tach Adapter, PN 8910, will
remedy the problem on the majority of vehicles. If the PN 8910 does not fix the problem, the PN
8910-EIS will be required.

Note: Toyotas and Ford Probes will require the PN 8910-EIS Adapter.

INOPERATIVE TACHOMETERS

If your tachometer fails to operate with the MSD installed you may need an MSD Tach Adapter. Before
getting an Adapter, try connecting your tachometer trigger wire to the tach output terminal on the
side of the MSD. This output produces a 12 volt, square wave (see page 2). If the tach still does not
operate, you will need a Tach Adapter. There are two Tach Adapters:

PN 8920: If you are using the Magnetic Pickup connector (Green and Violet wires) to trigger the MSD,

you will need the PN 8920.

PN 8910: If your tachometer was triggered from the coil negative terminal (voltage trigger) and you

are using the White wire to trigger the MSD you will need the PN 8910.

M S D I G N I T I O N • ww w. msd ig ni tio n. co m • ( 9 15 ) 8 57 -5 20 0 • FA X (9 15) 85 7 -3 34 4

8 INS TA LLA TIO N INS TR UCT ION S

1A-400V DIODE

TO CHARGING

LIGHT

SPLICE HERE

OR

DELCOTRON
ALTERNATOR

FORD VEHICLES

ATTACH DIODE TO

TERMINAL "1"

EARLY GM VEHICLES ATTACH DIODE TO TERMINAL "4"

1 2

3 4

SMALLER OF THE 2-WIRES

DIODE

WIRE LOOM

GM 2-WIRE ALTERNATORS

FROM POINTS
OR AMPLIFIER

MSD WHITE

MSD RED

SWITCHED 12V

(original coil+ wire from tach)

CHRYSLER DUAL

BALLAST RESISTOR

BALLAST RESISTOR

If you have a current trigger tach (originally coil
positive) and use the White wire of the MSD,
you can purchase a Chrysler Dual Ballast
Resistor (used from 1973 - 1976) and wire it
as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 Wiring the Dual Ballast Resistor.

ENGINE RUN-ON

If your engine continues to run even when the ignition is turned Off you are experiencing engine Run­On. This usually only occurs on older vehicles with an external voltage regulator. Because the MSD
receives power directly from the battery, it does not require much current to keep the unit energized.
If you are experiencing run-on, it is due to a small amount of voltage going through the charging lamp
indicator and feeding the small Red wire even if the key is turned off.

Early Ford and GM: To solve the Run-On problem, a Diode is supplied with the MSD in the parts bag.
By installing this Diode in-line of the wire that goes to the Charging indicator, the voltage is kept from
entering the MSD. Figure 6 shows the proper installation for early Ford and GM vehicles.

Note: Diodes are used to allow voltage to flow only one way. Make sure the Diode is installed
facing the proper direction (as shown in Figure 6).

Ford: Install the Diode inline to the wire going to the #1 terminal.
GM: Install the Diode in-line to the wire going to terminal #4.

Figure 6 Installing the Diode to fix Run-On.

GM 1973 - 1983 with Delcotron Alternators

GM Delcotron Alternators use an internal voltage regulator. Install the Diode in-line on the smallest
wire exiting the alternator (Figure 6). It is usually a Brown wire.

M S D I G N I T I O N • ww w. msd ig ni tio n. co m • ( 9 15 ) 8 57 -5 20 0 • FA X (9 15) 85 7 -3 34 4