I know there are other diagrams out there, but I never really saw any real comprehensive instructions on how to successfully install an MSD box. The "General import wiring" diagram from MSD, which comes with the box, is the best diagram.

But, here is a worded break down of how you can do this in 15 minutes.

You need...

1) A MSD 6AL-2 (MSD 6AL is the same without the two step rev limiter).
2) A GOOD crimp tool. I am talking Klein or Snap-on, no walmart stuff, this is ignition!
3) 10mm and 7mm sockets and 1/4 inch ratchet.
4) Wire strippers (duh).
5) An already functional factory ignition system to upgrade and 15-30 minutes of your time.
6) Blue ring terminals

The wires on the MSD we are going to use are...

1)Small Red
2)Big Red
3)White
4)Black
5)Big Black
5)Orange
6)Blue (optional)

On the leading coil, you have 2 wires connected to it from the igniter. They are clearly marked positive and negative. You want to connect the SMALL red wire from the MSD box to the positive wire coming from the factory igniter. Connect the White wire coming from the MSD box to the negative wire coming from the igniter. The wires coming from the igniter already have ring connectors on them. I used female spade connectors to connect the MSD box to those two wires from the igniter just in case the box fails and I need to switch back to factory ignition on the side of the road. If you go this route, the spade connectors need to make a very tight connection with the ring terminals!

So now, connect your Orange wire from the MSD box to the positive terminal of the coil using a blue ring terminal (the positive post is clearly marked). Connect the SMALL black wire to the negative terminal of the coil using a blue ring terminal.

Now, we power the sucka up!

Your large RED wire needs to be either hooked up to the battery or behind the 80 amp main fuse. In the pictures I posted, you'll see that I went to the battery, but I am going to move this wire to behind the 80 amp main fuse (the MSD box has no fuse protection). The large BLACK wire needs to go to chassis ground. MSD says to ground it to the engine, but if you have a good engine ground and have upgraded your Battery to chassis ground, just ground it to the chassis.

BOOM! Drink a beer because you are done, of course unless you want that 2 step rev limiter to work!

The 2 step rev limiter is activated by applying 12v positive to the Blue wire I mentioned above as "optional". You can use anything you want really to trigger this. You can use the clutch switch, a toggle/momentary switch or the parking brake switch. If you use the clutch switch or the parking brake switch, you will need a relay.

Here is how to wire the relay...

85 = clutch or parking brake
86 = Ignition
87a = not used
87 = Ignition
30 = Blue wire on MSD box

The relay takes the ground signal from the parking brake and clutch switch and turns it into a positive signal for the MSD box.

*IMPORTANT NOTE!*

If you use the parking brake as your 2 step rev limiter control YOU HAVE TO USE 12V SWITCHED IGNITION to power the relay. IF you use use 12v constant, the relay will always be energized and will drain you battery!

If you decide to go momentary/toggle switch, just connect that switch to 12v ignition and the Blue wire from the MSD box.

 

Outside of the "how to", this is how I am going to wire up my 2 step rev limiter.

My CPU is fried but it works well enough. I have my high beam relay wired to a toggle switch, and since I live in a large city, I never need to use high beams. I just wanted them to work just in case.

The high beam switch is a momentary chassis ground switch. Using a relay, I am going to wire the high beam switch to trigger the 2 step rev control on the MSD box.

I don't need the 2 step rev control at all as I drive my car back and forth to work. I just want to wire it up because A)I have a factory switch perfect for it and B) Laughs and fireballs when the need arises.

 

i was under the impression the white wire was not to be used. maybe im wrong...

 

Meh..
This is not a GOOD mod as you only get ONE beer..!
JJ..post another where you can drink the whole case!..Thanks man.!

 

Fixed!
Anyone counting? That's a 9:3 beer ratio of jjwalker to jackhild59 when working on electronics!

 

..is it Fixed?..
Dunno..I woke up and can't find the car!

*(Dude..where's my car!)

 

Sounds like when you fixed my ac and I installed the radio in your daughters car. 9:3 ratio seems spot on.

 

Does someone have a schematic or a drawing of how to install an MSD 6al?

 

why do you need a schematic when post#1 tells you how?
the boxes are literally the same.
Jacobs 1000 are the same hook up too.

 

Really nice guide.

 

can't have a guide..without....

 

It's really simple folks. You dont need a diagram.

If it helps, I'll explain how the box works and what wire does what.

Big red wire and big black are the main power for the box. The small red wire connected to the positive ignitor terminal is the switched ignition source to tell the box to turn on. The ECU will toss a ground to the ignitor to charge the coil, and the white wire connected there from the MSD box sees that as a trigger. Once the ECU drops ground at that terminal the MSD start firing just like the factory ignition would.

The orange and black wires connected to the coil are just replacing the factory ignitor with the MSD box, and you are using the factory ignitor to trigger the MSD box.

 

Okay so let say that i am running 4 ls1 coils direct fire on a ecu that does not support 2 steps................can i run a msd box?

 

Yes, you can. I'd only run 2 of the 4 coils per box though.

 

jjwalker can you post a liittle more info of how 2 do it on my particular setup?of course if you have time and want 2.