MSD-6AL & duraspark II

[wsa111]

There are two ways to wire the MSD-6AL, 1 is to use the direct magnitic pick-up to the duraspark distributor.
2 is to use the duraspark II module & use the white wire to trigger the MSD-6AL.
Is there any gain of using the duraspark module as the primary source & then connect the msd, or just connect the msd directly to the distributor via the magnetic pick-up??? William

 

[MustangSix]

The only real benefit might be that you could retain the factory retard/advance, but that's of limited benefit. The big advantage is the elimination of bunches of wiring and one electronic gizmo.

 

[CobraSix]

The only other advantage of wiring in the stock module, is that if your MSD craps out, then you can easily wire in the module to get you down the road. Just redundancy...

I didn't wire one in, just straight with the MSD.

Slade

 

[mustang6]

If you leave the stock module in place, and wire the MSD up using stock Ford Duraspark wiring harnesses plus the Duraspark to MSD adapter, you can run the MSD on it's own and switch back over to the OEM module on it's own with just a couple unplug/plug actions. I ran this way for quite awhile on my Mustang before I finally decluttered the fenderwell by removing the Ford module. I never had any MSD failures, but a few times I switched back over to the Ford module just to remind myself how much smoother it ran (especially idled) on the MSD alone.

 

[wsa111]

I have been running the msd using my 68 distributor with pertronix I. I have it hooked up using the white pick up wire on the msd, unit ran fine.
reinstalled the duraspark II distributor where it would not idle or run properly when the vacuum advance was hooked, the engine just went spastic, even with the vacuum line off the, using the msd #8869 harness.
MSD tech, I reinstalled the duraspark distributor.
I found on your adapter #8869 the wiring was crossed, I cut the harness & soldered the wires for the correct polarity. In your previos post you said the polarity sounds like it was reversed & it was.
Hooked the magnetic pickup via corrected #8869 harness to msd-6al & the engine runs to perfection. The idle is much smoother & the throttle response is crisp. I have the same centrifigul curve in the duraspark as was in the stock distributor using the pertronix. 12 dist degrees X 2=24 crank degrees plus 14 initial = 38 degrees total all in by 2800 rpms.
This is a copy of the final fix.
i thought i would post this just in case anyone else out there had one of the #8869 msd harness with reversed polarity. William

 

[addo]

I'm glad to hear you got it sorted!