2

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

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.

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-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:

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 is

first connected to the battery. This is due to the capacitor being charged.

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"