Has anybody done a Crane optical AND an MSD 6AL install? Options

[Dr. Roger]

your voltage is supposed to drop only after it's been running for a while (ballast resistor keeps voltage high for better cold starts but drops voltage when it gets warm to save the coil.)

if it's 6V right from the get-go there could be the problem.

the picture depicts =-) a straight wire feeding the MSD and the MSD powering the coil... no ballast shown, right?

i ran a new switched power wire with a higher gauge and external ballast to my pertronix/coil setup. it will be going bye-bye soon for a HEI setup.

[Allan]

This is what I'm seeing:

Hook the Crane up using the weird 6 volt switched power and it runs. Can't get it to time, but it runs.

Throw the msd in the mix using the same weird 6 volt switched power and the crane wont fire.

I'm gonna take some pictures and let everyone take a look at exactly what I'm doing...

[Cap'n Krusty]

IIRC, the ballast resistors I've seen use a straight to the coil 12v while the car is cranking, and power through the resistor with the ignition switch in the run position. Correct me if I'm wrong. Don't make me google it .....................! The Cap'n

[Series9]

The TurtleGirl project moved itself from ABQ to PDX with this arrangement.

We had a lot of trouble with the Crane optical trigger, so it's been replaced.

[john rogers]

With the MSD box, the switched 12 volts does not feed the coil, it should never touch the coil connections. The switched 12 volts feeds the MSD box and there are two other leads that feed the coil. If the voltage at the coil is only 6 volts without the MSD box installed and you hook in the MSD box, it will never be high enough to make the MSD box fire so the engine will never run. You will have to get a switched 12 volt source and then it will run. If you do take some picts, make sure they show the color of the wires please.

[Aaron Cox]

capt,

pertonix's work fine. dont leave the key on for 45 minutes without running.... and the ignitor II'shave that taken care of on their own...

Pertronix hall effect pickup > crane optical

[Allan]

Interesting info from the 911 guys on the bird board:

been using an xr3000 (next step up) for 5 years now with no problems. here's a few things to note...

first, call their tech line, they are very helpful, and friendly.

second, tach will need new guts. sine wave vs. square wave. old tach is not compatible without converter, and since you've run it, it's probably fried.

third, depending on the coil you are using, you can open up the plug gap. i run mine at .045" with a ps91 coil.

four, timing should be no different. yes, you may have to adjust idle fuel setting. you should either have the new model, with the LED which tell you when it is firing, or use the spark plug "hey, it's sparking" method to set the shutter on the dist shaft. either way, that sets the shutter to the gear, then go from there.

five, (double check this with the tech line) if you are using beru connectors, don't. they have a resistor in the ends that aren't compatible with the ignition. you'll have to switch to a modern low resistance wire set. (i'm not sure if the 700 works in tandem with the CD ignition, or replaces it. the 3000 replaced my CDI) same with the stock coil. there is a limit on the resistance.

[SLITS]

Those oversized fish eatin' sparrows seem to know some things...............