MSD 6440 40th Anniversary 6AL Ignition Control Installation - Manual (Page 4)

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
M S D I G N I T I O N
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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, 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
The Soft Touch Rev Limiter that is built into the Ignition 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.
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.
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.
Figure 2 Selecting the number of Cylinders.