Hey guys,
I am having some trouble with my new MSD 6a ignition box and MSD distributor with a Blaster II coil. My car has a hard time starting. It turns over very easily, but doesn't catch. I have to play with the gas petal a great deal before it will start. Before the MSD, I just pumped the gas twice and it would start right up. Now, when I do that I get white smoke blowing out of my carb. The MSD was suppossed to make my car easier to start not harder. I called MSD and spoke to a tech. He was no help at all. He just told me to retune my engine and carb. I have the timing set to 16 initial and 36 total. Everything is wired correctly and nothing is loose. When I finally get the engine running it runs great, even at the track. It just takes me a long time to fire it up. I appreciate any help that you guys can give me. I have more faith in your wisdom than the tech guys at MSD, lol.
Danny

Probably need a few more details.... does it do this both hot and cold? Do you have a choke on the carb? What is your source for +12V on distributor and or box? Do you have a GOOD ground between all components and chassis and body?

Where are you getting your 12V source from?? What gauge wire are you running??

Try this.... turn the key to "on" count three full seconds and then turn to start.... What happens?

I have the 12v and the ground hooked up directly to the battery. The wires have been extented a foot with the same gauge wire that came with the box. The instructions say that extentions should be made with a thicker wire. Can this be the cause?

It does the same thing hot or cold. My carb does not have a choke. It has never needed one in our warm south Texas weather. I will try the 3 second idea this afternoon.
Thanks!

Extending the wire 12" is not a problem.

Which wire did you use for the ignition switch?? If you used the original GM wire that used to go to the coil, you may have only 6 to 7 Volts to the MSD box.

Do you have a ground strap from the battery Neg post to the body?

I have the neg battery post grounded to he engine. The wire that The wire that I am using for the switch is not the original, but it is hooked up to the original wiring harness near the steering column. Should I run a new wire straight from the battery and install a switch to turn it on and off?

You have to have a ground strap to the body as well. It will cause all kinds of weird problems with your electrical system, particularly digital systems. It should go to the firewall, and the front clip. Without this strap you could be grounding your entire electrical system through your new MSD box. :eek:

The ignition switch wire should be replaced right back to the ignition switch. The GM original is a special high resistance wire to limit the voltage to a points type ignition. ( I'm assuming this is for the car in the sig ) Use the same gauge wire that MSD supplied with the box.

I prefer crimp connections to solder. I know alot of people will disagree with this. If a crimp is done properly it is much better than solder. If you solder wires, make sure the wire is securely strain releived ( tied up )

What gauge should this ground strap be? Do I run it from the battery terminal to the front clip,then from the front clip to the firewall?

Use 10gauge.

Thanks for the help! graemlins/hurray.gif