What is a MSD-6A??
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: panama City USA
What is a MSD-6A??
Well the MSD-6a is Ignition Control Unit..Here is a link for some info about it
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=724&page=1
or MSD's Home Page under Automotive and then street performance
http://www.msdignition.com/
Hope this helps
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=724&page=1
or MSD's Home Page under Automotive and then street performance
http://www.msdignition.com/
Hope this helps
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: panama City USA
What is a MSD-6A??
Almost forgot to answer your other questions, It retails for around $149.99, but I have seen it other places for like $129.00. And will it help anything on your F-150, it should give you a hotter ignition matched with a good coil. Thats just my opinion, anyone else with a little more info.....
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
What is a MSD-6A??
From personal experience on a 4.9L....i replaced the coil with MSD's blaster TFI coil. Also got the MSD-6a. GREAT product, makes more power, noticeably more, and makes the engine run smoother at higher rpm. Below 3,000 rpm, it will produce a multiple spark to burn the fuel better. Above 3,000 there isnt enough "time" to give multiple sparks, so it helps the coil produce enough power to supply the plugs at high rpms because, on some stock coils, it is hard for it to recharge itself in enough time at higher rpms, to give a good voltage, so the msd helps that out. Made more power and ran smoother. Cheapest i've seen the box was 133 at summit racing.
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)
Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
92' Thunderbird 3.8L V-6 FOR SALE!
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter baby.
The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)
Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
92' Thunderbird 3.8L V-6 FOR SALE!
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter baby.
The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 291
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From: Oregon
What is a MSD-6A??
Does it do anything, without matching it with a new coil? I usually drive under 3,000 RPM.
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Senior User
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From: Oregon
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 2
From: Southeast FLA
What is a MSD-6A??
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 04-Apr-02 AT 07:50 PM (EST)]1. old, used Ford TFI coils are known around Ford boards as being weak and in need of change anyway, so...
2. relatively extremely easy if you spend the dough for the MSD-made wiring harness - it's a plug-in situation then. I direct-wired it to my battery (both positive and negative). I chose to move the vacuum canister on the passenger side inner-fender, but you could choose to place it elsewhere.
If you're considering it, you really should plan on the ignition box, a new MSD coil (TFI, but redesigned better than the stock Ford), and the wiring harness. In addition, the power output requires a good to new cap and rotor, plus spiral-core plug wires (probably minimum 7mm) to supress radio noise.
Nothing's cheap, and that $133 price for one piece of it is misleading. Do it right or don't mess with it.
2. relatively extremely easy if you spend the dough for the MSD-made wiring harness - it's a plug-in situation then. I direct-wired it to my battery (both positive and negative). I chose to move the vacuum canister on the passenger side inner-fender, but you could choose to place it elsewhere.
If you're considering it, you really should plan on the ignition box, a new MSD coil (TFI, but redesigned better than the stock Ford), and the wiring harness. In addition, the power output requires a good to new cap and rotor, plus spiral-core plug wires (probably minimum 7mm) to supress radio noise.
Nothing's cheap, and that $133 price for one piece of it is misleading. Do it right or don't mess with it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
What is a MSD-6A??
Yeah, the hiring harness i got for like 15 bucks. It took me, about a 1/2 hour to install it. There is a plug on top of the coil, just unplug it. Take out the 4 screws holding it in, pull it out. Screw in the new TFI. The plug that went into the old TFI, needs to be plugged into the wiring harness if u get it, and the plug in the wiring harness plugs into the coil. There is 4 wires from the MSD that plug into the wiring harness. Mount the MSD in a neat spot, wire it up to a positive and good ground and your done.
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)
Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
92' Thunderbird 3.8L V-6 FOR SALE!
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter baby.
The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)
Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
92' Thunderbird 3.8L V-6 FOR SALE!
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter baby.
The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
What is a MSD-6A??
Ok, I gotta say this once more, for no other reason than my own concience. The tfi is a multiple spark ignition courtesy of the Ford factory. The MSD in this particular case is redundant, hence why MSD sells a TFI coil. It's a good product, I have a 6A installed in my Jeep 4.0, but in the Ford TFI IV years 85+, it's not necessary, other than the coil.
Having said that, it's your money. K&N is a monumental waste too, but I digress.
Having said that, it's your money. K&N is a monumental waste too, but I digress.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 2
From: Southeast FLA
What is a MSD-6A??
Chip58 is right in some regards. I can't find direct claims of multiple aparks (Chip58, your source would be appreciated here), but the TFI ignition is a CDI (Capacitive Discharge) ignition. That would mean it certainly isn't a "bad" ignition if it is working as it was designed to.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JET_AV8R/Vision/Ignition/CDI.HTML
But that isn't to say the MSD doesn't produce a better spark anyway. Obviously something is going on if so many Ford TFI owners notice improvements with the MSD (inline and V-8) - even on stock engines.
Apparently this is something that needs looked into further, via a direct comparison of spark at different RPM's, before any more claims are made.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JET_AV8R/Vision/Ignition/CDI.HTML
But that isn't to say the MSD doesn't produce a better spark anyway. Obviously something is going on if so many Ford TFI owners notice improvements with the MSD (inline and V-8) - even on stock engines.
Apparently this is something that needs looked into further, via a direct comparison of spark at different RPM's, before any more claims are made.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
What is a MSD-6A??
Got it from a couple of sources. A ford dealer service manager, and a thorough discussion over at the Ford six performance board last year. Specs were not gone into. My own experience was that the MSD coil made a real difference by itself.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: purgitory
What is a MSD-6A??
what are some good higher-quality spark plug wires out
there? i've got a stock '82 F-150 300ci. w/ stock ignition (but want to update to msd-6a in the future).
also, when i buy and install the box, do i have to replace all-of the wires leading to the box. or can i use the stock wires?
thanks
there? i've got a stock '82 F-150 300ci. w/ stock ignition (but want to update to msd-6a in the future).
also, when i buy and install the box, do i have to replace all-of the wires leading to the box. or can i use the stock wires?
thanks