Clevo + MSD gear / Pics & Tips - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

shaynet · 05-01-2005, 05:09

Thought I would share pics of my MSD gear installation and some tips for XD/E owners.

1st shot is a general one of the engine bay. This is original paint in the bay so its not real flash but the components look the goods. Its a 8580 Pro Billet dizzy. Also check out those Magnecor leads and carriers - blue of course!

2nd shot is the MSD HVC II coil mounted on the front of the passenger side shock tower. This comes with rubber vibration mounts. Again, blue looks good!

3rd shot is the MSD 6AL control unit with 7000 rpm rev limiter module installed. This is mounted vertically on the rear of passenger side shock tower. Bought a 90 degree drill bit to drill the mounting holes here. Again, rubber vibration mounts provided as well as wiring harness with simple to follow instructions.

4th shot shows height of 8580. Before this I was running IC&E modified XD electronic dizzy with K & N 14" x 3" filter on drop base with Extreme lid. This combo just fitted under XD bonnet by a few mm. Due to height of 8580 I have had to reduce filter to 11" x 2" as drop base is not available in 11" and base rises approx 1" so a 2" filter is all that fits. An Extreme lid would be the go but this is only a temporary setup till I install a TFC manifold or Funnelweb with a hole thru a replacement bonnet with low Hornet scoop.

If I had my time again I would recommend a small diamter dizzy which also have a shorter shaft and therefore no clearance problems with filter if your wanting to fit it all under the bonnet. May not be an issue for XW to XC cars

azza · 05-01-2005, 05:19

Looks good mate, how much for the lot? power increase? easier starting? and does heat effect the msd 6al as i am buying the 6a digital but mounting inside car.

shaynet · 05-01-2005, 05:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by azza

Looks good mate, how much for the lot? power increase? easier starting? and does heat effect the msd 6al as i am buying the 6a digital but mounting inside car.

Thanks. Ran up to about $1100 for the MSD 3 units then $169 for the leads. Had no choice but to get new leads due to extra height of dizzy (old performance leads would'nt reach and had different ends for dizzy) and the cap has spark plug type terminals that need the lead to go over not inside.

Haven't run it on the dyno since this mod but it will be going back on soon - just waiting for some jets & rods for the carb to re tune cruise circuits. So I will get another reading before changing anything to measure power difference. However, see other new thread - I have also installed twin thermo fans in place of clutch fans at same time so there should be about 10 fwhp there for starters.

Definately starts easier. 1st touch of the key from dead cold without choke and no cranking.

No heat problems this far with 6AL. It's actually about 9-10" above the headers but without going inside the car I had no where else to fit it in the bay. If you install inside you will probably have to extend wiring loom

brenx · 05-01-2005, 07:11

Nice!!! Theres some $$$$ in there.

The factory loom allows the MSD to be fitted inside the car. There is most likely a hole in the firewall of an XD that can be used/enlarged. I've recently fitted 2 msd units to 2 XB's Just above the passenger side rocker cover there is a small hole which I drilled out to 13->14mm. Ran all my wiring through that and it looks factory

pracy · 05-01-2005, 16:25

yeah shaynet i agree with the others, I am installing a 6AL at the moment, near the extractors is too close for long term, I am installing inside under the ashtray, centre console job...

TruBlu351 · 05-02-2005, 02:04

Nice work there mate.

So that dizzy (8580) slides straight into the narrower XD/E blocks?

I mounted my ignition box where your coil is.

xcgxl · 05-02-2005, 05:54

I found that the 13" Ford Motorsport air filter just JUST clears my MSD. Its only a small diameter ready to run but its still quite tall. I used to run a 14x8" K&N. WIll get myself a 13" K&N filter one day, I think it will have to be a special order, that one. http://gallery.fordforums.com//showp.../cat/500/page/

shaynet · 05-03-2005, 03:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruBlu351

Nice work there mate.

So that dizzy (8580) slides straight into the narrower XD/E blocks?

I mounted my ignition box where your coil is.

No, it actually fits the large dizzy shaft hole block. If you have a read of the "the pillow block" thread, my car has had a block change somewhere along the way or had the shaft hole drilled out.

But its not a problem, someone like IC&E in Melb can convert it for you or just get a machine shop to mill it down.

Only restrictions with the 8580 are that the least amount of mechanical timing that is available with the parts they supply is 18 degrees. With the alloys and high comp (11.4:1 in my case) that means that I have to set initial at 12 degreees because it will only stand 30 degrees total. In a perfect world, I would like to run about 18 deg initial and have 12 deg in the dizzy.

I am going to change the springs that control the rate of advance that comes in. They come with the heavier springs installed (slow advance) but I will change it to the lighter springs for more advance earlier. I am hoping I will get away with this without introducing pinging too early as the alloys will stand more advance due the centrally located spark plug in the combustion chamber

(For those who don't know, MSD supply the dizzy with 4 different mech advance stoppers and 3 different spring weights for rate of advance)

I thought about putting the 6AL where the coil is but as the coil is not suited to mounting on the engine I decided to go the way I did. Only other option was to go inside with the 6AL (too much work) or mount the 6AL on the front of the shock tower where you did and put the coil down under the washer bottle which would look a bit dicky and is not practical to have a long lead running down near the power steer pump

smciner1 · 05-04-2005, 04:57

The MSD stuff works a treat. Got a lot of it on my XB GT. 6AL, Programable Timing Computer and Crank Trigger kit. Highly recomended.

XD408 · 05-04-2005, 06:12

just a question, that Msd cover bit that goes over the leads to hold it down is that part of the things that come with the dizzy or did u buy it seperatly??