problems with MSD 6010- possible crank pulse issue?
i'm using my old coil packs etc, and fitted a new cam sensor and crank sensor as a precaution when i built up the new engine. heads and cam were cleaned up and fitted to the new forged ls6 bottom end (weber race engines).
i have decent oil pressure when cranking, but it will not fire.
things i'm convinced are ok;
12v supply and ground to msd box- wiring was untouched on car
cam and crank sensors are new
cam and timing marks were lined up ok when i fitted my cam, new timing chain and sprockets.
i have a funny feeling that maybe i have got the wrong crank pulse trigger wheel, but it shouldnt be as i made it clear i was using an msd 6010 box and needed the ls1 trigger wheel (24x)
now the engine is in i cant easily drop the sump to check the number of teeth. unless i send the msd box back to the states i cant guarantee its 100% ok, unless someone knows a way for me to check the output from the crank and cam sensors?
any suggestions as to how to proceed gladly received as i dont want to take out the engine unless its a last resort. i dont have a spare msd box or any info on how to check coil packs, but there is no way all 8 are dodgy, and none of the wiring has been touched. the last engine span a bearing and was carefully removed.
cheers
chris
if you have your old sensors, try them
i built a new stroker, have not put it in yet, but have that fear of the reluctor being off or something, what i have now works great
is there still a tune in the box-maybe a pill missing
not sure if you can see into the crank sensor hole with a mirror or something
i'll look at the one on my engine stand tomorrow and see if its possible
i also called weber race engines and brian is going to check my build sheet for me so i can confirm 100% on the right crank sensor. i'm wondering if somehow the crank sensor isnt close enough to the trigger wheel etc .
worst case scenario at the mo is pulling the engine but before i do so i can loan a set of working sensors from another guy nearby from his LS6 kit car, then if need be send the msd box back for testing if there is nothing i can check myself on it. i'll take some pics of the crank and cam sensors tonight incase i have the wrong items somehow. i know its not infallable buying brand new bits maybe i got a rogue sensor.
cheers
if you have your old sensors, try them
i built a new stroker, have not put it in yet, but have that fear of the reluctor being off or something, what i have now works great
is there still a tune in the box-maybe a pill missing
not sure if you can see into the crank sensor hole with a mirror or something
i'll look at the one on my engine stand tomorrow and see if its possible
Trending Topics
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
does your msd display screen on the laptop show rpm as well as the tacho on the car?
cheers
we then checked all the wiring connectors and replugged the msd box back in, and did a test crank with the plugs out. i am getting a spark now at all 8 plugs with them out. when we put them back i think the compression is making the engine crank a little slow. (tight new engine). my starter isnt massively powerful as its an adapted starter onto a custom bellhousing to mate up a porsche g50 box to ls6.
is there a minimum cranking speed the msd box needs to see before it will fire the plugs and sync up the cam/crank signals?
cheers
not sure if MSD has some kind of cap. setup that would store a spark and release it to help, i would call them and tell them what you found
you might try a booster bat., charger-is your bat wirging large enough for the system, so resistance doesnt hurt it
i have a plan to link up another battery if need be to give me enough juice to spin it over better, and am awaiting a reply from msd as to minimum rpm at cranking.
i've also got a timing map ready with around 10deg ignition at cranking to hopefully make it easier to start as the old map was like 15-16deg cranking
cheers
a new motor is very tight and will require lots of power to spin over fast enough.
i had this same problem with my 408, and a buddys 370 not too long ago. you might have to do this a couple times until the motor heat cycles a few times.
its aggrevating, youll be chasing your tail for days. i did.
motor turns over 1st crank after 3-4 crankings.
dont be afraid to give it fuel. youll think you are going to flood it, but pump it as you crank and it will bust off.
done several of them this way now. hard to get them fired off.
a new motor is very tight and will require lots of power to spin over fast enough.
i had this same problem with my 408, and a buddys 370 not too long ago. you might have to do this a couple times until the motor heat cycles a few times.
its aggrevating, youll be chasing your tail for days. i did.
motor turns over 1st crank after 3-4 crankings.
dont be afraid to give it fuel. youll think you are going to flood it, but pump it as you crank and it will bust off.
done several of them this way now. hard to get them fired off.
oil pressure comes up no probs so far. main thing is i hope it is just this and not an msd/crank pulse issue, but seeing 8 sparks last night with plugs out tells me it cant be far off right or the msd box wouldnt fire any of them?
try it with some juice poured to it and keep getting the fuel to the motor til it starts to fire.
hope a cranking rpm issue is all it is.
Russ
the issue was definately slow cranking speed due to the new motor being tight and the msd not liking it. i rigged up a fresh pair of batteries linked in series at 24v direct to the starter and solenoid on their own, so seperate to car electrics. this was applied for short bursts only so as not to burn out the starter. the car fired first attempt! i saw 230rpm cranking speed straight away, and the car fired literally first time, after numerous previous failures using the normal (fully charged) car battery at 12v.
i had to kill the engine after a few minutes anyway as a water hose started to leak slightly but the engine sounded great for those few minutes :-)
many thanks to everyone who contributed, moral of the story is the msd box likes to see a good strong battery voltage and decent rpm when cranking.
also out of interest i changed my map to make it easier to crank by knocking back the initial timing to about 12 degrees, but i had already tried it at that before with a single battery so it was the starter /cranking rpm as the main issue.
Russ





