LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

MSD Ignition box with boost control need help understanding

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Old Jan 23, 2012 | 09:18 PM
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Default MSD Ignition box with boost control need help understanding

ok i have a 94 z28 with an 8lb supercharger just got the car off of a buddy of mine's father. i have the box all the wires i believe i hooked everything up correctly or to what im pretty sure is just dont know how the hook up the boost control. i read in the instructions about a timing control box to set the timing unsure if i need that aswell to set boost, can take pictures if need be to help figure this problem out. thanks
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 08:00 PM
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Bump!
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 08:04 PM
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Huh? MSD boost controller? For your supercharger? My head hurts now.

Can you find a part number on the MSD thing you are referring to?
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 09:03 PM
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i can find one not at the garage right now, its the 6BTM Model is all i know i have everything hooked up and boy does it make a difference, but a boost control is also in the box possibly and extra by mistake?
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 09:32 PM
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The MSD BTM is pulls out timing based on boost. The controller determines how many degrees of timing is pulled out per pound of boost. There should be a short wiring harness with connector emerging from one end of the MSD box and that is what the controller plugs into. Additionally, you need to run a vacuum line to the small port on the MSD box.
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 09:41 PM
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ok do i need that timing box in order to operate the boost control ****? and also would you happen to know what vaccum line to run that to? the one off of the supercharger?
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 09:59 PM
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OK, let's back up here. When you say that timing box are you referring to the red MSD box measuring about 4 x 7 inches that is plugged into the coil and ignition wiring harness?
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 10:05 PM
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no, i mean an actual seperate box, there is a smaller red box apox 3"x3" that connects to the bigger 4x7 box, and off of the 3x3 box i run the dial
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 10:09 PM
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How is the dial marked?
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 10:13 PM
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1 2 3 4, 1 being at (1) being at 7 o'clock, (2) being at 10 o'clock (3) at 2 and (4) at 5 and nothing in between
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 10:18 PM
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Are there any other components that plug into the big box?
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 10:20 PM
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Not that i am aware of
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 10:34 PM
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i think if i am to use the boost control i will need the 2nd box was lloking on google and finally found online instructions. helps only a little but what are the advantages and disadvantages to using the boost control. aswell as would it be worth hooking up and spending my time on trying to set it up when all im going to be doing is takin it down the strip every so often and driving it weekly
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 10:35 PM
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OK, I don't know if what you have is an older unit or what. My controller only goes to 3 and it is fairly new.

However, it sounds like you have everything hooked up ok and just need to run the vacuum line to the big box. Just find a small 1/8 vacuum line somewhere and tee into it and run that to the MSD box. There should be a small brass port that the vacuum line attaches to. Doesn't matter where the vacuum line comes from.

After that, you just set the dial on how many degrees of timing you want the MSD BTM to pull out per pound of boost. i.e. if you set it on 1, it will pull out 1 degree of timing per pound of boost. If you make 8 pounds of boost, it will pull out 8 degrees of timing. The box will pull out a maximum of 15 degrees of timing.

It's late so I'm signing off. I'll check back tomorrow if you have further questions or maybe someone else will chime in. Hope this helps some.
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Old Jan 25, 2012 | 10:39 PM
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my contol might go up to three and i might just remember it wrong i will check everything tomorrow and will try the vacuum line. thanks a bunch man
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Old Jan 26, 2012 | 05:40 PM
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went to the garage i have a Boost Retard control that does go up to three sorry for the confussion, i have two seperate wires i just use the control wires? and thats it? the other wire looks like it goes to the distributor by the looks of the instructions. also i have 4 diodes one 3000 RPM 6000, 7000, and 8000, the intructions say it can be programed within increments of 100 but how, and do i need them?

Last edited by chevylt1camaro; Jan 26, 2012 at 05:45 PM.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 09:10 PM
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There should be a wiring harness running from the big box to the boost retard controller (only 2 wires) and another wiring harness (4 wires) running to the coil and ignition control module wiring harness. The white rpm modules are for the rev limiter and obviously just plug into the MSD box. You can buy different modules for what ever rpm you want to set the limiter. They usually come in a pack of 5 in either even or odd numbered increments like 6000,6200,6400 or
6100, 6300, etc. That's what they mean by "programming" it. If you leave them out, you have no rev limiter.

Last edited by David94TA; Jan 27, 2012 at 09:16 PM.
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