MSD ignition coil
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Florida
MSD ignition coil Just finished installing a new msd ignition coil on my 96 firebird ws6. My car now idles a little low, around 600-700, when i stop. Could it be that i put the two electrical hook ups on backwards, there is a solid black one and one with orange rubber on it. The solid black one got hooked up to the sensor on the bracket and the one with the rubber got hooked onto the coil itself. Pictures would help greatly. Thank you.
On a 96 the MSD coil is more likely to die prematurely than help anything, take it off and ask questions before making bad choices next time.
Far as the idle I would check the option vent harness for a vacuum leak, maybe you left it disconnected.
Far as the idle I would check the option vent harness for a vacuum leak, maybe you left it disconnected.
For what it's worth, I had the MSD coil on my LT1 without issue. I did space the module off the head a bit to let it stay cooler.
I would suspect your low idle is from some other cause. Re-check everything you touched.
I would suspect your low idle is from some other cause. Re-check everything you touched.
Last edited by Paul Bell; Jan 12, 2015 at 09:05 AM.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,740
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From: Nebraska
600-700 RPM doesn't sound bad if you're in gear at a light. If you have an auto that is. I have an MSD coil as well and has been on my car for 7 years. I was young and dumb and thought I "needed" it which is why I bought it lol. It didn't do anything obviously.
The 96 had the upgraded coil for the 100k mile tuneup interval, it is hotter than the earlier coils to compensate for gap erosion that can happen in that interval.
First thing I did to my car was a Jacobs Ignition kit, huge mistake. I use a bone stock coil and opti on my car now with more than double the 200hp the L99 it came with had.
First thing I did to my car was a Jacobs Ignition kit, huge mistake. I use a bone stock coil and opti on my car now with more than double the 200hp the L99 it came with had.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I double checked everything and it is all correct. I am just so used to having it run at around 900 in gear, but it is running a lot better ever since i changed the coil. There was a stock coil on it beforehand. I also have an msd 6al ignition box I'm going to be using, any down sides to those? Found my evap canister and cats are bad so those issues should be the idle problem. Thanks everyone.
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Verdad Gallardo As much as I and everybody else loves to see big aftermarket ignition boxes and coils under hoods, 96 is right here. The LT1 ignition system is pretty stout, when properly operating.
Even at mid 11s in a 4200lbs car I see no solid change with an Accel 300+ box I hooked up for the spark based rev limiter. I have bypassed it and reconnected it and IF it made a difference it slowed the car .05.
I have even heard of the more detail oriented guys running a box when running nitrous but then disconnecting it when not using the spark retard and such.
Again false ignition "upgrades" were the first mistake I made on my car, which was nearly 15 years ago. Heck even the stock plug wires are very good, have more trouble getting aftermarket routed so they don't chafe which ends up making them more troublesome.
I have even heard of the more detail oriented guys running a box when running nitrous but then disconnecting it when not using the spark retard and such.
Again false ignition "upgrades" were the first mistake I made on my car, which was nearly 15 years ago. Heck even the stock plug wires are very good, have more trouble getting aftermarket routed so they don't chafe which ends up making them more troublesome.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I did have a problem with msd's 8.5 mm wires. On the drivers side the wires are routes through a bracket and msd's wires could not fit because they are so thick. I used a clip to keep the wires out of the way but in the end they ended up getting chewed up by my pulleys, i also have smaller pulleys and belt on. So the msd 6 al is not a big improvement? I have heard of an issue where even if the ignition is shut the engine still runs because the box is still running power. Just as an update my car is now running between 800-900 at idle and when it's in gear. I did manage to gain some horses from it though.
Like I said if you saw HP gains it was due to "repairing" something along the way improving a connection or something, aftermarket ignition mods are wasted cash on the 96-97 cars in particular.
Best left to support other mods like nitrous or boost that need additional ignition features.
The high idle I would be looking for a vacuum leak, like I said the opti vent or did you disconnect the intake tract and maybe something isn't back together right?
Best left to support other mods like nitrous or boost that need additional ignition features.
The high idle I would be looking for a vacuum leak, like I said the opti vent or did you disconnect the intake tract and maybe something isn't back together right?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Florida
No leaks, high idle is because of my cats being bad and the evap canister is bad as well. I like my car running ar around 800 to 900 either way. Doesn't really make a big difference if it drops down to 600, just less fuel consumption and exhaust isn't as loud haha. Oh fuel pump is bad as well. I have an aeromotive 700 hp adjustable pump waiting to go in as soon as i get new high flow lines and an aeromotive fuel regulator. I'm going to stick with the stock fuel rail since noone makes aftermarket or new fuel rails for the lt1's anymore. They seem to be trying to phase them out.
Are you just trolling now or actually that wildly clueless?
Stock lines will support more power than the fuel pump you are claiming to have ordered and a basic 255lph intank pump feeds any NA LT1.
Thins brings us back to post #3
Stock regulator works great unless you need boost reference or to make undersized injectors act bigger.
Stock lines will support more power than the fuel pump you are claiming to have ordered and a basic 255lph intank pump feeds any NA LT1.
Thins brings us back to post #3
ask questions before making bad choices next time.
Last edited by 96capricemgr; Jan 15, 2015 at 08:57 PM.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Look bud if you're going to be rude or incompetent don't bother commenting or putting in your two cents i don't care to hear about it. I'm new at working on cars, i simply stated the problems i have and how I'm going to put in my fuel pump. No stock lines will not support the aftermarket aeromotive fuel pump, it will blow them, the pump itself even comes with a gigantic warning sticker to put in high flow lines and a regulator.
Look bud if you're going to be rude or incompetent don't bother commenting or putting in your two cents i don't care to hear about it. I'm new at working on cars, i simply stated the problems i have and how I'm going to put in my fuel pump. No stock lines will not support the aftermarket aeromotive fuel pump, it will blow them, the pump itself even comes with a gigantic warning sticker to put in high flow lines and a regulator.
Do the car a favor and sell it.
The LT1 lines will handle 700rwhp which is much more than 700fwhp I don't care if some universal fit pump comes with some sticker search it here guys have done 700rwhp on stock lines., if aiming for serious forced induction a dual intank setup is usually preferred. If staying NA then a 255lph simple intank Walbro is sufficient in all but the most radical setups
You want to criticize me but I am the one with an 11 second LT1 car.
You are the one making wildly ignorant choices. Worse yet you are so stuborn and ignorant that you do not want to learn what is right.
Nobody else is telling you how ignorant you are being because they see you refuse to be helped. I stick with it so that someone else doesn't read your stupidity and mistake it for something valid.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Tell me what to do then I'm listening. To keep or not to keep the msd coil? It's been doing fine. For the fuel pump, can i throw it in there with my stock lines and rail? Should i put on a regulator since I'm running 35 lbs/hr injectors along with it? How do i find my high idle problem? Gaskets are bad on intake manifold cause it's leaking oil from the rear, could this cause a high idle since more air is getting in? I also have a k&n filter with a ram air intake, I didn't place the seals that came with the filter on thr box, could this be a problem? Cats and evap canister are bad also, as previously mentioned
If the MSD coil is functioning, let it be.
If your existing fuel pump is functioning, let it be.
It is possible the manifold to block leak (post 11 in your other thread: https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ding-unit.html ) is allowing extra air into the crankcase than the PCV system is designed for thereby causing a higher idle.
If your existing fuel pump is functioning, let it be.
It is possible the manifold to block leak (post 11 in your other thread: https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...ding-unit.html ) is allowing extra air into the crankcase than the PCV system is designed for thereby causing a higher idle.