I bought an MSD ignition (model 6A pn6200) last august 2001 and had pretty good results immediately after installing it. Then one day last fall (I don't remember exactly when) I began to have a problem with my idle being very erratic. The idle would jump up and down from about 800 to 1500 rpm and the motor would cut out or miss while driving and was worse under acceleration. It was a rainy day the when it first started and I thought maybe I had a short somewhere. Some days it would start out fine but the problem would come back. Eventually after trying to find the problem elsewhere I decided to disconnect the MSD box and the problem went away. I reconnected it in february and it worked fine for a week or so and then it started doing it again. I checked all the connections but could find nothing wrong.
I have an 87' F-150 5.0L w/ TFI ignition. I also install a Blaster TFI coil and Taylor Spiro Pro 8mm wires and my plugs are gapped at .060. It definately runs better with the new coil and wires but I really liked the improvement I got from the ignition module when it worked, especially the improvement in low end torque which I sorely need.
Could the problem be something else that the MSD makes more apparent like crossfire or the computer trying to adjust for something?

 

Try giving MSD a call. I've heard they have excellent customer service. I've read about people getting there boxes replaced for free, even when they are out of warranty.

good luck
scott

 

Sounds like a problem with the box. Hopefully they will replace it free or at least at a large discount. I was originally looking at getting a MSD box but decided on a Jacobs just due to the longer warranty. They appear to be almost the same in function.

My improvements were similar. The low end seemed to increase better than anything else. It could just be that the low end increase is noticed more, since the 302 is lacking in that area.

My trucks pulls better at all revs with the box, but the low end increase was the best by far.

Good luck on your box.

 

Just before I started this thread I e-mailed them and hope to get a reply from them in the next couple of days. In fact I copied and pasted the first post from that e-mail. If they'll replace it and it works ok I'll continue to endorse them.

As signmaster said the gain was at all rpm ranges but especially at the low end where I had the most to gain. Overall I probably gain 5-10 hp. Not a lot by most peoples standard but with this motor any amount is a lot.

Does anyone know which plug wires are the ones to be careful to seperate to avoid crossfire on this motor (5.0L)? I do have some zip tied together so they won't get in the way of any moving parts.

Also, What is the safest product to use to clean the throttle body? I've heard you shouldn't use carb cleaner for this.

 

You should never zip tie plug wires together in any engine, especially a Ford. The wires to be especially concerned with in a non-HO 5.0 are #7 & #8.

Take care,
-Chris

 

I removed the zip ties this last weekend and it seems to run smoother now. It still hasn't solved my idle problems and since I'm changing my TPS today I want to see how (or if) that helps then I'll try hooking up the MSD again.

I'm getting so close to running the way I think I should I can taste it.

 

Reset the ECM, and add a little salt. Should taste pretty good, then.