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FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: Heo on November 23, 2017, 08:58:47 AM

Title: MSD Upside down
Post by: Heo on November 23, 2017, 08:58:47 AM
Can i mount a MSD Upside down?
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: rcodecj on November 23, 2017, 09:28:07 AM
Sure, mine has been for years.
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: Heo on November 23, 2017, 09:33:12 AM
Thanks. I found the Perfect hidingplace for it
Under the speaker grill
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: BruceS on November 23, 2017, 10:26:44 AM
I put mine under the seat on the Fairlane due to tight space in the engine compartment, but it's right side up!   :o
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: Heo on November 23, 2017, 10:52:55 AM
Under the seat ...... ??? Guess i was overthinking it
Under the seat i put it Thanks Bruce

Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: machoneman on November 23, 2017, 10:57:27 AM
Careful Heo! Nothing wrong with under the seat as long as you protect the wiring harness from a passenger's feet, wet shoes, simple wear and tear, etc.

I like under the dash myself simply since the unit AND the wiring can't be stepped on, ever get wet nor can the wiring be easily yanked off accidently. 
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: Heo on November 23, 2017, 11:43:39 AM
You got a point there Bob...And under the speaker grill
I dont have to drill any holes through the floor
Just file four slots and use a washer on each bolt..... ???
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: ACHiPo on November 23, 2017, 11:46:41 AM
Not to hijack Heo’s thread, but I’ve heard there have been reliability issues with MSDs, and mounting upside down is not recommended.  The mounting direction makes no sense to me unless the cooling fins are blocked and the electronics cook, something a lot less likely in the passenger compartment than engine compartment.

What are people’s experience with MSD reliability?  Does anyone carry a spare?
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: rcodecj on November 23, 2017, 11:51:37 AM
I think the only problem with mounting upside down is moisture so I would not do it under the hood. Mine is mounted inside the car.

msdtech1955 says it's ok:

https://forums.msdperformance.com/showthread.php?17716-mounting-7al-upsidedown
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: Heo on November 23, 2017, 04:23:22 PM
Yes i was thinking about mount it under the dash under the
Speaker grill and bolt i to the dash around the speaker hole
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: rcodecj on November 23, 2017, 05:37:43 PM
I don't have a heater in my 67, so I have an aluminum plate that blocks the cowl vent opening inside on the passenger side.
I mounted mine on that.
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: My427stang on November 23, 2017, 05:39:44 PM
I have mounted them every which way, and everywhere for guys who have had ideas of ways to hide it.  Upside, downside, rightside, leftside, no difference, put it where you want it.  if it gets wet enough to bother it one way, it would any way you mounted it anyway.   

That being said, every so often you get one that is noisy, not sure why, but if it's inside the passenger compartment you may not be happy.

I personally prefer under the hood, although I did hide my Accel Annihilator box under my batter tray on my Mustang, if I ever put one on the truck it'll be right on the inner fender
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: rcodecj on November 23, 2017, 06:50:05 PM
I think they are potted with epoxy or something aren't they?
I could be wrong
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: cjshaker on November 23, 2017, 07:10:13 PM
I wanted the one in my Mustang to be hidden, so I have it mounted upside down on the bottom side of the heater plenum box, which places it right down by the passengers feet. Been that way over 15 years without any issues. I do try to keep the fresh air vent open on that side to provide at least some cool air to that area. As for the reliability question, I've posted and documented here a couple of times, I've had plenty of problems with the pick-ups. So much so that I now carry 2 spares with me all the time. I also carry a spare box during Drag Week, but my original box is still fine.
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: BruceS on November 23, 2017, 07:19:48 PM
My 6AL box is noisy but the seat muffles it so I don't hear it.  I found that out when I started the car once while the front seat was out!  Haha.  I had to drill 4 #10 holes in the floorboard to mount it, and underneath put a dab of 3M Strip Caulk on each locknut. 

Btw Heo don't mean to hi-Jack, but I hope all US-based forum members have had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!   

Bruce
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: Heo on November 24, 2017, 01:25:40 AM
No problem Bruce i wisch you all a happy tanksgiving
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: Rory428 on November 24, 2017, 02:53:08 AM
My Fairmont has had the same MSD 6T box mounted upside down behind the dash, screwed to the underside of the cowl. It has been there, and been trouble free for about 25 seasons of drag racing. In my 85 Mustang, I have had MSD 6AL boxes, mounted on the inner fender under the hood. I had 2 6ALs that failed, one was an electrical malfunction, not sure why the 2nd box went bad.
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: ACHiPo on November 24, 2017, 12:42:14 PM
I should have specified the 6AL is the one I’ve heard there were issues with.  The noise seems pretty bizarre—aren’t the 6ALs solid state?  What’s in there that could make noise?
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: cjshaker on November 24, 2017, 02:00:09 PM
...i wisch you all a happy tanksgiving

I'd be thankful for a tank  ;D ;D
Title: Re: MSD Upside down
Post by: Heo on November 24, 2017, 05:34:04 PM
...i wisch you all a happy tanksgiving

I'd be thankful for a tank  ;D ;D
Thats what we do in Sweden on this day give away tanks to our friends
So we call it tanksgiving ;D ;D
Wish is not spelled right either. Big clumsy fingers and a stupidphone that
try to correct My spelling to Swedish words....But that it changed clumsy to
....Cumdump :o :o I have no Idea how that happened thats not a Swedish word
But im THANKFUL for the tank you gave me. Soon at a chromeshop