Msd 6AL key power, no crank power

[Steve009]

I have a msd 6AL, msd distributor, coil, wires, the whole setup. I have the small red wire (key power) hooked up and tested it. Great spark following msd testing instructions. However, when I crank the engine to start it, the msd box switches off and I lose spark. I know Chrysler has a key vs crank power system but where should I hook this wire up to to make sure it has both key and crank power? I’m basically a monkey when it comes to electrical so apologies in advance if I get confused easily. This setup is on a BB low deck 470 stroker in 64 sport fury. Tons of the original electrical was pulled out, no voltage regulator, no ballast resister, one wire alternator, etc to make it as simple as possible with this MSD setup.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Geoff 2]

The wires that went to either side of the bal res need to be connected together & then connected to the thin red wire of the 6AL.

 

[Steve009]

The wires that went to either side of the bal res need to be connected together & then connected to the thin red wire of the 6AL.

And that will take care of both key and crank power?

 

[493 Mike]

And that will take care of both key and crank power?

Yes. One wire is key-on power, and the other is cranking bypass power. The bypass provides a hotter ignition spark.
Mike

 

[Don67Satellite]

Previously, on my MSD 6A the heavy red went to the post on the starter relay, and the thin red was connected to the old blue coil wire for keyed trigger. Worked fine with non-bypassed ballast.

 

[Steve009]

Previously, on my MSD 6A the heavy red went to the post on the starter relay, and the thin red was connected to the old blue coil wire for keyed trigger. Worked fine with non-bypassed ballast.

Ya that’s similar to how I have it now but doesn’t keep spark on crank

 

[Don67Satellite]

Similar is not the same. This worked for me when I still used a MSD & Pertronix billet distributor. Where do you have all the wires going now?

 

[Steve009]

Using wires on both sides of the old ballast resistor worked. Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

[Black_Sheep]

Good to hear that you got it fixed.

When I swapped to a 6AL I gutted the ballast resistor and soldered a length of wire in place of the resistor to provide full voltage in the crank and run position.

 

[JackBEEQuick]

Hi all , I’ll try to revive this first before I start a new one.
I just installed my MSD 6AL also, MSD coil, distributor , wires , the whole setup. It was fairly simple, however I have the same problem with no power on cranking. I have not tried tying the keyed power into the ballast resistor wires so I am going to try that next, but this has always been my main concern is what todo with all the unused circuitry ? 5 pin connector from the old ignition module, the old coil wires, the old pickup wires and the ballast resistor wires. Its basically a unanimous census on just connecting the balast resistor wires together but next to nothing on what guys do with the rest of open circuits, this was always my concern why I was not getting any spark. So even if I tie my MSD keyed power into the ballast wires, and that works, is it ok just to cap off Everything else? Or should the coil wires be connected together also? TIA

 

[Crackedback]

Hi all , I’ll try to revive this first before I start a new one.
I just installed my MSD 6AL also, MSD coil, distributor , wires , the whole setup. It was fairly simple, however I have the same problem with no power on cranking. I have not tried tying the keyed power into the ballast resistor wires so I am going to try that next, but this has always been my main concern is what todo with all the unused circuitry ? 5 pin connector from the old ignition module, the old coil wires, the old pickup wires and the ballast resistor wires. Its basically a unanimous census on just connecting the balast resistor wires together but next to nothing on what guys do with the rest of open circuits, this was always my concern why I was not getting any spark. So even if I tie my MSD keyed power into the ballast wires, and that works, is it ok just to cap off Everything else? Or should the coil wires be connected together also? TIA

IIRC, there shouldn't be any open circuit in the mopar plug if you disconnect the power coming in from ballast and the neg coil wire

Using MSD, only wires going to coil should be the one from your box. None of the factory wires attach.

 

[JackBEEQuick]

appreciate the reply Cracked, what I im gathering then is besides shorting the ballast wires, everything else can remain disconnected? the old coil wires do not need to be connected to eachother and can just be capped off individually?