New Ignition???? 400i

[AlbertoMiguel]

I finally received my MSD unit a couple of days ago. It took only four days and cost me 317,9€. I'll keep you posted.

[Tassie]

Well fellas, I have a carb 400GT that does not want to rev beyond 3500 approx.
Presumed to be ignition/ advance/ points.
Do these electronic devices replace points or points and advance mechanism?
I was expecting to pull the 2 distributers and have the advance curve checked then replace points.
Any help/ assistance gratefully received.

[Ak Jim]

The MSD units do not replace the points or change the advance curve. You need a pertronix kit to replace the points.

http://www.pertronix.com/prod/ig/ignitor/default.aspx

The web page shows the ignitor, the ignitor II, and the ignitor III. I got the basic ignitor and their matching coils and have been very happy with the way they work. My 365 has two distributors and they have a kit with two units. Below is the link to the kit for the two distributor set ups, its listed for 330s and 365s but it also says for the Marelli S125 distributors. They also list a kit for single ditsributor set ups. While they don't list 400s I would think if you have the S125 you should be good to go, just give them a call.

http://www.shopatron.com/products/pr...rice_high_low&

[alhbln]

Originally Posted by Tassie

Well fellas, I have a carb 400GT that does not want to rev beyond 3500 approx.
Presumed to be ignition/ advance/ points.
Do these electronic devices replace points or points and advance mechanism?
I was expecting to pull the 2 distributers and have the advance curve checked then replace points.
Any help/ assistance gratefully received.

If the carbs are ok and have been checked already then i would test or exchange the ignition coil and only then the AEC104 ignition itself. If there is an issue with the advance mechanism you would notice this way before reaching 3500 RPM. BTW, i am relatively sure that you have VR pickups instead of points already.

Take a look at the spark plugs immediately after trying to rev above 3500 rpm. If they are greyish/white you need to check the carbs as they run much too lean. Most probably the plugs are black though and might even be wet, i would then first exchange the Marelli BAE 202B ignition coil (a MSD Blaster 2 #8202 works well as replacement). If that won't fix the issue, you might need to replace the AEC104 itself. A good and economic exchange is a MSD 6AL-2 but other MSD 6 variants also do the job.

[Tassie]

Thanks guys. I am in a different country to the car but will check later. Car is running rich, tach is not jumping (often a coil symptom), will change coil first then delve deeper.
I expect it has the twin points but will check after change coil as that is easier.

[alhbln]

Originally Posted by Tassie

Thanks guys. I am in a different country to the car but will check later. Car is running rich, tach is not jumping (often a coil symptom), will change coil first then delve deeper.
I expect it has the twin points but will check after change coil as that is easier.

Wayne, with a AEC104 setup the electronic ignition directly drives the tach, so you won't see a coil defect based on the tach's output.

Good luck,
Adrian

[AlbertoMiguel]

Having received the MSD 6AL-2 system, I have passed it to my garage; unfortunately despite, in theory, installing the unit as per the wiring diagram A(Points trigger), the car does not start up. Though the led flashes up once, but apart from that nothing else happen.

I think it may be my fault because I have passed him the wiring diagram as per Diag A. Now I have realized that there is another diagram B (Magnetic trigger).

So the question is which on should I follow, A or B? I fear I could damage the unit if I keep fiddling around again.
If the answer is A, then I have another question. The white wire to Distributor points, shouldn’t it be the blue/white? Apparently it is what the info enclosed with the MSD says.
Thanks for your help.

[jacques]

Here is my experience hooking up the MSD box:
called MSD..problem solved..30 seconds..no third party guess-work..over.

[alhbln]

Originally Posted by AlbertoMiguel

So the question is which on should I follow, A or B? I fear I could damage the unit if I keep fiddling around again.
If the answer is A, then I have another question. The white wire to Distributor points, shouldn’t it be the blue/white? Apparently it is what the info enclosed with the MSD says.
Thanks for your help.

Alberto,

for a 400i with VR pickups you need diagram B (magnetic trigger). The blue/white wire is only required for hall effect pickups, the white wire is for point based setups.

Best,
Adrian

[AlbertoMiguel]

I would like to thanks all of you for your help and advices. The car runs very well. Even better than before. I have `posted a couple of pictures on the "picturs from our cars" threads. Regards