MSD run ready distributor install
#1
Well I had my roll pin shear on my original points distributor gear so decided now was the time to upgrade to electronic ignition. Bought an MSD run ready distributor 8350 and tach adapter 8920 and blaster 2 coil 8202. So I don’t fry something and lose my mind I thought I’d ask here if someone could walk me through the wiring. 
First off, a mechanic that I do trust stabbed the dizzy for me and wired it (like a 4 yr old, ugh) so it would run and I could get it home. I’m not even going to post a pic of it cuz it’s embarrassing how he used shit connectors and electrical tape… He didn’t wire the tach adapter because I told him to just get it to run so I could drive it home. So no tach working on the way home obviously.. 

So I just untaped all the wiring he did and I want to wire it neatly (I’m ocd) and I want to install the tach adapter so it works again, which it did prior to this.
When he was hooking up the dizzy he said it needed a relay to supply 12 volts so I got the relay pn 8961 and he wired it up and zip tied it. Ugh..

Do I need the relay really? The instructions that came with the MSD dizzy doesn’t show one. The directions I have are showing it with a 6AL box which I didn’t get or want. This car isn’t going on the strip so I don’t need it. Also…the blaster 2 coil says it needs to be installed upright. Does it really need to be? Of course the current stock coil mount is for a horizontal mount.
Thanks in advance for the help. It’s killing me not driving the car after I’ve just completely replaced all the suspension, brakes, and steering components. I wanna get this damn thing back to driving it. 
Oh and it’s a 71 with a 351c in case you guys don’t remember
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#2
Ok so I talked to MSD help tech support. Wow very helpful. First off he said that since my tach was originally wired to the positive side of the coil, it makes it a current triggered tachometer. And that wire is a resistance wire, lowering the volts lower than 12v to the coil. If I run a new wire from the tach to the positive side again, the tach should work. Hope that’s the case. I do have the tach adapter if I end up needing it though. And by running that new wire (10 gauge) it should also eliminate the need for the relay too. I’m liking that too.. and he also said that if I get the High Vibration MSD coil 8222 it can be mounted horizontally. So I have one being overnighted. Does all this sound right???
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#3
All I can say is MSD ought to know their shit, better then anyone else.  Confused Hopefully that's true. If they didn't they wouldn't still be around since the early days of Electronic ignition. 

JTS
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#4
And as much money as I’ve dropped they better help! Lol. Side note…never been to O’Reilly for many parts before but they can get their hands on anything MSD and have it the next morning by 730 am at no charge if they don’t have it in stock. I’m installing everything tonight so I’ll let you know how it goes. Does anyone on this site happen to live in Kentucky by chance? Would like to see some other Mach 1’s. I’m the only one around Lexington I’ve seen
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#5
HHHHMMMM Good question. We used to have a locator on the site but It was problematic and I I'm not sure if it still exists. I'll do a little research and get back to you. 

JTS
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#6
It's OK so frustration is setting in. Can anyone help me get this thing wired before I lose my patience? The old wire that went to + side of the coil has 12v switched power going thru it. I know I need to run a new 10 gauge wire to the + side of the coil but where does that connect at the back of the tachometer? The tach has 2 wires going into it and one of them has 12v switched power too. Do I just splice my new wire into that wire at the back of the tach?
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#7
I was hoping 69 Mach1 might chime in, as I believe he had worked through this on his Mach1. My Mach1 didn't have a factory tach. I mounted one on top of the steering column. So I can't be of any help. But it would seem your thinking is correct. As 12v + is 12V+ no matter where it comes from.  Sorrydontknow


JTS
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#8
Yea I was hoping he would chime in too. But thanks JTS your input is always appreciated. Ok so let me tell you where I am as of last night..
At the back of the tach there are 2 wires that are there. 4 inches away is a 2 wire rubber disconnect. How I ran my new 10g wire is that I tapped into the smaller pink wire, as that's the one that ran to the old ÷ of the coil. That seems to serve as the 12v switched power that I need to connect to the + of the new blaster coil, along with the red wire from the 8350 run ready distributor. Orange goes to the - side. 
Questions....do I still hook up the choke wire to the + coil side too? And if I find that my tach doesn't work that must mean I need the tach adapter installed too? Which confuses me because all the directions I've read and have, none of them show the install without a 6AL box. And I don't have one. So wiring that thing sounds like fun. Thoughts?
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#9
Ok it’s alive! Wired it as I said in my last post and she fired right up and the tach works. Hell yes! Still want to make sure on the choke wire still needing to go to the positive side of the coil? And it appears I don’t need the tach adapter after all. So all that is left is some wiring management to make things hidden and clean looking. Been a good day, was able to rebuild the Holley carb for my 67 corvette and get the Mach 1 going. May press my luck and do brakes on the Empress’s Sequoia today too
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#10
Good Luck with that. LOL!  Cool 

JTS

Glad to here it all works.
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