General Technical & Electrical General technical and electrical discussion for the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

1st Gen tach and MSD ignition

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 30, 2023
  #1  
Keeth's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville
1st Gen tach and MSD ignition

Hey guys, first time posting on this site. I have a 1988 ford ranger 2.3 with 535,xxx miles and has been used as a truck it’s entire life (bought new by my foster parents in 88). Iv recently gone down the rabbit hole of an intermittent miss/stumble. In my diagnosis with the oscilloscope Iv come up with the computer doing weird stuff for no reason. I drive this truck everyday about 50 miles so I need it to be reliable and fairly fuel efficient. Anyways A lot of bare copper showing as well from degradation and heat cycles. Easiest thing being is pulling the factory computer out with as much of its wiring as possible. Then replacing the factory TFI with and MSD driven distributor and a Holley sniper (I prefer fuel injection). I believe iv worked out most the problems except 1 the tach has to work. Iv looked at forums for hours and wiring diagrams for days but I can’t seem to figure out if I can use the tach/test wire and run it to the MSD tach output to make the tach work. I believe it was a tan and yellow wire. Or does it loop back through the ECU? Any thoughts help, thanks!
 
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2023
  #2  
RonD's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 30,635
Likes: 2,952
From: Vancouver, BC
MSD unit should have a separate TACH output, not coil (-)

You should have a tan/yellow wire on cluster for tach hook up
Hook them together


Does the MSD distributor have Vacuum Adavance?
You need a Load Advance since the computer did that job for the TFI

Holly Sniper can do it as well but Holly sells there own distributors for that not sure if it works with MSD

 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
flyingduck
General Technical & Electrical
3
Jun 17, 2020 12:21 PM
420stackz
2.9L & 3.0L V6 Tech
8
Nov 24, 2019 03:13 AM
josh92ranger
General Technical & Electrical
4
May 2, 2009 11:27 AM
ranger_banger
General Technical & Electrical
4
Feb 12, 2007 05:49 PM
brichmond
General Technical & Electrical
14
Jan 7, 2007 01:28 PM




All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:57 AM.