MSD Tach Adaptor Question

I have the same set up as you. Neither adapotr worked for me.
The tach sender wire goes to the - terminal on the coil (marked tach) and the tach gets 12v power from a switched source.
The adaptor does nothing for this set up, don't bother with it.

I run a msd distributor and 8920 adapter. It works for me. However I have had 3 adapters burn. Finally I sent one back to MSD and they fixedit. It is working today. I keep it in the engine comptment near the fire wall...just in case it wants to melt again.

Great, I ask for help and what I get are 3 different answers. Can someone who knows for a fact tell me which one to use please? ? ? Maybe George, Jack or Mark can please chime in.

I have a 8920 I have never used, I ended up buying new guages. I will sell for my cost I got it from summit.
Good Luck
Dennis
Oh, I'm in SoCal.

quote:

Originally posted by pantera874:
Great, connect it like this and soon someone will sell you a new tach.

How much for a new tach?

I'm soory too 70stang.. Do yourself a favor and go to the "find" section of the bulliten board and type in 8920. There have been many previous posts on this subject, many by me. Whatever you do, fuse the adapter with a s small a fuse as you can get. 2 amp was as small as I could find. DO NOt put the 8920 behind your dash. I am not kidding when i say I had 2 of the burn. You will se that I am not the only one. I went around and back with MSD tech line. One recomendation that I got from them was to be sure and get a full 12 volts to the unit. Lower volts cause more load and a case for burning. My first one lasted six months. The one in now operates the original tach and has been working for 2 weeks....time will tell. PS, sounds like Panteradoug is looking to buy a tach.

I've not messed with the the 6AL box in the Pantera. The consensus seems to be the 8920 adapter.

I do know the instructions that come with the 6AL box explain which adapter to use when. If you no longer have those instructions, they are available on line at:

http://www.msdignition.com.

Keep in mind when reading the instructions, the electronic tach in the Pantera was originally connected to the negative terminal of the coil.

Your freind on the DTBB

From a previous post...

MSD setup:

MSD #8577 Magnetic Pick-up Distributor
MSD #8203 Blaster Coil
MSD #8920 Ford Tach Adapter
MSD #3119 8MM Silicone Spark Plug Wire Set
MSD #8581 Bronze Distributor Gear
MSD #6420 6AL Ignition Box with Rev Limiter
MSD #8746 RPM Module Kit 6000 - 6800

After years of hi rev missing and hot start problems, I installed the above. It seems bulletproof to me so far after almost 5 years and has never failed to start or spark.

Or, in the alternative, you can send your tach to Margaret Lucas and have her shop modify it for MSD compliance for $195.

Mo-Ma Instrument Repair

Phone: 1 (505) 766-6661

Address:
1321 - 2nd Street N.W.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102