I have a 3 wire MSD Pro-Billet distributor. My Crane box uses a 2 wire magnetic trigger. I tried to wire in the MSD with no luck. No spark even with the coil wire taken of the dist. and shorted to a ground.

The wiring for the MSD says to run a switched 12V to the positive lead for the magnetic trigger. I have those weatherpack connectors already spliced. I don't want to cut the positive trigger wire until I know splicing in a switched 12V will work.

Does anyone run this setup?

Is there a way to test if the MSD magnetic pickup is fried? I tried their website, and I think their test procedure is only for the 2 wire Pro-Billet distributors.

Ground the black wire to the engine, run the orange wire to the points/module trigger wire on the box (msd uses a white wire, I dont know what crane uses) and the red wire is ign. switched +12 volts, the two wire magnetic trigger harness is not used. If you want to use the two wire magnetic trigger harness then you will have to remove the module from inside the dist. and run two wires directly from the pickup itself.

:Edit: I just looked up cranes wiring diagram and they also use white for the points/module trigger.

So it is supposed to be run like my Unilite? As a module, not a magnetic pickup?

And you mentioned running it using the magnetic pickup leads. Exactly what would I have to do with all the connections to do that? I would prefer to run it off the magnetic leads instead. That would be one less wire to have to run close to the others, and gain interference.

How do I test to see if the magnetic pickup is working with the 3 wire (my style) distributor?

Last question, how do you make your signature with your car specs at the bottom of your posts?

So it is supposed to be run like my Unilite? As a module, not a magnetic pickup?

And you mentioned running it using the magnetic pickup leads. Exactly what would I have to do with all the connections to do that? I would prefer to run it off the magnetic leads instead. That would be one less wire to have to run close to the others, and gain interference.

Yes.

You will need to remove the module and all its wiring, then leghten the wires coming from the pick up. Ive never turned a stand alone dist into a non-stand alone so you are on your own in that department.

How do I test to see if the magnetic pickup is working with the 3 wire (my style) distributor?

I dont understand, youll have to give more details.

Last question, how do you make your signature with your car specs at the bottom of your posts?

Scroll up to the top of the page, click on User CP, then click Edit Signature and go from there.

I want to test to make sure the actual pickup itself isn't bad. Can I use my mulitimeter? What would be the best way short of installing it and finding out it's shot?

Got the signature going thanks.

Youll have to remove the two wires going from the pickup to the module inside the dist, I beleave MSD uses a GM pick up (or one copied from a GM pick up) so it should test the same as an HEI. I dont know the specs but there should one for resistance and then one voltage output, most shop manuals will give you the specs for GM HEI units or you could call MSD and see if they will give you the specs. I highly doubt that it is bad, usually the module or coil will expire long before the pick up does.

I measured across the leads and got no resistance. I tried lining up the rotor to see if it would change, and nothing.

I just thought of something though. Since there is a magnet and a metal reluctor, I wonder if I could chuck the distributor shaft in my hand drill. If I spin the shaft it should generate current. That should show up at the leads right?

I'll see if I can find the HEI specs.

I just thought of something though. Since there is a magnet and a metal reluctor, I wonder if I could chuck the distributor shaft in my hand drill. If I spin the shaft it should generate current. That should show up at the leads right?

I'll see if I can find the HEI specs.

Yes you could.