I went to an msd ignition system and was wondering if I could bypass the ballast and the old ignition module for the charging system. from some of the info Ive gathered and diagrams Ive looked at it seems I could simply wire the - field wire to the reg and the 12volt wire to a switched + and not run it thru the old module and ballast. Anyone do this before? bob

 

Changing the ignition system has nothing at all to do with the charging system. Your regulator should look like this:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

You can NOT eliminate it, that IS the voltage regulator which controls the alternator

Simplified diagram here:

http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=31

All the ballast might be used for in so far as the charging system is a tap off point for switched power. ANY switched igntion power under the hood comes from the same wire off the ignition switch and is NOT fused. On all vehicles it powers at least the regulator/ field circuit and ignition. On vehicles so equipped, it also feeds the electric choke, if used, and distributor solenoid, or idle solenoid, if equipped, I believe.



You have a diagram or shop manual for your truck? Like all these old girls "troubles with the bulkhead connector" might just be a problem

 

the thing I'm questioning is looks like the 12 volts powering the reg is coming off the ballast . I was wondering if I could just wire the reg to 12+ off the ignition since I don't need the ballast or the old module with the MSD box and blaster coil. Thanx roadrunner for the input, Bob

 

You misunderstood. It might be PHYSICALLY hooked to the ballast but the regulator is in fact hooked ELECTRICALLY to the KEY (12V) side of the ballast. The regulator, therefore, does in fact "get" 12V as opposed to going through the ballast

 

You don't use the ballast resistor. Like 440 said you need to find the ignition key on 12 vdc to turn on the MSD box. In the wiring schematic you keep the two wires on the side of the ballast resistor tied together and lose the ballast resistor. You connect your MSD box on wire to those two wires. Your old coil wire from the other side of the ballast goes away because it is replaced with the two new coil wires coming out of the box. I have one in my Dart.

 

The "quick answer" is that if you have a 2 terminal ballast, you simply hook all the wires together at the ballast. The wire formerly hooked to the coil then becomes your "hot feed" to the MSD box

If you have a 4 terminal ballast/ Mopar ECU, you can remove the one wire that goes from the resistor to the box, and hook the rest together as above.