boxer went snap crackle POP!

It all started (no pun intended) when I first put the boxer back on the road in april. I had it running in the garage to warm it up and it just shut off without warning, it did this a couple of times after I re-started it. Of course I figured the dinoplex was going for a crap but then it didnt act up again until this week so I had forgotten about it. Well last night I decided to go for a rip after dinner and it stalled again but this time I was driving along when it did. I restarted it and decided I better head back home before i get stranded. It was an eventful return filled with these loud pop noises, fire cracker sounds, bucking and stalling having to pull over a few times and restart the old turd. Embarrassment aside I was convinced I was going to have to call a tow truck which I really didnt want to do but luckily I made it back home. I just parked it and went back inside, didnt even open the lid. Im assuming the dinoplex is toast, ill look into an msd but I was thinking of a crane XR400 or 700 due to its smaller size (and I dont really need 7 sparks per power stroke) so I could easily fit it inside the original box. Ill take pics of the job, the conversion, blah blah blah. I kept an eye on the tach expecting it to dance all over the place but nothing, just dropped to 0 when it died like I was turning off the key but the loud firecracker sounds with the key on and engine not running was interesting to say the least.

 

When my Dinoplex joined the dearly departed, it acted similarly. The car started fine, then once it knew I was well immersed in traffic at 7:50am, it bucked and would shut off, resume, CRACK, POP, then die (laughing). I failed to see the humor in this. Not sure if you've noticed this, but tense drive-time commuters are not terribly sympathetic to semi-stranded Ferrari ownerrs.

It would restart after a bit, tach was nuts, and I limped home twice. Fortunately, I never had to call "the truck" either.

Once I did the MSD, none of that has happened again. I did however have to install a Dual Ballast resister with my MSD to keep it from running on, so that was a $3.99 option mine required. I mounted it on an aluminum plate next to the MSD.

Car starts so quickly now, idles great, and feels like it pulls harder. All those are likely mental justifications, but the peace-of-mind is real. Have fun!

 

My carbed car, with MSD, acted the same way when it had the green corrosion crud growing on the contacts inside the distributor cap.
Zip, zero, nada for power, backfiring through the carbs, backfiring out the exhaust, and stalled a couple times.
Holly Molly, was embarrassing to say the least! And yeah, no sympathy from grinning driver all around me!
John

 

Permatune makes a line of ignition boxes using the original Marelli cases and connectors (or provide your own) with their modern electronics inside. From the outside you can't tell it is not stock.
I've been using them in two of my cars for 10+ years and have been very satisfied as the spark plugs don't foul.

They all have their own webpage at their website, here is an example of one, not sure if it is for your Boxer:
http://www.permatune.com/ignition-Ferrari-aec-103b.html

 

I'd go with MSD, they really help V12 ferrari motors

 

Those are the exact same symptoms that occured when my Dinoplex went bad too. Backfiring and stalling out, no power.

My mechanic installed a MSD 6AL unit and it was been working fine for about three years now.

 

Ive decided to go for the msd 6A rather than the 6AL because I dont need a limiter for double the price plus no conversion to make it work with the 12 and if I want I can put it inside my dinoplex myself. Ive ordered the 6A which Ill get saturday morning and ill remove my dinoplex this week to get a look inside to see how much room I have to work with. The alternative is I just paint the msd unit silver and stick it on and shelf the dinoplex.

 

My old Dinoplex weighed about 5 pounds, 4 of which were some long forgotten crystallized plastic material that would've taken an air chisel, sulphuric acid, and MindFreak to exhume.

I considered mounting the MSD on the top 'half' of the Dinoplex (you'll see when you get yours that it could fit that way) but instead went the "exchange" route. Dinoplex on shelf; a lovely paperweight.

You can do a search for others who hollowed out the Dinoplex or some such approach and with your attention to detail, you may be able to do same. If you do, please take photos of the removal process and please wear protective eyewear.

 

Thanks Adams, I took the 5 pound unit off tonight (I was surprised how heavy it was), took all of 5 minutes with a hoist. I removed the 3 nuts and unplugged it then took it out the top after I took the right oil filter off only to find it wont fit out the bottom. If I remove the internals of the MSD unit im sure it'll fit in the hollowed out heat sink and put the dead modules back on top but then again it might not then I have a totally trashed dinoplex that actually would have had some value had I not butchered it. Ill have the MSD 6A saturday at which point Ill take more shots and see what can be done.
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Who cares about that Dinoplex... what's the little helper beverage you've got on the right there, making you think you can get rid of 25 year old Enzoplastic?

I say, finish the beverage(s), make an aluminum plate with the right holes in it for the MSD and call it a night. We can both put our deceased Dinoplexes on ebay in 2012 for vacation money.

 

Yes i hit the sauce after work and got the dinoplex off. I think you're right, Ill cut a plate of aluminum tomorrow at work and mock it up and keep the dinoplex under glass as a conversation piece.

 

Well im installing the MSD 6A right now. The adapter plate I made will get it mounted but I was wanting some feedback from those who know. The unit has a sticker that says no solid core wires, ferrari wires are solid are they not? 308 wires are. Also what wire was used to trigger the msd? The single white wire from the unit or the paired purple and greeen wires with the black plug on the end? Just wondering, thanks.

P.

 

BBis use non solid wires, BBs have solid copper core, I wouldn't be concerned anyway as the warning concerns feedback to the radio
don't know concerning the wiring, one is for the tach though

concerning the AL vs A you send it to MSD and they charge $30 to modify the limiter to work for the V12, mine is an AL but has never cut out at redline so must not be programmed as well

 

Ive hooked it up but the pickup wont work the single white trigger wire so I have to go to the dual purple/green pair and set it up that way. Thanks for the info on the ignition wires.

 

MSD suggests using spiral wound plug wire, and not solid core stuff. The guy there told me solid core wire would burn out the unit.
I used spiral, BUT I think Jeff has been using solid for a long time with no problems.
John

 

Its alive again!

The MSD instructions say the solid core wires will cause interference with the unit, didn't say it would toast it, hope it doesn't.

Well, the installation looks like a dogs breakfast for the time being but I have my reasons. I wanted to install it the best way I could think of with minimal changes to the cars wiring as well as not add on any other devices like tach adapters and ballast resistors.

The biggest hurdle was the double yellow wire to the dinoplex. Ferrari runs the power to the dinoplex first then doubles back to the coil. For the MSD to work while tying into the dinoplex plug, the yellow wires need to be separated meaning remove the female blade connector, cut the terminal off and install 2 separate terminals (best part is there's a spare spot in the hardshell connector for the extra wire), one for the key power to the MSD the other for the coil from the MSD. Tomorrow Ill do that as well as tidy up the rest of the wires, I quickly ran a separate wire up to the coil for now just to hear it run but I think I can get over cutting the wire at the bottom to prevent having to run or overlay a separate wire up to the coil outside of the harness. Its a win win situation, the MSD required no modification to run the 12 cylinder, the tach works perfectly with no tach adapter, the car shuts off with no Ballast resistor, it runs better and it starts faster!
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Hey Newman,

Found my directions which were kindly supplied by Samsaprunoff. The diagram from Bill Badurski for a 365BB using a MSD 6A has the...

1. MSD Green to to Dinoplex #2 black (Distributor ground)
2. MSD Violet to Dinoplex #1 green (Distributor trigger)
3. White NOT USED.

Does this help?

I don't know about the solid core issue - I'm using plug wires 'as is' on mine. Again, Samprunoff said he used MSD's wires, necessitating a 8 and 6 cyl kit for correct length.

 

Thats how I ran my trigger as well, car runs great I just have to finish it up tomorrow, thanks.

 

Big difference with the MSD. I cant stress enough how much better the car runs over the stock unit even when it was working fine. Ive decided to not butcher my dinoplex but rather keep it and maybe have it repaired in the future so I have a correct original unit, even if it does suck by todays standards. The reliability factor is another reason for one to upgrade, I could have been stranded far from home if this breakdown was timed differently.

 

I agree with that logic, if any applies to this hobby (!) My car used to semi labor in starting, maybe 4 revolutions - nothing serious - then awaken lazily. Now it lights off more quickly and healthily. It pulls furiously up to near the red zone (rev limiter is set at 7grand and I've not gotten there...yet) and idles evenly.

I was told by my car's former caretaker (Vintage Motorcars, Houston) that I should have my CO re-set since that mixture has undoubtedly changed with the MSD. Will do.

Also, got fuseblocks yesterday (yahoo!) to alleviate my 3 candlepower high beams, ghostly dash lights, and super hot fuse #7 and #8 right block (rad fans, in case you haven't memorized them). It gets WAY too hot for my tastes, so in go the new blocks.

After this, I think my 'current' situation (hardy har) will have markedly improved with the MSD and blocks. We'll see.

Newman, did you 'clean up' your installation? I bought a 6-pin Deutch connector that I'll do if I can ever borrow a lift. MSD sells 'em along with the 'normal' 6 pin connectors.

Also, do you plan on 'disguising' your MSD at all? I may paint my little red box aluminum or 'anodized'.

Either way, have fun. Happy 4th!

 

I havent disguised my MSD yet, may not either since its well hidden. The installation is cleaned up but I dont have the connector you mentioned but I would like one, do you have a part number so I can just order it and actually be able to tell them what I want without sounding like a tool?

 

I'm sorry, Newman, but you may still sound like a a tool! This can keep it to a minimum though...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-MSD-IGNITION-Electrical-Wiring-Connector-Deutch_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33689QQihZ016QQitemZ260106394357QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

MSD also sells these, but this is the model you need. (I found it on MSD's site once, and then couldn't find my way back today. Okay, I'm having "TOOL" stitched across my shirt now!)

I think the prices may be slightly higher at MSD, but I guess it's wherever you can get it fastest.

Minor warning: Deutch connectors don't go together as easily as you'd imagine, but once you 'get it' they're incredibly well engineered. Considered full waterproof, used all over racing, and most especially in rally environs.

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks Ill look into it.

P.

 

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