 I've got spark!
Hey,guys. I got the magnetic pickup replaced on an MSD 8584 distributor and the car now sparks.Before replacing your the magnetic pick up on your MSD distributor, do the MSD spark test first by testing the MSD box,if doesn't spark replace it and keep testing. If after replacing the box it still doesn't spark,then replace the magnetic pick up. First disconnect the battery posts and then disconnect the coil wire and snap off the hold down tabs off the cap from the MSD distributor. When you snap off the tabs , keep all the spark plug wires in place and put it on top of the air cleaner assembly if the spark plug wires are long enough to reach. If you have to remove the spark plug wires make a mark on the cap or make a label of some kind so you won't forget where the spark plug wires hook up on the distributor cap. Now proceed to disconnecting the magnetic pick up connector(black-orange color and black-violet color wires) from the PN 8860 MSD harness(green and violet wires) from the box. Go back up to the distributor and mark the black distributor housing with a white mark(white out) to establish the #1 cylinder on the cap. Remove the rotor that has two phillip head screws; then remove two hexagon shaped screws of the black distributor housing-they will be located one on the back and the other on the front using a 5/16? hex(Allen) shaped socket or t-handle. After that is removed, you will get better access to the magnetic pickup and you will use a 9/64 hex socket to remove to screws on the magnetic pickup. You remove the strain relief (coil shaped plastic material) located below the distributor on the front using needle nose pliers and carefully push it through the bottom of the distributor. Remove the tab on the strain relief that holds the magnetic pickup wires in place. Snip off the magentic pickup wires and pull up through the strain relief and distributor; and remove the old magnetic pickup. Now you install MSD PN 84661 Magnetic Pickup, this kit contains two hex screws and nuts, connector, magnetic pickup with wires and instructions. You can use clear or gray RTV silicone sealer and in my case I used gray silicone sealer because it was sensor-safe. Put a small bead of silicone sealer along the top and down the side(blue area) of the magnetic pickup. Be sure to remove any of the remaining old silicone sealer applied by MSD. You have make sure the magnet itself is installed correctly-the black stripe faces the magnetic pickup and the orange stripe faces you. You fasten it down with a 9/64 hex socket or t-handle, snake the wires through the hole where the strain relief snaps in. Get the strain relief through the wires and use 90 degree(L-shape) needle nose pliers to press in the strain relief on the bottom of the distributor and snaps in. Then get your black magnetic connector and put your black-violet stripe wire through the #1(right side) slot and black-orange stripe wire in the #2(left side) slot and will snap in. Install the distributor housing with the 5/16 hex socket or t-handle, install rotor, hook up battery terminals positive first and negative second. Crank engine to make sure it is on number one cylinder. Put on the cap and snap on hold downs. Connect the magnetic pick up wires to PN 8860 wire harness that goes to the box. Black orange to violet wire and black violet to green wire and press in the ignition wire to the coil. Now you got spark. | 
