What wires to use for MSD GMR Pickup? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

booneSS13 · 03-11-2017, 04:27 PM

I have Msd 8918 gmr pickup for a tach signal on my gauge and progressive controller. I've been trying the pink #1 cylinder coil pack wire with no luck. I've also tried purple as well.

Can anyone walk me through setting this thing up on our cars? I have ground and my switched 12v setup, I just need to know how to successfully get a tach signal

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macSS · 03-12-2017, 08:15 AM

I used the pink wire...drivers side of motor but not by the actual coil...connect it at the coil harness connection...the side coming from the coils if I can remember correctly...also try not to separate the wires from one another too far in the harness...just clip it over the pink wire. Ran my wire to 12v in the inside fuse box...grounded under the middle console. Check your tach or device to make sure its set to the proper cylinder operation....Its cold as hell here but Ill try to snap a pic of mine today for you.

booneSS13 · 03-12-2017, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macSS

I used the pink wire...drivers side of motor but not by the actual coil...connect it at the coil harness connection...the side coming from the coils if I can remember correctly...also try not to separate the wires from one another too far in the harness...just clip it over the pink wire. Ran my wire to 12v in the inside fuse box...grounded under the middle console. Check your tach or device to make sure its set to the proper cylinder operation....Its cold as hell here but Ill try to snap a pic of mine today for you.

Thanks a lot man! I'm going to try that out today and I'll report back with what happens. Yeah it's freezing here too,so much for that early Spring.

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booneSS13 · 03-12-2017, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macSS

I used the pink wire...drivers side of motor but not by the actual coil...connect it at the coil harness connection...the side coming from the coils if I can remember correctly...also try not to separate the wires from one another too far in the harness...just clip it over the pink wire. Ran my wire to 12v in the inside fuse box...grounded under the middle console. Check your tach or device to make sure its set to the proper cylinder operation....Its cold as hell here but Ill try to snap a pic of mine today for you.

Okay so I just got a good rpm signal on my 2 devices. The only problem is at higher rpm's it seems like the signal goes crazy and the rpm's are way off. I'd say like above 4k or so. Any ideas?

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macSS · 03-13-2017, 09:59 AM

How off are the rpm's ? I would have to think its in the PPR (pulses per revolution) selection of the device. Things used to be that you just set your tach to how ever many cylinders you have and you're good. But with all the new ECM's and stuff its different. I think I set mine on 1. I also recall having the same issue with my shift light. It would work on a few settings but still wasn't correct even though it was reading the rpm signal....I just kept messing with cylinder selections until everything matched up. Even now my digital tach will read higher than the dash tach by about a few hundred rpm's. I think that's because the factory tach is driven on a canbus system and there's a delay or something going on and the MSD pickup is connected right at the source of spark and signal. I trust my digital tach over the factory tach now. Hope this helps.

booneSS13 · 03-19-2017, 04:01 PM

Okay I called MSD and they told me that I need to use the #8913 tach driver. So I just hooked it up today and tried every wire on the #1 coil and got nothing!

I even tried the pink wire on the harness and still did not get anything. Am I the ONLY one with this issue? Any ideas?

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frankwjr · 03-19-2017, 06:57 PM

Just got this off of Amazon..https://www.amazon.com/MSD-8963-Digi.../dp/B000JKIOAY, came with the pickup but have not installed yet. Too busy rerouting the heater hoses and doing the injector flip plus put prothane inserts in the rear sub frame mounts...whew!

Hope to get to this project in the next couple of days so will have a better idea then but good luck....peace out

booneSS13 · 03-19-2017, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankwjr

Just got this off of Amazon..https://www.amazon.com/MSD-8963-Digi.../dp/B000JKIOAY, came with the pickup but have not installed yet. Too busy rerouting the heater hoses and doing the injector flip plus put prothane inserts in the rear sub frame mounts...whew!

Hope to get to this project in the next couple of days so will have a better idea then but good luck....peace out

Thanks a lot man. I actually got the 8913 to work. I had it wired incorrectly, I was assuming that it was supposed to be wired just like the gmr pickup which is incorrect.

The 8913 works great! I don't know if the GMR pickup just doesn't work on our cars or what. I know for a fact I had that one wired right. It would work until around 4k rpm and then the signal would "scramble". I had 2 of them too since I sent one back. That's when I called MSD and they told me to use this one.

Maybe it will work for yours Idk if others here have got it to work right or not. If not here's the link to the one I have now:
http://m.autozone.com/ignition/tacho...ver/438279_0_0

If you have your local autozone get it they'll have it in next day and you don't have to pay shipping plus you get a 90 day warranty I believe.

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blue-bayou · 03-19-2017, 11:14 PM

I have the GMR with an MSD shift light. It works great. One time I removed it for a while and when I put it back on it went screwey above 4K rpm. I sanded on the wire "clamp" for a better connection and haven't had a problem since.

booneSS13 · 03-19-2017, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blue-bayou

I have the GMR with an MSD shift light. It works great. One time I removed it for a while and when I put it back on it went screwey above 4K rpm. I sanded on the wire "clamp" for a better connection and haven't had a problem since.

That's weird, maybe some of them need to be sanded right out of the box then. I was pretty sure others have gotten them to work, I wonder if that would've fixed the problem.

Mine is used to give a signal to a Innovate gauge/shift light and Nos mini btw. Wonder if that has anything to do with it.

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Clarkstar · 03-06-2018, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booneSS13

Okay so I just got a good rpm signal on my 2 devices. The only problem is at higher rpm's it seems like the signal goes crazy and the rpm's are way off. I'd say like above 4k or so. Any ideas?

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I'm having the same issue with my 8918. Should I buy the 8913???

booneSS13 · 03-06-2018, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkstar

I'm having the same issue with my 8918. Should I buy the 8913???

Yes you need the 8913. I couldn't get the 8918 to work no matter what I tried. The 8913 worked easily with no problems

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Clarkstar · 03-06-2018, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booneSS13

Yes you need the 8913. I couldn't get the 8918 to work no matter what I tried. The 8913 worked easily with no problems

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Thanks, does it clip over the coil wire or splice in?

booneSS13 · 03-06-2018, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkstar

Thanks, does it clip over the coil wire or splice in?

You have to splice it in. I soldered mine in. I'll take a picture when I get home

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03-12-2017, 08:15 AM	#2
macSS Drives: 2012 SS Camaro LS3 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 329	I used the pink wire...drivers side of motor but not by the actual coil...connect it at the coil harness connection...the side coming from the coils if I can remember correctly...also try not to separate the wires from one another too far in the harness...just clip it over the pink wire. Ran my wire to 12v in the inside fuse box...grounded under the middle console. Check your tach or device to make sure its set to the proper cylinder operation....Its cold as hell here but Ill try to snap a pic of mine today for you. __________________ 2012 Ashen Grey LS3_ARH 1 7/8 Long tubes_Pypes Exhaust Axle Back_C.A.I._ Bo White Ported Throttle Body_Custom Black Anodized Fuel Rails_3:91 Rear ARP Stainless Bolts_MSD Wires_Elite Engineering Catch Can_MGW Flat Stick_Stewart Warner Pro Gauges_BMR Rear Suspension_ZL1 Rear Swaybar 427 HP To The Wheels_Tuned and Dyno'd by ECS

03-13-2017, 09:59 AM	#5
macSS Drives: 2012 SS Camaro LS3 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 329	How off are the rpm's ? I would have to think its in the PPR (pulses per revolution) selection of the device. Things used to be that you just set your tach to how ever many cylinders you have and you're good. But with all the new ECM's and stuff its different. I think I set mine on 1. I also recall having the same issue with my shift light. It would work on a few settings but still wasn't correct even though it was reading the rpm signal....I just kept messing with cylinder selections until everything matched up. Even now my digital tach will read higher than the dash tach by about a few hundred rpm's. I think that's because the factory tach is driven on a canbus system and there's a delay or something going on and the MSD pickup is connected right at the source of spark and signal. I trust my digital tach over the factory tach now. Hope this helps. __________________ 2012 Ashen Grey LS3_ARH 1 7/8 Long tubes_Pypes Exhaust Axle Back_C.A.I._ Bo White Ported Throttle Body_Custom Black Anodized Fuel Rails_3:91 Rear ARP Stainless Bolts_MSD Wires_Elite Engineering Catch Can_MGW Flat Stick_Stewart Warner Pro Gauges_BMR Rear Suspension_ZL1 Rear Swaybar 427 HP To The Wheels_Tuned and Dyno'd by ECS

03-19-2017, 04:01 PM	#6
booneSS13 Drives: 2013 Camaro SS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 718	Okay I called MSD and they told me that I need to use the #8913 tach driver. So I just hooked it up today and tried every wire on the #1 coil and got nothing! I even tried the pink wire on the harness and still did not get anything. Am I the ONLY one with this issue? Any ideas? Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk __________________ *Romans 5:8* But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Fastlane Cold Air Intake, NPP cat back exhaust, Stainless Works LT Headers, 2r max camshaft, Stage 3 Ported Heads (Manley Stainless steel values, titanium retainers, dual valve springs, bronze guides), Wiseco Forged Pistons, K1 Forged Rods, Clevite Bearings, Factory Crankshaft, Comp Cams rocker arm trunion kit, Morel 5315 lifters, JP performance single billet timing chain, Melling oil pump, Spec stage 3+ clutch and flywheel, BMR trailing arms, Nitto 555r 305/35/20.

03-19-2017, 06:57 PM	#7
frankwjr Drives: 2010 SS 2SS M6 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Smithsburg, Md. Posts: 2,445	Just got this off of Amazon..https://www.amazon.com/MSD-8963-Digi.../dp/B000JKIOAY, came with the pickup but have not installed yet. Too busy rerouting the heater hoses and doing the injector flip plus put prothane inserts in the rear sub frame mounts...whew! Hope to get to this project in the next couple of days so will have a better idea then but good luck....peace out __________________ 2010 SS 2SS M6 - Tune by RDP dynoSteve!(Woot) - Daily Driver - *150K!* - All work by me...

03-19-2017, 11:14 PM	#9
blue-bayou Drives: 2010 IBM SS/RS/Stick Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Holler Posts: 231	I have the GMR with an MSD shift light. It works great. One time I removed it for a while and when I put it back on it went screwey above 4K rpm. I sanded on the wire "clamp" for a better connection and haven't had a problem since. __________________

03-11-2017, 04:27 PM	#1
booneSS13 Drives: 2013 Camaro SS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Davenport IA Posts: 718	What wires to use for MSD GMR Pickup? I have Msd 8918 gmr pickup for a tach signal on my gauge and progressive controller. I've been trying the pink #1 cylinder coil pack wire with no luck. I've also tried purple as well. Can anyone walk me through setting this thing up on our cars? I have ground and my switched 12v setup, I just need to know how to successfully get a tach signal Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk __________________ *Romans 5:8* But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Fastlane Cold Air Intake, NPP cat back exhaust, Stainless Works LT Headers, 2r max camshaft, Stage 3 Ported Heads (Manley Stainless steel values, titanium retainers, dual valve springs, bronze guides), Wiseco Forged Pistons, K1 Forged Rods, Clevite Bearings, Factory Crankshaft, Comp Cams rocker arm trunion kit, Morel 5315 lifters, JP performance single billet timing chain, Melling oil pump, Spec stage 3+ clutch and flywheel, BMR trailing arms, Nitto 555r 305/35/20.