Underdash MSD Install

[Ghoste]

I wanted to put my MSD box somewhere under the dash but someone told me that was the worst spot for them because they run too hot there.  Looking around my engine bay I can't see how underdash can be any hotter than underhood even if there is more air flowing around it there.  Am I right on this?

[Nacho-RT74]

I don't think engine bay runs hotter in any form than underdash. You can get hotter or colder underdash areas, but never hotter than engine bay.

[c00nhunterjoe]

For years mine was ziptied to the top of the passenger inner fender right at the hood bumper bracket. After that it was stuck inside the glovebox. Never had an issue in either location.

[Charger-Bodie]

I hide mine right in front of the drivers door hinges.

[Ghoste]

How long did you have it in the glovebox Joe?

[chargerbr549]

I installed my MSD box in my glove box and it's been that way for years also another good place that I found is to mount it down behind the front license plate, the license plate hides the box pretty well from the front, gets a lot of air and you can tuck the MSD wiring in the headlight wiring harness. Under the battery tray is another good place to hide it on most cars except the 68-69 Chargers with the headlight vacuum can under there, also make sure to have a dry cell type battery to keep acid from getting on the box.

[c00nhunterjoe]

How long did you have it in the glovebox Joe?

About 7 years.

[Ghoste]

Works for me, mine is going underdash.  Thanks all, I know I've asked this question a couple of different ways lately and a few of you by pm but I wanted to be sure.

[Xp29h]

I see you made your choice going under dash. I think that's good. I was going to do that as well but I realized I had the room right in engine bay where the washer fluid reservoir went. Works great, no heat issues at all. Mounted easy.

I would say this, I don't run heat I'm my charger, it only comes out of the garage on good days. So, the extra heat of the glove box or under dash would be minimal. I also installed the 6al-2, which I can hook my computer up to it. It would have been much easier in the passenger area rather than in the engine bay.

I've known several people to run them in glovebox and be fine.

[Ghoste]

My engine bay worries were also that I really wanted to keep it as stock looking as possible underrhood.

[Xp29h]

Absolutely, that's why I wanted to put it in glovebox. But I forgot to mention I also knew that I would be completely re wiring the car with new fuse box, relays, wires, everything! So it would have been in the way and I would have had to remove. I gave up the stock look for ease down the road.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Mine still uses the stock fuse box. I didnt even tie mine down. The msd box and rev limiter literally just sat in there

[Dodge Don]

Mine is mounted on top of heater box under dash. No issues at all. And my glove box is free for intended use.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Every hard launch, my glovebox flies open.... lol, any papers in it go flying through the car.

[Nacho-RT74]

Honestly, If I'd go with MSD upgrade the only reason to hide it is for stock look undehood, but FOR THE HEAT?... Ok, MSD Modules are prepaired for that!!!

[Mopar Nut]

The msd box and rev limiter literally just sat in there

The box itself doesn't need to be grounded?

[Ghoste]

Honestly, If I'd go with MSD upgrade the only reason to hide it is for stock look undehood, but FOR THE HEAT?... Ok, MSD Modules are prepaired for that!!!

Doesn't MSD advise to keep it in a cool location?

[bill440rt]

I have one mounted under the driver's seat. Been there at least 15 years & it's still fine.

[Nacho-RT74]

The msd box and rev limiter literally just sat in there

The box itself doesn't need to be grounded?

No. In fact they include rubber shock isolator mounts for vibrations. They get a large and thick ground wire to be sourced "from batt", same than positive

[Nacho-RT74]

Honestly, If I'd go with MSD upgrade the only reason to hide it is for stock look undehood, but FOR THE HEAT?... Ok, MSD Modules are prepaired for that!!!

Doesn't MSD advise to keep it in a cool location?

I can't recall that instrucction specifically. But even if says that, I guess they meant to be mounted on a "cool location" still into the engine bay, being preppaired to idiot ppl what could mount it next to the exhauts manifolds or on engine itself. I don't think they wanted to mean into the cab, glovebox or whatever out of the engine bay. We don't need to over react with the instructions.

Hey don't missunderstood me... if ppl wants to mount it into the cab, that's fine, just that is not really needed!!!!

[Dodge Don]

Heat was not the issue, factory stock look was.

[Brock Lee]

A guy I know had his mounted in his engine bay. It wasn't a Charger. The 440 completely filled the bay and it would get really hot and no matter where the unit was installed, it would eventually die from the heat. We fiddled with every location under the hood you could imagine.

We ended up mounting it under the console inside the car. We made a little base for it to mount to that has some weight to keep it in place. It has been in there like that for atleast 5 years now and it solved the problem. So I am a believer in it being not only fine, but required in some situations to install it inside the car.