MSD 6014 LS Carburetor swap tuning - Easy programming tips!!!

Running a carburetor on an LS is surprisingly easy, even if you're not really a computer person! We're here to help with your LS carb swap.

This is the second in our series of videos on the MSD 6014, and swapping LS engines to carb induction. The previous video was more about the basic functions, and this video shows how to make the box easy, common gotchas, and what we do when we race our LSX powered carbureted cars. We're here to help deliver the best performance for your swap!

The first video can be found here:

We've sold over a thousand of these 6014s. Steve's been running one on his G-body Malibu wagon for over 5 years with great success, and helped hundreds of people get their cars running their best.

Red MSD 6014:

Black MSD60143:

Need help picking out a carb? We've curated a list of carburetors specifically for LS customers!

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:50 Custom 1 timing table
02:12 LS carburetor timing vs EFI
3:48 How to establish baseline timing
5:37 Boost and Vacuum advance
6:59 Fuel first, then timing
7:24 MAP Sensor gotcha!
9:19 MAP Sensor VERY IMPORTANT!
10:16 Temperature sensor uses
11:06 Not using temp sensor - check here!
14:37 Individual Cylinder Timing
15:41 Individual Cylinder Timing - NO MAP
17:26 Step Retard saves parts
19:26 Launch Retard important tips!
21:20 Data Acquisition
23:08 Viewing Data Logs
26:32 What's next? Upcoming videos!

[corey_]

Dude… this shit is GOLDEN. Wow. Can’t speak highly enough about the information in this video. And such great delivery and communication with everything . Well done, man, well done. Thank you

[chrisherrmann]

Great explanation. I need to double check some of my 6014 settings I think

[Busted_Knuckles]

Great video. I have a suggestion that i think would be extremely popular; tuning a carbed LS cradle to grave using 6014.

Slap a untuned 750 dp on and start the process. Show default idle timing to tune carb, show different changes and tuning tips used for getting your idle set, work into testing and settings used for first drive etc.

I have never seen any video's breaking down all the small things that most of us kill ourselves researching as garage/weekend builders. It would be a carb ls learning adventure

[tonytcob]

Very informative video. Great job. I've been trying to make the efi or carb decision for a new build I'm doing, this pushed me all the way to going with a carb. Don't know if you remember me or not, from back in the NMRA days. You bought an engine from me that I pulled out of Mike Houser's old Pure Street car.(Turns out it had seen some previous internal damage that I was unaware of, and I bought it back) Anway, thanks for a video that is extremely useful. Tony Corley

[zackpowerusa]

Love the content, please keep em coming!
I am on my 2nd Carb'd LS, 1st was a LY5 Cammed that went bang.."my fault". Now im onto LQ4 cammed. Been using ProForms 750 Street, I've been having good luck with it so far. I wish i had the 6014, im currently running 6012. -using gen4 crank of course* The additional features on the 6014 are impressive over my 6012.

[justinadams]

Great video. Keep them coming and thank you

[flatlanderoutdoors]

Video gold brotha I’m always learning from your vids, thanks 👊🏻

[ronniemarucci]

just picked up a 55 chevy with a ls and a msd box and I am new to this and this video helps me understand it a bit more.
I am staring to install it in the car soon so i may contact you if I run into any again

[paytonmac]

fuel droplet is bigger on carb takes longer to burn which requires more timing

[patriciajones]

Have you got a video on how to hook up a tachometer to 6014?

[Joseph-xxrz]

As a refrigeration tech, my guess is the carburetor needs more timing because the fuel is not as well atomized and nore is evaporating in the cylinder than on a well atomized fuel injection motor. The cooler cylinder would need more timing because when fuel is first lit, the flame front has to heat the mixture.

[Danii.]

Hello, so I’m considering making my 5.3 LS1 carbureted, I currently have a TSP cam in there. Do you have any videos specifically for programming a cam?

[superhwk]

This is great! Thanks for explaining this stuff . I have an 01 5.7LS1 with patriot 243 ported heads, 228R cam, 1-7/8" headers. Preformer rmp I take and a QF 750 race carb. I'm wondering what you think a good starting point for degrees at idle, and what point would you start ramping up your timing. I'm running 28° total starting @1300rpm right now. Car runs ok but does diesel a bit when I shut it down on warmer days. I realize all motors are different. Just looking for your thoughts as I don't have a track or dyno shop nearby.

[danielibanez]

Great info. What would be a good starting point to set the timing curve for a stock 5.3 with a Holley 650 double pumper.

[jackal-ftbo]

They like more timing because of the cooling effect of the carb

[auto]

Getting ready to put a carb on a stock 2009 6.0, in a 84 Regal, so any info on this setup would be great! Thanks! also would like to spray it with a small shot of NOS, any info on that would also be greatly appreciated.

[Ken-oce]

What are your thoughts on 4.8ls gt45 turbo msd 6014 Edelbrock avs2 1406 600cfm . modified for blow thru. The reason for this carburetor is it was free lol 👍🏻

[brawler.]

How dependable are the MSD ignition box is it dependable for everyday use

[gamestop]

Mine always idles at around 900-1000 rpm’s. Even when I adjust the idle screw it will idle high again after driving it around for a while. Sometimes it will diesel when I turn it off as well?

[coryhann]

putting in a 60 in a 80 trans am looking at the 6014 to run the motor what, what i like to no how do i have the stock gages work with the set up