Afternoon!

I just finished installing the MSD 6A module, and the TFI High performance coil in my '96 F-150 w/ 351.... What a difference! I used the optional wire loom which goes between the coil & original connector from the distributor, so mounting the control box took longer than plugging everything in. E-Z! I get a 10% military discount at Schuck's Auto, so the 6A, Coil & adapter only cost me $180.00 with tax. If it works out to even a 1-2 MPG increase, it'll pay itself off within a few months.

When I was connecting the coil wire back up, I noticed the boot was pretty mung-encrusted. :-( I plan to replace the entire set of wires with a custom set of MSD's, but according to the installation instructions, they don't really recommend specific plugs/gaps, and to experiment with different plugs & gap settings. Do they know what a pain it is to keep pulling 8 plugs!?

So what plugs seem to work best, and has anybody played around with different gaps? Any experience with Split-Fires, or are they just a gimmic? I will also be swapping out the cap & rotor with something a little more high quality in the next day or two... I got just over 15 MPG at my last fill-up, so I'll post the new numbers when I check again. I think even 15 on a truck like this is pretty good... 17 would be awesome! What are some of you guys getting with a similar setup with or without the MSD?


Thanks to a great board for all the help. Thanks in advance for any info on the plug/wire info.


Oldsarge
'96 F-150 SC, 351, MSD'd!
Olympia, Wa

 

I also have the 6a system on my 1993 F-150 302.

"So what plugs seem to work best, and has anybody played around with different gaps? "

I have always used only Motorcraft or Autolites. In 1996 Ford used platnum plugs, so you might consider using bosch. Ive heard they are pretty good.

"Any experience with Split-Fires, or are they just a gimmic?"

I personally think they're just a gimic. If you really want some power and mileage consider side-gapping a set of plugs. They are worth it, the only downside is they have to be replaced a little more often.

"I will also be swapping out the cap & rotor with something a little more high quality in the next day or two... I got just over 15 MPG at my last fill-up, so I'll post the new numbers when I check again. I think even 15 on a truck like this is pretty good... 17 would be awesome!"

17 on a 2wd 302 is great. My 2wd 93 302 only gets around 18 now, and sometimes 21 in the summer.

 

Believe it or not I am getting 18.75mpg(canadian) right now.I just did a test this week and the first two days were driving in 4wd and one day with just the hubs locked in. I drive in a mountainous area and I drive 100 miles a day return to work. All I have done to this truckis change the oil and filters and new plugs. Every thing else is original and it has 255000K on it so I am very happy so far. There ae a few bugs I have to work out like grabby brakes and a miss at 2400 rpm that clears itself if I do not change throttle position(wierd) my last truck was a Ranger 4x4 2.3ltr. and it only got 24mpg so that makes the big truck a bonus.


1993 F1504x4 5spd 5.0 supercab with 31/10/15 wheels and a 3.55 posi.

 

I would think twice before buying platinum plugs. Look on page 7 at the topic "Spark Plug Confusion" and see what myself and some other guys ran into. I stick with Motorcraft personally.

 

Sorry, forgot about the wires. I have 9mm Ford Racing wires. Bought from Summit Racing for around $45. Comes in red or blue. I got the blue since truck is blue. 92 F150 302 auto ext.cab 4x4.

 

I have had good luck with Autolite plugs I had a 91 model F150 Regular cab/shortbed for a long time that was 351 5speed. I did alot of work to it and was still getting about 17 around town and got 23 on a trip once with the AC on. As for wires I had bad luck with the Motorcraft breaking down in the Texas heat. Switched to Accel 8mm and never had another problem. hope this helps.

Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 07-Feb-01 AT 03:27 AM (EST)[/font][p]Personally, I use the Motorsport wires from summit racing. I have yet to have any problems out of them, besides burning through one of them on a header pipe (no wire seperators). But I will say that they are worth the money. They run about the same price as the stock wires I bought a few 3 years ago from an auto parts place (don't want to mention any names.) I kept having to buy wires because everytime I would go to check my plugs, I would pull a terminal off of one of the wires. And yes I was very careful when I took the wires off. Witht e motorsport wires, I have yet to pull a terminal out.

I also haven't had any problems with them breaking down on me. I usually have to let my truck idle for long periods of time, and with the headers under the hood I am sure it gets pretty warm. Especially when some of our days last summer got up to 108, here in SE Texas.

Basically just like many other components it comes down to personal preference.

1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

As far as gap goes, what I did was set two up with each gap that I wanted, four different gaps(.045, .050, .055 and .060). Ran this way for 150-200 miles (or 225-300K), then pulled them and read the plugs, picked the gap that looked the best across both plugs of the same gap (.055 in my case) and went with that(still play with it now and again though!). Only change I really ended up making from that was when I went with side-gapped, opened them up another .005, and yes, the side gapped plugs do make a difference. I run either Autolite or Motorcraft in the copper variety. While plug life will be shorter, they do conduct heavier spark better than the platinum. Lucky for me, my plugs are very easy to get to so checking/changing isn't a problem. For wires, I've read that 8.5mm conduct the most amount of spark the best, smaller and it's working to hard to "push" the power thru and larger doesn't really benefit(no more loss and no more gain), but, if you have the choice between 8.0 and 9.0mm, go with the 9's every time.

 

Here's my nickles (inflation ya know) worth. As part of a quest to fix a valve ping problem, installed MSD wires and splitfires. Not only did it not fix my pinging problem, I couldn't really tell any difference...milage or performance. Then a motor-head friend of mine said I wouldn't see any gains from the splitfires because my stock coil didn't put out enough zap. So, I installed the MSD TFI Blaster coil that puts out 48,000 volts (about 3,000 more than stock the parts guys said). Now it still didn't fix my ping problem, but I did notice it starts a lot quicker and it seemed to have a better throttle responce. Anyway, just today I fixed my pinging problem by disconnecting the neg battery cable and letting the computer reset. Now a phenominal difference! Very little ping and now the truck runs like the proverbial raped ape. So was it the splitfires, MSD coil, computer reset, all three? Probably a combo of all three. Impact on mileage yet to be seen. Oh, by the way, even with the valve ping I was getting 20-21 MPG at a steady 65 on the open road. However, local, short trips I'm sure I'm in the single digits..it's really thirsty around town. Like I said, for what it's worth......