High performance ignition coils????????
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
High performance ignition coils????????
Are coils made by Msd or Accel worth the money. My 1989 F150 with 110,000 miles has the original coil. Would it be worth the money to purchase one of these??????????
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
High performance ignition coils????????
The coil itself, maybe not, but in addition to a box like the MSD 6a would be great. Go with MSD, they are the best.
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)
Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
92' Thunderbird 3.8L V-6 FOR SALE!
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter baby.
The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)
Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
92' Thunderbird 3.8L V-6 FOR SALE!
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter baby.
The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Lee's Summit MO
High performance ignition coils????????
I can second the module, but I've heard mixed reviews on just the coil itself. The best way is to get a new OEM style coil. I bought one at Autozone for $12.
'93 F-150 loaded and modified!
Check my Gallery
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: ct
High performance ignition coils????????
your money would be better spent elswhere. if your truck is stock going to an aftermarket ignition will net you no gains. the stock ford tfi ignitions are very strong and reliable.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
High performance ignition coils????????
The May 2002 issue of Car Craft had a comparison of a few aftermarket ignition systems. They ran them on a GMPP dyno mule engine, and they all seemed to be fairly equal in HP/TQ. It looked like it was all up to how much $ you want to spend.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Dickinson, TX
High performance ignition coils????????
My experience with the Jacobs unit was a big negative. I'm averse to the idea of trying another unit thinking it will truly result in a noticeable improvement in towing and/or loaded mileage.
-Mike
-Mike
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
High performance ignition coils????????
High performance coils? On an engine set up for racing, yes. On a stock system, they're a waste of money. Although those flashy colors look kinda neat under the hood. Get one if the stock coil is truly worn out and you want other than OEM, or you happen to have an independant ignition control box capable of taking advantage of the coil's useable voltage range. The aftermarket companies may advertise an appealing 50,000 volts of spark energy on their products, but realize the stock system needs no more than roughly 20,000. GM's HEI system produces more, but we're not discussing that junk. If those numbers are wrong, please correct me.
A friend of mine went out and bought a high-performance coil for his stock '89 Crown Victoria beater. The original hardware was still going strong. He said he couldn't tell a difference after installing the performance model..
A friend of mine went out and bought a high-performance coil for his stock '89 Crown Victoria beater. The original hardware was still going strong. He said he couldn't tell a difference after installing the performance model..
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
High performance ignition coils????????
Like i said, a coil by itself cannot increase hp by much, however, if you get an aftermarket system like the MSD 6a like i have, you will notice a power difference. After installation that took about 30 min, i noticed an increase in low end torque and acceleration, and a smoother running engine at high rpm. The msd will make a mult. spark below 3,000 rpm, which burns the fuel better and adds a noticeable HP/FT-LBS. Above 3,000 it doesn't have enough "time" to make mult sparks, so it amplifies the coil. At high RPM, a coil has very little time to re-charge itself, so the MSD insures that it is charged properly, creating a better running engine at high rpm.
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)
Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter. Top speed, 65mph, Go Baby Go!
The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L
Primary rig is:
95' F-150 EB 300/6 5 spd with 4" Superlift, MSD, Ram Air, Gibson Exhaust, 32" BFG Muds
NEW PICS IN MY GALLERY!! :-)
Then theres:
88' F-250 Superduty 351 + c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 and a
3 spd column shifter. Top speed, 65mph, Go Baby Go!
The newest addition to the Ford family is a 99' Mustang GT 4.6L
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Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Lee's Summit MO
High performance ignition coils????????
yep, MSD *says* there is a difference from there wires from the ordinary. But I use Bosch's on my '93.
'93 F-150 loaded and modified!
Check my Gallery
New User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Clinton US
High performance ignition coils????????
>Can I use my Motorcraft 8mm wires with a msd6a ignition
>system?? I just replaced my wires last October.
You may want to use the 8mil spiral wires recommended by MSD with the 6a. I "burnt"-up a set of OEM and a set of Accel 8mil wires with the MSD 6a and a HP Accel coil on my ’88 F150 4.9L.
>system?? I just replaced my wires last October.
You may want to use the 8mil spiral wires recommended by MSD with the 6a. I "burnt"-up a set of OEM and a set of Accel 8mil wires with the MSD 6a and a HP Accel coil on my ’88 F150 4.9L.
New User
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
MSD vs. Stock Ford coils,
I put an MSD 6A box MSD plug wires and motorcraft iridium plugs I had a Miss in my engine I could not shake no matter what I did as soon as I put the MSD coil I noticed the Miss was not as bad! Then I went ahead and bought the MSD plug wires and the truck was noticeably stronger and smoother at any RPM, and what's funny is I bought the 6A MSD second hand from a friend I traded him a car stereo for it LOL. I noticed also that my gas mileage is a lot better I don't know why but somebody told me I should have bought a brand new stock Ford coil because the MSD box would not hurt it. I paid $60 for the MSD coil and I found the wires at Amazon for $90. It was worth it to me
Last edited by Rufus 848; Aug 3, 2021 at 02:17 PM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 845
Any gains people notice are more than likely due to the fact that the old ignition system, coil + wires + plugs were already worn out and end of life. Any working ignition system will have better gains than a non 100% working ignition system.
Is there something wrong with your ignition, or is it all working 100%?
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 66
Likes: 20
From: Garden City, MI
No, not worth the money, zero gain...and Motorcraft will last longer.
Any gains people notice are more than likely due to the fact that the old ignition system, coil + wires + plugs were already worn out and end of life. Any working ignition system will have better gains than a non 100% working ignition system.
Is there something wrong with your ignition, or is it all working 100%?
Any gains people notice are more than likely due to the fact that the old ignition system, coil + wires + plugs were already worn out and end of life. Any working ignition system will have better gains than a non 100% working ignition system.
Is there something wrong with your ignition, or is it all working 100%?
Granted, it was bumped today so I can see where confusion might happen.