kretos

hey guys i'm looking for a new ignition coil and i was wondering what all of you are using?

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

i had an MSD coil, it puked after a month so i just went back to the stock coil. no problems, and unless youre doing a lot of other ignition mods, just go w/ a stock one, you wont really tell a difference.

kretos

what kinda cap and rotor are you using?

TechSmurf

Weird.. my MSD coil has been happily alive for over 4 years now..

RedTtop5spd

iTrader: (1)

Did you put a ballast resistor in there?

kretos

tech smurf how do you like your msd coil?

Dale

iTrader: (12)

I have accell, debating on going to MSD

drdave88

iTrader: (3)

just a stock cap and rotor. and why would i put a ballast resistor in there? what would that do?

oil pan 4

iTrader: (1)

I have a MSD Balster SS coil, a Holley ICM, accell cap and rotor, I still need a pick up coil, wires and plugs. I want to get a MSD 6AL soon.

camaro_junkie

MSD coil, 1 year old, no problems. Cap and rotor are generic like Autolite or something.

TechSmurf

I doubt the MSD coil is giving me any serious performance benefit, but the hotter spark does help my V8 start up easier in the morning (The day I got the V8 running, the MSD coil was jacked from the V6 )

Looking into getting another one for the V6 now to help the spark under boost.

RedTtop5spd

iTrader: (1)

Depending on which coil you got from MSD, they say to put a 0.8 ohm (I believe it's that resistance) ballast resistor inline or else it will not function properly and toast the coil.

vsixtoy

I run a Hypertech Coil. Its the hottest coil made @ 53,000 volts. Stock is 37,000 volts.

MSD boxes like the 6a just mimc what the newer style computer controled ignitions do- they are just redondant and will generally just correct one or many bad stock componants when a gain is experienced. Just run a hotter coil, better wires and good stock ignition componants(Delco ICM, etc) and it will be plenty adequate.

br()bert

Ive always thought msd's were better suited for carbed non cc engines.

kretos

i'm basically just looking for a easier startup, i think a msd coil with a stock cap and rotor should do the job , but would i need to upgrade my wires. i know they arn't stock and look fairly new

Dale

iTrader: (12)

MSD makes direct replacments for the newer Computer Cars.

A hotter(even new) coil should help on startups.

For a replacement cap, get one that uses BRASS terminals and prongs, rather then aluminum or "pot" metal. May be a few buxs more, but should last longer and transfer better current

Wires, thats up to you. Spirol wound wire has less drop in current then carbon fiber wires. If they look new, dont spend the money right now. Wait tell they do need replaced, then get some good ones.

br()bert

If your having a hard time starting maybe its something else wrong. My ing is all stock except for a 5.0 mustang coil i threw in when the stock one died. My car doesnt even crank one time before it starts.

kretos

it started about a month or so after i bought my car so i think it might just be the coil, csu when i first bought the car it started up first crank everytime

TomP

Aftermarket coil #1:
-Accel "Computerized remote HEI" SuperCoil
-Installed August 1997 to replace the stock coil
-Part number 140008 (Summit # is ACC-140008)
-Link is http://store.summitracing.com/partde...t=ACC%2D140008
-came with wiring harness
-made bracket to mount coil between top of alternator and throttle body

Aftermarket coil #2:
-MSD Blaster SS coil
-Installed September 2000 to replace Accel #140008
-No real reason, just wanted an MSD coil to match new MSD box
-Part number is 8207 (Summit # is MSD-8207)
-Link is http://store.summitracing.com/partde...art=MSD%2D8207
-made bracket to mount coil off of heater/evap box (see below pic)
-used with MSD-8876 wiring harness to hook up MSD 6AL box, see http://store.summitracing.com/partde...art=MSD%2D8876

With both of these coils, I left the original stock coil where it was. Since I used the wiring harness adapters, if I ever get stuck on the side of the road and "think" my aftermarket coil/ignition box caused the problem, I can just plug the original GM coil back in as a spare.

Oh, and never a problem yet, with either coil.

kretos

damn tomp you seem to always be kicking around with the good info

out of the accel and msd which did you prefer?

Klortho

I guess I've gotten lucky, original coil, 207k miles on it and will fire right up no problems hehe.

TomP

Kretos, they were both about the same... the only reason I changed to the MSD coil was because I got an MSD 6AL box. I was a bit worried about the compatibility between the Accel coil & MSD box, although guys run that combination without any problems.

I emailed MSD and asked them which, out of a Blaster 3, Blaster SS, or Blaster HVC would be the completely best coil for the 6AL, and they told me the blaster SS was the way to go. I was kinda suprised, since the Blaster HVC was the most expensive coil (over $100 at Summit)! But that's another reason why I love MSD; their customer support. If they tell me to use the $40 coil instead of the $100 coil, I'll believe 'em.

The only pain with BOTH of those was making the bracket. But I believe it's better than a direct-replacement coil, for two reasons. 1, like I said before, I can plug the original coil back in if I think my aftermarket coil burned out. And 2, (probably most important), the coil is no longer directly above the hot exhaust manifold! The coil isn't constantly cooking up there. Granted, it's still close to the exhaust, but it's not directly above it anymore.

And what's funny is, I had mounted the Accel coil between the top of the alternator and the top of the throttle body. Never had a problem with the coil- and that's about the highest-vibration spot possible!

[edit] By the way, that bracket is actually a T-shaped bracket. The cross of the "T" goes width-wise inside the heater/evap box. The two silver screws you see connect the cross bar to the wide strip that the coil's screwed to. That "T" shape prevents the coil from ever falling out. It looks like the two silver screws are screwing right to the heater/evap box, but they're not.

[1 more edit] You can use the MSD harness (that I provided a link for) to hook up any coil to the factory harness. Yes it's advertised for hooking up an MSD 6AL box, but it works for "Just" a coil, too. On our cars, all an MSD 6-series ignition box does is act as a "big spark coil".

sixbanger

Hey Kretos, go to Best Buy performance on King George highway for great deals on these things. Just got some 8.5mm MSD wires for $40. They also have the coils too. Also picked up a BOSCH cap/rotor from Canadian Tire for $20.

kretos

this is some great help guys thanx alot

kretos

tomp do you have a picture of just the bracket by any chance, basically i'm looking to give my car the best ignition system possible and i figure your pretty close


and sixbanger was the bosch connections brass or just like stock?

sixbanger

brass

TomP

Glad I kept this... I drew this for someone a while ago.

kretos

thanx alot guys that helps alot