I've noticed that when we talk about coils for our V8's we find there are few choices and that reliability comes into it.
Basically the choices appear to be: MSD, Crane, ICE & just an OEM type coil.
There have also been anecdotal reports of the MSD failing more often than expected. Why?
I have the original factory coil on mine but I just don't think going aftermarket will improve performance much on my engine setup.
Do you really get any noticeable performance from an aftermarket coil that can be fitted on a standard-ish motor or is it just our imagination that there is an improvement?

Last edited by Vic on Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

yeah id like to hear about whether or not an expensive set of leads & MSD coilpacks make much (if any) improvement over standard leads & original coilpack if all is running fine?

the leads and coilpack look to be the next thing to do with my windsor, but im not really willing to experiment with $400 to find out

I never had anything but the original stuff in my AU, even with 190k on it!

As I've mentioned in a couple of threads, I've personally experienced the failure of an MSD Blaster coil for the E-series and I know of MANY others who have suffered the same fate. Personally, I've not heard of any failures of the AU coilpacks, but others may very well have. I will never spend money on a Blaster coil again.

I'm currently running a Crane Hi-6 and LX-92 coil in my car with no problems, until the car came off the road, at least. I also mentioned in another thread that we just recently fitted a brand new set up, the same as I just mentioned, and the coil was faulty out of the box. That's my first bad experience with these and will treat it as a once off. If mine fails, then I will be looking at another option. To be honest, I will probably be looking to purchase a complete ICE Ignition system for the car during the build process, anyway.

In my experience, upgrading from the stock coil has improved idle quality and what feels to be an improvement down low and in the mid-range, but it could all be a placebo effect. Next week we should have a blown 5l on the dyno running the Crane gear, so if time permits, once the tune is complete, we might throw the stock coil in there and see if there is any loss in power or torque throughout the rev-range. I've got a shocking memory, so there's a good chance I'll completely forget. For interest's sake, the LX-92 coil that failed was replaced with a stock coil, still running the HI-6, and we tuned it like that. It was in an EL Fairmont with Trick Flow top end kit, 24# injectors and 70mm TB. It made 278rwhp. If the owner is keen, when he gets his replacement coil, maybe some comparisons can be done between the two, also.

Edited - grammar and TB size incorrectly stated as 75mm

Last edited by Scaffy on Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.

The original question did relate to a standard-ish motor, but it would be interesting to know how the stock coil responds under stress. How do primary & secondary resistances compare?

For any heavy duty application like forced induction, significantly raised compression or a higher rev range, a high output ignition system would generally be warranted and necessary. The last thing you want is unburnt fuel lighting off in your exhaust system, or even worse, blowing back into your intake.

In my experience the stock TFI works well for what it is. My work hack runs LPG (and lean at that) and a slightly raised compression, all requiring a better spark than a standard petrol burning 5.0. But I have good idle and power, and the fuel usage is in line with energy content (so the ignition system can't be falling over). I've had 30-40 TFI coils through the workshop and none have been inoperative, so the OEM design seems like a good one.

I'm thinking that if my factory coil gives up ( going 14 years strong now ) then I'll perhaps go for ICE. They're local to me and I already use their leads and they've been reliable for the last few years.

I have just ordered a MSD coil and will be putting it on shortly. I am running a stock dizzy and TFI.

I've been running a screaming demon coil on mine for the last 5year with no problems.

Crane HI6 and Crane LX92 coil here. Good gear.

I have voted for MSD, but i only use the HVC-II coils, not the direct fit Blasters (#8227).

http://www.mwignitions.com/pdf/mw8.pdf

MW coils on my V8 ...
Good enough for Motec to re-badge them..

Another brand new LX-92 coil dead on the dyno. The only use it's had is a few nights tuning on the road. It was breaking down under load, so we swapped her out with a stock coil and she ran beautifully.

I wouldn't use the LX crane coils...I'd use only the PS type because they are basically the same as the Ford coil. Never had any problem with them but I wouldn't actually use one if i already had the Ford one.