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Coil packs?


JimRummy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Messages
204
Age
39
City
Los Angeles, CA
Vehicle Year
1993
Transmission
Automatic
Motorcraft or aftermarket?
I've seen/heard a few opinions about them, and haven't seen anything definitive.
MSD? Accel? Screaming Demon? Motorcraft?

I am currently running a duralast, and the truck doesn't seem to like it..
Thoughts?
 
Don't know/care?
If I were to go with a screamin demon pack, do I actually need new wires?
I'm running reasonably new motorcraft plugs & wires, so I'd rather not.
Also do I need to re gap the plugs to .065?
What're the pros & cons to doing so?
The truck runs hot as is, that's why I am curious.
 
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Well on the 4.0l you gotta use Motorcraft plugs(eats other brands), so I would use Motorcraft coil pack.

No screamin' demon for sure.
 
See, that's what I was thinking, but there are so many "reviews" where people swear by these things, and its all in their head (I can't talk having a CAI). So I guess I'll just stick with OEM then.. Unless I hear some more super testimonials soon, lol.
 
Alright, soooo I was reading the Ranger known problem areas (http://www.therangerstation.com/resources/ProblemArea.html), and I noticed he was talking about pinging saying "This has been an ongoing problem with Ford's 3.0's and 4.0's for a long time. They have recently released a TSB on it. It requires a new coil giving a hotter spark. Evidently the current coil was just giving enough to ignite, and not explode. If the TSB doesn't apply to you, check your base timing and your timing advance."
So would a new coil pack from Ford be the one that is being referred to? The Screamin' Demon's advertise a "hotter spark". Is that what would be best or the coil pack specified in the TSB? If so where can it be gotten, and do the plugs have to be re gaped?
 
I might be mistaken but I think that TSB was referring to the distributor ignition systems(TFI) with one coil, not a distributorless coil pack system.
 
This has been an ongoing problem with Ford's 3.0's and 4.0's for a long time. They have recently released a TSB on it. It requires a new coil giving a hotter spark.
If the quote is accurate; I don't know the 3.0 but the 4.0 has no distributor. The 2.9 does. The 4.0 is DIS, no tfi.

Richard
 
The think that makes stuff like MSD so special isn't really so special by the time you get into the DIS systems.

MSD stands for Multiple Spark Discharge, and the reason it gives OLD (reads "distributor) engines such a kick in the pants is because has the ability to fire off more than once per power stroke helping with burn and power. Most stock distributor setups lack this ability due to the way the control and trigger system work.

This multiple firings per power stroke is something that most of Ford's DIS systems have the capability to do since they are not as limited in when the coil can be fired by the programming. I'm not sure if the early coil packs with the stand-alone EDIS module can do that, but I do know that by the time the EDIS module was eliminated and coil control put to the PCM (around 97 I think) that was a standard capability of the stock system.
 
Well I guess the question I'm asking is A; is that quote I posted referring to coil packs or distributors, and B; if it is referring to coil packs, would a new motorcraft coil pack be the newer, hotter firing one it spoke about, or would I need one of these aftermarket (accel, screamin demon, msd) that advertise hotter spark?
I am not a huge fan of anything that you can get at an autoparts store.
 
I have been looking, but cannot find the TSB that he was talking about. The only bulletins I see about spark knock are for MAF cleaning and intake gaskets.

If Ford did in fact release a TSB about spark knock and needing a hotter spark they would have redesigned the coil and all subsequently produced service parts would have reflected the new design.
 
Yeah, thats what I was thinking, and there is no updated coil anywhere, so I guess that was referring to a TIS.
 
You are correct about a seeming lack of updated part. The part number that RockAuto lists under Motorcraft does appear to be the original release.

I do know that there is something different about the coil packs with the plug that goes straight up and down that makes the engine not run right if you have the wrong plug orientation.
 
Don't know/care?
If I were to go with a screamin demon pack, do I actually need new wires?
I'm running reasonably new motorcraft plugs & wires, so I'd rather not.
Also do I need to re gap the plugs to .065?
What're the pros & cons to doing so?
The truck runs hot as is, that's why I am curious.

I run the Accel coil. I've also gapped my plugs another 5-8 thousandths past spec, running Borg Warner OEM replacement wires.

It really helped with high rpm power and smoothness, and I'm able to pull hard past 5k rpm.

Down side. I had to switch to $$$ NGK iridium V plugs, because I kept melting the electrodes on the OEM plugs. Also while it was still a DD, I'd have my wires start arcing out about every 6 months, and need replacing. And no matter how new the wires are, they arc out with the littlest bit of water on them, a real pain on wet trails.

All in all, if it wasn't for my ported top end and the headers, I'd take that thing off. But since my 4.0 runs like a small block at +5k rpm, and all I do is run the snot out of it... I love it. Maybe one day I'll quit being cheap and pony up the cash for a set of Livewires, till then I'll stick with my can of WD40.
 
I do know that there is something different about the coil packs with the plug that goes straight up and down that makes the engine not run right if you have the wrong plug orientation.

You have to spin the coil 180 from its intended orientation, thus you have to do the same with the plug wires

From
35
24
16

To
61
42
53
 
I run the Accel coil. I've also gapped my plugs another 5-8 thousandths past spec, running Borg Warner OEM replacement wires.

It really helped with high rpm power and smoothness, and I'm able to pull hard past 5k rpm.

Down side. I had to switch to $$$ NGK iridium V plugs, because I kept melting the electrodes on the OEM plugs. Also while it was still a DD, I'd have my wires start arcing out about every 6 months, and need replacing. And no matter how new the wires are, they arc out with the littlest bit of water on them, a real pain on wet trails.

All in all, if it wasn't for my ported top end and the headers, I'd take that thing off. But since my 4.0 runs like a small block at +5k rpm, and all I do is run the snot out of it... I love it. Maybe one day I'll quit being cheap and pony up the cash for a set of Livewires, till then I'll stick with my can of WD40.

Interesting. You think the OEM plugs would keep melting if they kept the original gap spec?
I have a Duracrap coil in now, and the only way I can describe it is the truck doesn't like it. I am a fan of OEM in most instances, but having what I do now I don't want to spend more money to go back to stock. I'd like to have a little more performance (obviously I'm not expecting any real HP gains, but not stock either) if I'm going to replace it again. I have somewhat new motorcraft plugs and wires, so I'm really just looking to see what is the best stand alone coil pack. Not really looking for new wires or re gaping or any of that.
All of this originally started because my wires started arcing and causing a misfire, although it was not related to moisture. About 10k past the new plugs and wires the coil pack went out. Can't complain though, the wires and coil pack lasted 100k miles/ 20 years.
 
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