40,000 volt coil?

[Chero77]

I've been toying with the idea of swapping out the stock coil on my '77 401 with the Prestolite distributor for a so called high performance coil, i.e. 40,000 volts. Does anyone know what the stock coil puts out? My engine runs strong, smooth idle, no hesitation, no bogs. I am just wondering if I could squeeze out a little bit more milage with a hotter coil. Any opinions? Any reason the high output coil would damage the ignition. I figure it probably draws more current through the primary windings, don't know whether its enough to damage anything.

[Stolen76]

I've read alot of stuff in the hot rod type mags. none of the 40k coils actually put that out. You have to go to capacitive discharge to get up that high.

I can tell you though, I run an Accel supercoil (40k volts) straight off of my points with plugs gapped at around .045 in my 4 banger honda. It used to oil foul plugs every 1,000 miles or so. This go around, I have about 9,000 on them, and no problems yet.
(Engine is quickly approaching 250,000.)

[Chero77]

The Accel super coil or superstock coil is what I had in mind. Guess, I'll give it a try.

[coolram]

Got an Accel Superstock coil on mine that's rated at 40k volts but like Stolen said unless you have a trigger that alowws longer coil saturation you don't actually get full output.Also this is a full 12 volt coil so I'm contemplating removing the resistance wire to the coil(any opinions on this).I believe the stock coil(6 to 9 volt) output was between 15k to 25k.

[DerJeep]

If it takes 10k volts to fire your spark plug, that is what you will get. Just because you have a bazillion volt system does not mean it will give that to your plugs and combustion process.

[ April 12, 2002: Message edited by: DerJeep ]</p>

[Don S]

DerJeep......If you grab a sparkplug wire on a
""bazillion volt system "" It will make a little differents... :eek: :eek: ..I put a capacitive discharge system on a car....I "air fired" a sparkplug before and after installing the system and there was a big differents....Did the car run better???.....Hummm....maybe....but I still couldn't do wheelies.. :mad: ...so on my '76 ...it's still stock. :D ..... ;) ..ds..

[DerJeep]

Of course there is a difference when air firing, it takes more juice for the spark to jump, but this is not a running condition or at least I hope not.

[Don S]

DerJeep ..yes you are right ..like I said ...I could not tell much differents after installing the system...It said it was 50,000 volts and had a big, aircooled, SCR.......ds..

[PAJEEPER]

I am going to do this too with my prestolite system. I got a Ford TFI coil and am going to put it in. I have heard that you cant run it without a ballast resistor or wire. So I'm going to put it in and see what happens. Didnt cost me much so if it doesnt make a difference I'll put the old one back.

[LRRH]

well...i've got a different setup than everyone. i bough a Jacobs kit for my 70 Wag(Buick 350). it has 2 coils(don't remember voltage) and I noticed a BIG difference switching from the original coil.