Which coil to choose ?

[nightdiver]

MSD-8207
MSD-8252
MSD-8253

http://www.msdignition.com/coil_blaster_6_8207.htm

http://www.msdignition.com/coil_blaster_14_8252.htm

http://www.msdignition.com/coil_blaster_18_8253.htm

 

[scotts4]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

i use the 8252 i works for me

 

[nightdiver]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

Thats 42000 volts , right ? the other one (8207)is 48000 V so a lot stonger.
The last one (8253) is a 44000V unit.

What do they mean with "turns ratio" ?

 

[midnightbluS10]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

In the example above, two hundred fifty volts "in" will produce 25,000 volts "out" given a 100:1 turns ratio. In reality, a 100:1 turns ratio is quite typical of many brands of ignition coils on the market. You can increase the voltage step up even more by increasing the turns ratio, but there is a point where the turns ratio gets too big, and secondary voltage can actually go down. It is also important to note that as voltage output is increased, the current output is decreased. Further, as you increase the turns ratio, other electronic properties are affected, such as resistance, reactance, and impedance. Without getting into these properties, suffice it to say that to make the best high performance coil is not simply a matter of getting the turns ratio up as high as you can.

http://hotrod.com/techarticles/17399/

HTH's

 

[TYHOGG]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

I just used the Blaster gm coil http://www.msdignition.com/coil_blaster_5_8226.htm it bolts right in and it has the wiring harness so you don't have to splice anything. I didn't want to have any spark blow-out at high psi. So far it has worked up to 22.

 

[nightdiver]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

Got it.
I cant feel any misfiring and i use a 50K Vsummit coil. I think its not available any more , they sell it as 45KV now.
I just have some tach jumps and misfiring when i am at the line with boost against brakes.

Other than that truck runs fine till 28-29 psi of boost.

 

[Jer]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

I just used the Blaster gm coil http://www.msdignition.com/coil_blaster_5_8226.htm it bolts right in and it has the wiring harness so you don't have to splice anything. I didn't want to have any spark blow-out at high psi. So far it has worked up to 22.

Can you tell me more about this? I'm considering all my options for ignition upgrades and would appreciated any info or a link you could give me to study up on this stuff. Thanks.

 

[TYHOGG]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

Can you tell me more about this? I'm considering all my options for ignition upgrades and would appreciated any info or a link you could give me to study up on this stuff. Thanks.

The only info i know of is on MSD's website.

Blaster GM Coil, PN 8226
If your GM Coil has two connectors, usually one gray and one black, this is a direct replacement performance coil. This style coil was used on pretty much anything that came out of GM until 1996 (except DIS systems).
MSD's Blaster GM Coil features a red housing that surrounds a set of Blaster 2 influenced windings for improved output. The Coil mounts in the same location as the stock coil and plugs right in.

Blaster GM Dual Connector Coil - PN 8226

Installation Tip: If you plan to install an MSD Ignition with your Blaster GM Coil, use a PN 8876 Harness for a direct plug-in installation.


BLASTER GM SPECIFICATIONS
Primary Resistance: 0.45 ohms
Secondary Resistance: 5.5K ohms
Maximum Voltage:
48,000 volts
Inductance: 7 mH
Turns Ratio: 85:1
Peak Current: 220 mA
Spark Duration: 250 Us
Teste with an MSD 6AL at the plug gap.

I used the coil, harness and 6a box. it has alot better idle and pulls much stronger in the higher rpm range, and with the harness everything is plug in and go, no splicing required. Hopes this helps a little.

 

[Jer]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

The only info i know of is on MSD's website.

Blaster GM Coil, PN 8226
If your GM Coil has two connectors, usually one gray and one black, this is a direct replacement performance coil. This style coil was used on pretty much anything that came out of GM until 1996 (except DIS systems).
MSD's Blaster GM Coil features a red housing that surrounds a set of Blaster 2 influenced windings for improved output. The Coil mounts in the same location as the stock coil and plugs right in.

Blaster GM Dual Connector Coil - PN 8226

Installation Tip: If you plan to install an MSD Ignition with your Blaster GM Coil, use a PN 8876 Harness for a direct plug-in installation.


BLASTER GM SPECIFICATIONS
Primary Resistance: 0.45 ohms
Secondary Resistance: 5.5K ohms
Maximum Voltage:
48,000 volts
Inductance: 7 mH
Turns Ratio: 85:1
Peak Current: 220 mA
Spark Duration: 250 Us
Teste with an MSD 6AL at the plug gap.

I used the coil, harness and 6a box. it has alot better idle and pulls much stronger in the higher rpm range, and with the harness everything is plug in and go, no splicing required. Hopes this helps a little.

Helps quite a bit. What can one expect to pay for these three parts that you use (best price/best source)? Thanks.

 

[TYHOGG]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

I bought mine from a local high performance store which i get a discount. Normaly the coil runs around $40, and the harness $15.00. i know Jegs and Summit carries both parts.

 

[Jer]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

I bought mine from a local high performance store which i get a discount. Normaly the coil runs around $40, and the harness $15.00. i know Jegs and Summit carries both parts.

Would this replace the OEM coil? In other words, since I've replace a lot of the other usual ign components and still have tach flutter then I could buy this in place of the OEM coil, correct?

What about the other two parts you put in? What would those do and are they worth it or would you just suggest the coil and harness? Thanks.

 

[TYHOGG]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

Yes you can use this coil as a direct replacement. It will even mount in the factory location. I used the 6A box to make sure i'm getting maximum voltage, and the mutiple spark each duration. The harness is for the box install NOT the coil. It's a pre-fabed wire loom, that plugs right into the existing wiring harness. Saves some time, and you can't hook anything up to the wrong wires, the colors match.

 

[SY2932]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

Would this replace the OEM coil?

Yes I did this just last week as a matter of fact. My truck was cutting out at WOT when I launched it like it was overboosting. However, my Autometer mechanical boost gauge never read over 12 psi when it happend so, it wasn't an overboosting issue. I'm about to get my fiberglass cowl hood painted and have the hood off. I connected my mechanical fuel pressure gauge that I set my fuel pressure with. Then I used cable ties to hold it in a position that I could read it from inside the cab and road testing I went (people look at you funny when you don't have a hood I discovered). I watched the fuel pressure increase one pound per one pound of boost like it was supposed to. When I launched it and it cut out, at no point did the fuel pressure drop off so, not a fuel problem. That left only ignition and I replaced everything last year including the ignition module. However, I have never replaced the ignition coil. In fact, I think the one that was on my truck is the original one.

Anywho, I installed a MSD coil part # 8226 on my daily driver that I got from Summit just a few weeks ago during a tune up. I know that this coil can be used in our trucks so, I swapped it out to see if that was the culprit. There are NO modifications at all required to use this coil, it plugs right in. Soon as I started my truck up, it idled way better and I knew that's what it had to be. I road tested it and it never cut out once. I ordered a new OEM one from Dal as I have always heard that the OEM coils where better than any of the aftermarket ones. I measured the resistance of my old coil and the MSD and my old one was 9K ohms between the plug and high tension lead whereas the MSD was 5.7K. I plan to measure my new OEM one I receive it in a separate post for ignition coil FYI.

 

[Jer]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

Great info fellas. Why isn't this a more popular mod if it's so inexpensive for what performace/drivability gains you get? Seems like everyone should have one.

 

[SY2932]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

Update. I *finally* got my OEM ignition coil from Dal Slabaugh today. Turns out that their building got stuck by lightning during a recent storm and all the computers were down, hence the delay. Anywho to my surprise when I measured the resistance between the plug and the high tension terminal, it was 9.44K ohms. My old "bad" one ohmed out at 9.04K... So the new one has MORE resistance than the old one has.

The measuring points that I used are shown here. The nice thing is that you can test a coil while it is still in the truck without having to remove it. By contrast the old coil out of my S10 ohmed out at 8.4K ohms. I replaced it just for the sake of replacing it, and had no ignition problems. It was old and firgured that it was prolly a little "tired". I'm not sure if both coils are the same or not so there may be no basis for comparison.

Either way, I gave my truck a conclusive "road test" including a boosted launch (one of several) in which I had all four wheels spinning for almost half a second it seemed. That felt really messed up as the truck started to drift halfway into the other lane before it hooked... Happy to report no issues whatsoever. Seems that as the coil (OEM) ages, it starts to decrease in resistance which in turn makes it unable to supply sufficient spark under heavy load. I wish that I had one of those high voltage test leads for my Fluke DMM as it is only good for 1,000 volts. It would be interesting to see how much difference in voltage there is between the new and old coils based on the difference in resistance.

 

[Jer]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

So, sounds like a blaster coil and 6al w/quick connect harness is the way to go, huh?

Will I chew through the rest of the IGN components (plugs, wires, cap/rotor, dist) quicker with these or will these allow these parts to last longer? Seems like I read that higher power coils can lessen the life of the cap/rotor.

 

[Timbo]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

From what I've heard, the Blaster coil doesn't have any advantages over stock. I have one, but haven't driven my truck with a stock coil, so I can't comment from experience.

 

[Turbo6]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

I am running the factory original coil on mine fwiw.

 

[Jer]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

What is the cost difference between an OEM coil and the Blaster coil then?

 

[SY2932]

Re: Which coil to choose ?

Ever since I got involved with these trucks almost six years ago, the *stock* ignition coil was one part that the General made "right". Aftermarket coils either didn't perform as advertised or they burned up ignition components prematurely i.e., caps and rotors.