MSD Coil Packs on 5L windsors

[Elks]

I'm of the opinion that better leads equals better spark which equals more or smoother go.

Sure the OE leads have done me proud for 13 years and 172,000 km but I'm about to switch to a set of Dave's MSD leads and some new plugs. I'm sure it will be an improvement. Will it be better than new std ones I'll never know. But time will tell if they aren't reliable.

Long live the octopus!!!!

[AUXR8220]

so really the only gains if any are smoother acceleration and a better idle not really any power or torque to be gained so essentially if that is the only modification my car has it might as well be classed as stock then?

[FTe217]

Good points Tim - modded motors seemsthe need for the msd's and as you say longevity isn't the norm goes hand in hand with modded motors more issues arise sooner rather than later compared to stock motors.
Some owners over the years sure have had issues even with the std OE coil packs and leads whereas some like Jeff incl myself never experienced failures.
Yes AUXR8220 you won't get any additional torque/powa from just these non stock items, I'd say the previous owner may have had failure with the OE items and at times when comparing purchase price from OE to aftermarket made sense going msd's etc.....your XR is highly modded with msd's

[4Vman]

When you increase cylinder compression (either dynamic or static) and you have a denser air/fuel charge you need more current to bridge the spark gap. This is one of the main reasons for using bigger coils. The increase in current will also place greater strain on leads and plugs hence the shorter service life.
Its also a good reason why you need to upgrade everything to match and suit or you create a weak link, but on a std motor I cant see how it would be an improvement over the factory setup.

[galaxy xr8]

Ok guys just bringing up an old thread rather then creating a new one, I find my self now in the position that I am in need of new leads, the factory ones on my AUII XR8 are arcing, number 4 at night I can see jumping spark.

I discovered this as the engine has developed a miss when warm or normal operating temp and a loss of power, it's like running on 7 cylinders. I have recently just changed the plugs to OEM ones that I sourced but ever since that now the lead has caused me an issue, I may have damaged it getting it of when I changed the plugs , who knows but I am up for new leads I believe.

I have tried to contact Dave from the west but to no avail as yet, and I can't find the MSD leads anywhere on line, only ICE or such. And I can't for the life of me find OEM ones, not that I expected to but...

So as time has gone on since this thread and as I am about to go down this route of new leads etc, I have a few questions..

What do people recommend for leads ?.

And is it worth doing the coil packs as well for the likes of the MSD 8421 ?

At this stage the leads are the only ones causing me issue's, the coil packs I don't believe are dodgy ( I think) but as the car is 20 years old now and only sits on 71 thousand k's, is it worth a new coil pack as well ?.

The engine is relatively standard, only having full exhaust and uni Chip, so no excessive need for wasting money on gear not needed.

cheers.

[FTe217]

Hopefully Dave gets back to you sooner or later.
Gal I would change the coil packs whilst at it anyway, they do bugger up around the 100k mark and as mentioned, 20yrs is 20yrs our ol girls are getting on.

[WASP]

Hopefully Dave gets back to you sooner or later.
Gal I would change the coil packs whilst at it anyway, they do bugger up around the 100k mark and as mentioned, 20yrs is 20yrs our ol girls are getting on.

Agreed on the coil packs. Also, I know this arent factory but they seem to be quite popular if you cant get the MSD ones https://outlawspeed.com.au/shop/ele88589

[galaxy xr8]

Thanks for the replies guys, Dave has been in contact and unfortunately he no longer can supply the MSD leads, but his recommendations is that ICE was one of the next best products to check out, and from all other accounts others have also said a very similar thing in that ICE leads are a very good well made set of ignition leads.

It was also brought to my attention that since MSD moved there manufacturing process to Chinese sourced that the MSD coils are not rated as highly anymore like they once were when manufacturing was done in the USA, and that the OEM/Motorcraft genuine Ford coils are preferred over the MSD 8421's.