Does anyone know the voltage of a stock coil on a 72 302? I've seen aftermarket ones with 40,000 and 45,000 volts and was wondering how much of an improvement they were. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2000 Taurus SES 1993 Ranger X-cab 4X4 1972 Maverick Grabber
Not sure of the stock voltage, but I know that when I upgraded to electronic ignition and an Accel Super coil I noticed a HUGE difference. Started easier, plugs burned cleaner, and idled smoother. I would think that adding a higher voltage coil in general is a good thing, although if you are running a point ignition it might increase the wear on the points. I would highly recommend going to electronic ignition!
yep I agree 100%. Electronic is the only way to go. Add a MSD later on, it will really start easy and run clean.
Can I offer to tell that the output voltage above that needed to ignite the fuel mix is waisted. So going to a higher voltage coil would only increase the reserve far above that needed to do the job. Only for much higher RPM or supercharger application would it be useful. A multiple spark feature will be more benifical at starting, idle and to about 3000 rpm, than a high voltage coil would. To say it another way, the spark has to jump gaps at two places. The rotor and the plug. Once the spark has ionized the air at the rotor gap and the air-fuel mix in the cylinder under pressure, the voltage is stopped at that point. So under good conditions, it may take only 18,000 volts to do the job out of the maximum that the system can generate. It's 'not' the higher the voltage the hotter the spark.
Actually, I think the case is that for a given restistance (air), then the higher the voltage, the higher the current flow. Therefore, the more current flow, the hotter the spark. Kinda comes down to the old formula of Ohm's law, where I (current) = E (voltage) divided by R (resistance), so the more voltage, the more current, and more current = more heat and therefore a better burn. (which can be explained by P(power or heat)=I(current) times E(voltage). Of course, like any solution thought up on paper by an engineer, the best test is to try it out for yourself and see what happens. For the price of a high output coil ($35-$55) I'd say that it's probably worth your dollar to give it a try! Doubt you'll be disappointed, and imagine you'll have fun trying it!
I understand what you said, but for ignition, it's not quite like that. If all it takes is a hi voltage coil, MSD, Jacobs, Holly etc would not have much value for there cost. Like said, it doesn't hurt to put one on but donot expect to solve any real problems, unless there was a problem to begin with. Coil saturation time in not addressed with just a coil change. At idle where there is lots of time for saturation. There may be some what smoother idle and starting but the discharge voltage still doesnot go up. Under those conditions, the impedence would have to be reduced to flow more current at the same volrage. That only come about from the conditions at the time of breakdown between the two gaps involved plus any increase in leakage to ground.
Fair enough. Any way you slice it though, if you don't already have electronic ignition, upgrade to it. Most aftermarket systems recommend a higher output coil, so you might as well pick one of those up too.
