aldive
Elite In Memoriam
- Joined
- January 17, 2001
- Messages
- 24,667
- Reaction score
- 28
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1999 XLT
Since I am always on the hunt for more engine efficiency and its consequential better gas mileage, I decided to look into aftermarket ignitions.
Urban legion proclaims the stock Ford ignition is all one needs for stock and lightly modded motors. Since I believe in science and data not legion, I decided to try an aftermarket coil. Legions are parroted by many, tested by few, and often are simply untrue.
The Screamin’ Deamon coil pack was designed to produce a longer duration spark and allows spark plug gap to be opened to 0.060-0.065”. This should burn the fuel more efficiently for increased performance and gas mileage ( hence, my main interest ). This coil pack is manufactured by Performance Distributors ( http://www.performancedistributors.com/coils.htm ).
I ordered the new coil pack from Wayne, the owner of Underdog-Performance ( http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_39&products_id=162 ). $94.00 ( about the same price as a replacement stock Motorcraft coil pack ) delivered to my door in a big brown truck. Wayne is a good guy and a highly recommended vendor with first class customer service.
The Screamin’ Deamon coil pack is not a direct fit due to the spark plug wiring sequence; however, it is a direct bolt on. I was made aware of this prior to ordering and my install ( from Wayne [ installed on a Ranger ] and a gentleman from the Sport Trac site [ Todd Z ] who installed one on his Sport Trac ). Further, the truck’s wiring harness to the coil pack mounts in a vertical manner with the new coil pack whereas the stock one mounts horizontally; this presented little difficulty
The spark plug wire sequence on the coil pack has to be changed from the stock configuration. Spark plug number on old coil ( changed on new coil [ in parenthesis ] ): 1 (4), 2 (6), 3 (5), 5 (3), 6 (2), and 4 (1). Wayne provided me the new wire sequence. I permanently marked the new spark plug wire numbers on the coil pack terminals, in the unlikely event that someone else might service the truck.
This install is the first one on an Explorer.
The removal of the coil pack is simple. All one needs to do is take out the spark plug wires ( be sure to mark them ) and remove the four T 25 Torx screws securing the coil pack; the two closest to the intake manifold are more difficult to access; removal of the power brake booster vacuum line made access easier. To install simply reverse the removal procedure.
The installation took less than 15 minutes.
Since a spark plug and wire replacement is not required at this time, I used my old ones ( Motorcraft double platinum spark plugs and Jacobs wires [ http://www.jacobselectronics.com/RaceInfo.aspx?BrandID=13 ] with only 65k miles on them ). I did not re gap the old spark plugs; there was no way I would pull the spark plugs to re gap and not replace with new ones.
Initial impressions: I instantly noticed a smoother idle ( and that alone is well worth the price for me ). No improvement in power ( via the highly subjective seat of the britches method ) was noticed, nor was it expected, during initial road testing. The truck still starts instantaneously. A brief test drive around town showed no drivability improvements ( again, none was expected ).
I shall be making a long road trip in the near future to evaluate the effect of the Screamin’ Deamon coil pack on gas mileage ( with my existing wires and spark plugs ). This will be followed ( around Christmas ) with testing with new spark plug wires and spark plugs with a wider (0.60–0.65” ) gap on a 1200 mile trip. Also a dyno session is not far off.
Urban legion proclaims the stock Ford ignition is all one needs for stock and lightly modded motors. Since I believe in science and data not legion, I decided to try an aftermarket coil. Legions are parroted by many, tested by few, and often are simply untrue.
The Screamin’ Deamon coil pack was designed to produce a longer duration spark and allows spark plug gap to be opened to 0.060-0.065”. This should burn the fuel more efficiently for increased performance and gas mileage ( hence, my main interest ). This coil pack is manufactured by Performance Distributors ( http://www.performancedistributors.com/coils.htm ).
I ordered the new coil pack from Wayne, the owner of Underdog-Performance ( http://www.stuffforyourranger.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_39&products_id=162 ). $94.00 ( about the same price as a replacement stock Motorcraft coil pack ) delivered to my door in a big brown truck. Wayne is a good guy and a highly recommended vendor with first class customer service.
The Screamin’ Deamon coil pack is not a direct fit due to the spark plug wiring sequence; however, it is a direct bolt on. I was made aware of this prior to ordering and my install ( from Wayne [ installed on a Ranger ] and a gentleman from the Sport Trac site [ Todd Z ] who installed one on his Sport Trac ). Further, the truck’s wiring harness to the coil pack mounts in a vertical manner with the new coil pack whereas the stock one mounts horizontally; this presented little difficulty
The spark plug wire sequence on the coil pack has to be changed from the stock configuration. Spark plug number on old coil ( changed on new coil [ in parenthesis ] ): 1 (4), 2 (6), 3 (5), 5 (3), 6 (2), and 4 (1). Wayne provided me the new wire sequence. I permanently marked the new spark plug wire numbers on the coil pack terminals, in the unlikely event that someone else might service the truck.
This install is the first one on an Explorer.
The removal of the coil pack is simple. All one needs to do is take out the spark plug wires ( be sure to mark them ) and remove the four T 25 Torx screws securing the coil pack; the two closest to the intake manifold are more difficult to access; removal of the power brake booster vacuum line made access easier. To install simply reverse the removal procedure.
The installation took less than 15 minutes.
Since a spark plug and wire replacement is not required at this time, I used my old ones ( Motorcraft double platinum spark plugs and Jacobs wires [ http://www.jacobselectronics.com/RaceInfo.aspx?BrandID=13 ] with only 65k miles on them ). I did not re gap the old spark plugs; there was no way I would pull the spark plugs to re gap and not replace with new ones.
Initial impressions: I instantly noticed a smoother idle ( and that alone is well worth the price for me ). No improvement in power ( via the highly subjective seat of the britches method ) was noticed, nor was it expected, during initial road testing. The truck still starts instantaneously. A brief test drive around town showed no drivability improvements ( again, none was expected ).
I shall be making a long road trip in the near future to evaluate the effect of the Screamin’ Deamon coil pack on gas mileage ( with my existing wires and spark plugs ). This will be followed ( around Christmas ) with testing with new spark plug wires and spark plugs with a wider (0.60–0.65” ) gap on a 1200 mile trip. Also a dyno session is not far off.
