Screamin Demon 31725 Coil Pack on 5.0?

[celly]

I've been trouble shooting an issue I've had for a while and swapped out my MSD 8241 coil packs today for the stock ones to see if the issue would go away (jury is still out). Anyhow, one of the towers on one MSD coil pack was damaged (no, not the one I swapped with you Eric). One driver's side terminal was very corroded and part of the terminal was sort of "broken". I suspect it may have happened when I paid to have Magnecor wires put on a while back. The terminal is almost "crumbling".

Anyhow, regardless of what happened, I'm looking at possibly replacing my MSD 8241 coil pack and started looking at the other options out there. Sure there is OEM (which is fine). There is also the Accel 140018 pack (which many of used on this site). I stumbled across the Performance Distributors "Screamin Demon" 31725 coil pack as well. It looks identical in application to the other coil packs. While they don't specifically list 2nd gen Explorers in their application guide, I found an eBay seller who does. What is also interesting is that the MSD coil packs go for around $65-70 each, Accel for around $60-$65, but Screamin Demon lists them for $99, but are for the pair. So, these packs are cheaper than MSD and Accel at around $50/each (not sure what OEM go for these days).

Lots of people seem to love these things for the V6 applications. Anyone use these coil packs on a 5.0? I'm tempted to give them a try in due course. Yes, I know all about getting marginal benefit from upgraded coil packs, but sometimes upgrading just for the sake of upgrading can be fun too.

MSD 8241
----------

Accel 140018
-------------

Screamin Demon 31725
-----------------------

Any advice, opinions or experiences are welcome. Thanks in advance. I've seen NO mention on EF of the coil packs on 5.0 Explorers/Mountaineers, just lots of V6 use. They do seem to be a direct replacement for the MSD and Accel packs on other forums/sellers so I can't see why they wouldn't work on our rides.

 

[thegaffney]

I got a question for you while your waiting. So the msd ones you listed above will work for the 5.0? just making sure because summit says the 4.6

Thanks

edit: ah now i see the MSD site says its for the 5.0, silly summit

 

[celly]

I got a question for you while your waiting. So the msd ones you listed above will work for the 5.0? just making sure because summit says the 4.6

Thanks

edit: ah now i see the MSD site says its for the 5.0, silly summit

As mentioned in my original post, I do have the 8241 packs now (have used for years). Several other EF members use them too. I've found posts where users have the Accel offering too. I also found in my travels today that Jegs has a house brand offering for about $60/each.

Any way you slice it, the Screamin' Demon offering seems to be to be the best deal.

Just want to hear if any EF members have given them a go for the 5.0. This isn't a V6 thread. Plenty of comments on those in other threads. :

 

[techieman33]

They're listed for the 4.6 but they use the same coil packs.

 

[celly]

They're listed for the 4.6 but they use the same coil packs.

That eBay seller that has them currently on the site lists them for Explorers too. They've gotta work. I'm just surprised no one has tried them in the past especially with all the hype surrounding the V6 models.

From one of his eBay listings:

"FORD 4.6 SCREAMIN’ DEMON COIL PACKS FOR MUSTANGS, 95-01 EXPLORERS, 94-97 T-BIRDS, 97-99 4.6 PICK UPs, 4.6 Econoline E Series Vans and 1988-2000 Ranger 2.3, 4 Cylinder Rangers
THIS AD IS FOR A PAIR OF COIL PACKS"

 

[V8powerbaby]

hmm this is very interesting Celly

 

[celly]

hmm this is very interesting Celly

I've done some reading tonight and I'm 99.99% certain this coil pack would work on our Explorers. Turns out there are lots of aftermarket options out there. Rock Auto has several listed, although none are MSD or Accel. OEM run around $80/each from what I'm seeing so it really is a viable option. Screamin Demon seems to be the aftermarket coil of choice on a lot of Mustang boards (those with older 4.6L applications anyhow).

 

[celly]

I think I'll be the guinea pig. Found a place in Texas called "Latemodelrestorations.com" (they even list the MSD and Accel coil packs as "alternatives"). Just waiting for a USPS shipping quote to Canada before I make a final decision.


From their listing:

The Screamin' Demon Coils are designed to produce an exceptional spark throughout the entire RPM range with virtually no drop in power. Stock coils are notorious for falling off as RPM goes up. Our Screamin' Demon Coil has been dyno tested providing 3 more horsepower at 5000 rpm over stock coils. The Screamin' Demon has a brass terminal for which your coil wire attaches to. The brass terminal is more conductive than the stock aluminum terminal and will resist corrosion longer. Plug gaps can be widened to .060" due to the energy of this coil. The wider spark plug gap will allow more spark energy into the combustion chambers providing more power and improved mileage. The Screamin' Demon is too "hot" for stock plug wires. 8 mm spiral core wires are highly recommended. The Screamin' Demon is an externally mounted coil.

 

[celly]

Done deal. I should have them in a week or two (depending on which USPS service they used, but based on the price I paid....it better be a faster method!).

Worked out to around $135 CAD so just under $70 each. The best I can get a MSD 8241 coil pack locally is $79 CAD and that's a killer price (seen them for $100+ at other Canadian sourced suppliers).

I doubt they'll make much of a difference, but you never know.

 

[Joe Dirt]

The only thing I know from my Mustang past was that Accel was always the cheapest option of the big brands, and worth every penny. I could count on one hand the number of Accel electrical products that worked as advertised. Most of us ended up taking them off and using either MSD or going back to stock Motorcraft as they provided more than enough spark for the Ford ignition systems. We weren't happy with the Accel offereings at all. Hopefully they've improved their quality since they're been purchased by Mr. Gasket, although they were a Mr Gasket brand for a while now.

 

[celly]

The only thing I know from my Mustang past was that Accel was always the cheapest option of the big brands, and worth every penny. I could count on one hand the number of Accel electrical products that worked as advertised. Most of us ended up taking them off and using either MSD or going back to stock Motorcraft as they provided more than enough spark for the Ford ignition systems. We weren't happy with the Accel offereings at all. Hopefully they've improved their quality since they're been purchased by Mr. Gasket, although they were a Mr Gasket brand for a while now.

I stumbled across the Screamin Demon option when looking for info on the Accel packs (was curious to see if anyone found them "better" than MSD). Seems that the Mustang crew tends to recommend them over MSD and Accel. When you consider they're $10-$20 less than MSD or Accel, if they're as good as they say, then they're quite the deal.

As with when I switched from OEM to MSD, I'd imagine the difference will be marginal.

 

[99SportX]

Interested to see how these work out for you Brad. I am still running stock coil packs.

 

[celly]

Interested to see how these work out for you Brad. I am still running stock coil packs.

The stockers seem more than adequate. One thing I did notice when I looked at my MSD packs yesterday was that the terminals are brass as opposed to aluminum in the Ford offering. The Screamin Demon offerings are the same. I don't know if it's just marketing or if it makes a difference. Probably marketing.

At $100/pair, these things are a viable option to stock most likely. I didn't find any negative info on them so you can't beat them for the money most likely.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Gold is shiny though...

If they ante up, you're right- they're a great replacement!

 

[celly]

Gold is shiny though...

If they ante up, you're right- they're a great replacement!

I did find they have single coil pack applications for the Focus, same coil pack. They run about $65/each so in line with MSD and Accel (and other offerings). Having a V8 has it's benefits.

 

[techieman33]

I did find they have single coil pack applications for the Focus, same coil pack. They run about $65/each so in line with MSD and Accel (and other offerings). Having a V8 has it's benefits.

the focus pack is the same part, you just only need one instead of 2.

 

[celly]

the focus pack is the same part, you just only need one instead of 2.

Exactly. But they charge $65/each for one pack or if you buy the V8 application, they charge $100 for both. Too bad MSD or Accel didn't consider a similar pricing scheme.

That's why I think if these things are a good deal vis a vis MSD, Accel or OEM (or Jegs for that matter). They're competitively priced for single packs, but a great deal when you buy both. As I said, another reason why having a V8 has its benefits.

 

[celly]

I got an email from Performance Distributors (Screamin Demon is their product) after I shot him a link to this site. He told me that they do have a 5.0 Explorer application for their "Livewires" spark plug wires.

Part # is C9057-EX

C9057-EX Ford Explorer 5.0, 1995-2001, 135° Boots (Distributorless Ignition) $129.00

I did a quick scan of the EF archives to see if there was much discussion on these wires (and there was some) and lo and behold, long time member "PUR PONY" not only used the wires, but the SD coil packs way back in 2003.

OK, I'm not much of a pioneer after all.

Anyhow, I know the spark plug wire discussion happens a lot. Nice to have options. The Mustang community seems to like the coil packs and the wires.

 

[techieman33]

I got an email from Performance Distributors (Screamin Demon is their product) after I shot him a link to this site. He told me that they do have a 5.0 Explorer application for their "Livewires" spark plug wires.

Part # is C9057-EX

C9057-EX Ford Explorer 5.0, 1995-2001, 135° Boots (Distributorless Ignition) $129.00

I did a quick scan of the EF archives to see if there was much discussion on these wires (and there was some) and lo and behold, long time member "PUR PONY" not only used the wires, but the SD coil packs way back in 2003.

OK, I'm not much of a pioneer after all.

Anyhow, I know the spark plug wire discussion happens a lot. Nice to have options. The Mustang community seems to like the coil packs and the wires.

Yeah it's hard to be the first to do anything to one of these since there are so many of them out there.

 

[celly]

Yeah it's hard to be the first to do anything to one of these since there are so many of them out there.

I wasn't trying to be the first by design. :

I'm surprised I missed PUR PONY's post when I was searching the archives. In any event, the coil packs were picked up in Texas this morning. Should have them next week.

I put my old Ford coil packs when I noticed the problem with the corroded terminal the other day. The truck ran fine with them, but I did notice some issues with harder starts and a slightly rough idle. I scored a replacement MSD pack yesterday to test a theory and my truck started normally again. It's also running smoother now. James tweaked my test tune a lot this summer and it's always been tuned to the MSD pack. I suspect the tune didn't care for the change in coil pack.

I'll be interested to see how it plays with the SD packs. I plan to do another datalog once I get the new wires and coil packs in place. The Eddie has been very moody ever since the headers were put on so hopefully I'm getting closer to solving.

I'm pretty certain that huge misfire I had before I came to Humboldt was related to the sliced Magnecor (despite the fact the plugs were so fouled). My working theory on the rough riding after the headers were put on is that the corroded terminal on the driver's side MSD caused it.

Ain't troubleshooting fun?