Well, I am FINALLY back home after my ignition coil dies on me and left me stranded I'm just glad I still had my old coil to replace it with, and now it is running even better than it was!

So, to anyone looking for a hi-po coil, I would go with the MSD coil over the accel. I have heard too many bad stories about them, and now I have my own to add to it.

By the way, the coil was only on for 5 months.

But, I am thankful that it merely was a coil problem and nothing else!

------------------

quote Originally posted by AkursedX: By the way, the coil was only on for 5 months.

That may be a record for longevity! Mine died within a month!

Mines been on for years with no problems at all. Where did you guys mount them?
Which Accel coil did you use?

------------------
Dave Gunsul
N.I.F.E. member
86 GT modified
85 SE daily driver

After going thu the arcives I deceided to go with MSD. It's been on my 84 for three months without a problem. I'm thinking about going to the MSD 6A system.

Yeah, which ones you are using? Please specify. Is it the one that mount in the stock location and looks like it? I have the big 140008 mounted in the trunk wall. Have worked very nice for near 3 years now. Way better than my stock GMs.

------------------
Alex4mula

I have heard many times about Accel coils. I received one as a gift (new in box) and it's still sitting on the shelf. So what engine are we talking about and does anyone know the P/N of it? Mine is suppose to replace the stock V-6 coil and it is supose to mount in the stock location.

I've had an accel coil in for about five years now without any problems. I don't know the model number, but it is a grey/blue color and I have it mounted to the strut tower.
--Jason

Question: how are these things suppose to help? I mean, what's wrong with just replacing it with a GM? And someone mentioned about mounting it in the trunk??

------------------
sqoach@yahoo.com

84 SE (FOR SALE)
85 Coupe (parts car)(take it off my hands for $50)
86 SC (FOR SALE sometime in this summer)
86 SE V6 (new project)

Hey JohnT, MSD makes a coil for the 84? Can you give me the number of that one? Cause I know accel doesn't make one, and I've been looking for a coil on my 84.

The stock GM coil doesn't put out enough power especially at high RPM's. An aftermarket coil puts out much more voltage
which allows a more complete combustion of the air/fuel mixture.

It seems to me that the stock lookalike coil
that Accel makes is the one that people usually have problems with.
Just like Alex4mula, I have the 140008
"electronic super coil" on my GT.
Mine is even mounted right above the exhuast
manifold on the trunk wall. There should be
a lot of heat there which should make the coil fail but,as I stated above, I have had it mounted and running there for a couple-a years now and havn't had any problems.
(I've just put on coated headers so the heat is much lower now)

BTW The MSD 6A box works great with the Accel electronic super coil!

------------------
Dave Gunsul
N.I.F.E. member
86 GT modified
85 SE daily driver

[This message has been edited by Dave Gunsul (edited 07-04-2001).]

I've used Accell products for older "canned" coil engines for years. I've got one that has to be 20 years old and has been in at least 3 diferant cars. That coils got at least 150,000 miles on it.

However, I wasn't at all impressed with their coils for DIS.

I found.

1. They are more sensitive to heat than OE GM coils. To the point they can overheat and shut down the DIS motor.

2. They require alteration of either the $130 plus PIM or the coils to fit. Accell could not be bothered to form the hole for the alignment pin next to the coil terminals on the PIM.

3. The only positive thing I found was that the car starts a little better. The Accell coils have a bit diferant Dwell and that helps starting. I found no other change. Altho the yellow does look nice.

I recomend the coil on the distributor motors be moved whenever posible... The best spot varies a bit. depends on what you can reach with the output wire. Usually you'll end up making a longer secondary wire and extending the primary leads.

This usually gets the coil to a cooler spot and in the case of the V6, it lets the aux fan have a clear shot at cooling the distributor. Cooling the distributor should extend module life.

When I was looking at getting replacement coils I found a lot of happy Accell customers both here and elsewhere, but came across enough horror stories to make me shy away. I ended up going with the MSD #8226 on both my 2.8L, and since it mounts in the stock location there are no mounting or cabling issues. Just remove the mounting brackets from the OEM coil by drilling out the soft metal rivets, and use the screws included with the new coil to mount it on the old brackets. (I also used the opportunity to clean and repaint the brackets.) The whole process should take you way less than a half-hour. So far both of mine have held up just fine.

I hate Accel, mine failed in 2 months, mounted in the stock location. And I even run my engine bay cooling fan all the time.

I'v been looking into the MSD 6A system also, but not sure if its the one for me. I can get it for $140 I think. It that all you need, or what else has to be bought with it?

I guess that I'm just lucky. Mines been on over a year...and it was on my TA for two years before that.

------------------

Two '87 GT's...
...Double Trouble

I too have heard about the direct-fit Accel coils having an extreamly high failure rate. The rest of their other style coils seem to be very good, just the GM fit ones are pieces of trash. MSD GM-fit Blaster coils are on all my cars, never a problem.

Another thing that I noticed when comparing Accel and MSD GM-fit coils was that MSD has a one year warranty and Accel only has a 90 day one. Standing behind a product for only 3 months doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence.

------------------
Ken S.
'87GT and '86SC
See them at http://homepage.mac.com/kjslish/Fiero.html
Western PA Fiero Club - www.westpennfiero.org

[This message has been edited by kslish (edited 07-04-2001).]

decadenceR, did you get my e-mail?

I've had the Accel Electronic Supercoil on my GT for 1.5 years now without any probs. Getting ready to install an MSD 6AL to go with it.

I just read a big article in my High performance mag that discussed the different types of ignition, if anyone is interested, i"ll type it up.

The Dealer

For any of you guys/girls planning on getting an MSD 6A or other:
The MSD comes pretty complete except for the power cables. They're fine if you're going to mount it close to the battery but if you're going to mount it even a little bit away then plan on having to buy some longer cables. I mounted mine in the trunk and had to do this.
The MSD even came with a rubber grommit
that you can put in the hole that you have to drill in the trunkwall to keep the wires from geting cut. The grommit hole was a little to tight and I had to use a file to open it up a little but it was nice to have.

------------------
Dave Gunsul
N.I.F.E. member
86 GT modified
85 SE daily driver

Dealer- I'd like to read it please!

Thanks-
Terry

I have been very happy with my Accel coils. I run them on the Firebird WS6, Conquest and even my Fiero GT w/ ZERO failures so far. I have used MSD coils on the Fiero and Firebird in the past with not very good results. How about adding a MSD coil on my Fiero in the parking lot of Performance Unlimited and not make it out of the parking lot! The MSD on the WS6 lasted 2 weeks.
Heck even the Accel coils I have, have the brass terminals..MSD? Nope.

Steven

------------------
87 Fiero GT 14.9/ 89mph
94 Formula WS6 w/ NOS 12.4 /118mph
87 Conquest TSi
85.5 Starion ESi

Oh, just to say, it was the Accel coil that looks like, and mounts to the stock location.

Ohhh. Now I see. The problem is with the stock location mounted one. The stock location is veeery hot. The only thing I would mount there is a BBQ As I said, mine is in the trunk wall directly behind the stock location. I had it with stock manifolds and now with coated headers. It is not hot at all in that place. At least I can touch it withour burning my fingers.

I have the Accel, mounted in stock location, been there for 4 years. My turbo is right below it too. works fine up to 7,000 rpm

------------------

Yep, my Accel coil is in the stock position too. Maybe your bad one was made on a Friday or Monday? I have had mine on for approx 40k miles and counting.

Steven

------------------
87 Fiero GT 14.9/ 89mph
94 Formula WS6 w/ NOS 12.4 /118mph
87 Conquest TSi
87 Conquest TSi 406 SBC V8!
85.5 Starion ESi

Well great....The backup coil I carry in the trunk, along with an ignition module, are Accel. I just hope they're the good ones that are out there.

[This message has been edited by stsmithgt (edited 07-05-2001).]

That's interesting! I've had an Accel coil and ignition module on my 1988 GT since 1999. No problems other than the engine has over 190K miles and the cam is worn out.

Mindscape >> which coil/module are you using (#'s please)

thanks

I would like to re-iterate my original post.

After reading about and doing my own research on Accel products, I would like to say that most of the stuff is of good quality. But the coil that they make for the stock location, like the one I owned, is not among these parts. And to those who have that coil and it's still running, then good for you, you seem to have got a good coil.

But honestly, this experience has turned me off of accel products, and I will be going with an MSD coil, and a 6a ignition box

So I am sorry for making my 1st post for sounding like I was complaining about all accel products. If I wasn't getting the box, I would probably go with another accel coil, but one that mounts to my trunk area. This seems to have worked out for a number of members.

------------------

quote Originally posted by Mickey_Moose: Mindscape >> which coil/module are you using (#'s please) thanks

Accel super coil (140011)
Accel ignition module (35362)
Accel 8.8 wires (8879)
Accel plugs (574)

------------------
87 Fiero GT 14.9/ 89mph
94 Formula WS6 w/ NOS 12.4 /118mph
87 Conquest TSi
87 Conquest TSi 406 SBC V8!
85.5 Starion ESi