Ignition coil upgrade?
 

Does anyone make an upgraded ignition coil for use with the 4.2L V6 I have in my 2006 XL? Like an MSD or something?

why settle for a downgrade like that, use the motorcrafts or don't waste your money

Its not like it was 25 years ago when and MSD ignition would give more performence. Ford and the other manufactures figured it out and started making engines with high performance ignition parts. Stock motorcraft parts are the way to go pretty much.

The 4.2L will spit out anything but MC.

On a six banger I wouldnt do this your only wasting your money unless its broke. What you going to get out if it.

The only improvement or performance you're going to get out of an aftermarket coil is the decal that comes with it! :lol:

Save your money and stick with Motorcraft. :thumbsup:

I'm on stock coils with the Granatelli spring replacement upgrade. The stock coils fire at 16,000 volts. They are sufficient for 700-800hp. The MSD coils fire 10% higher at 17,600v. The only coils you can call an upgrade are the Graneteli which fire at 60,000v. Even at my power level there is little to be gained by doing this but I probably will when my Motorcrafts die.

To the op if you want more fire power you should go with the MSD ignition box for 6cyl motors. It will fire your factory coils significantly higher. But don't expect huge power gains. You might pickup 5hp on a factory na motor and maybe a lil mpg increase. Factory coils get the job done right now days due to strict emission laws and mpg requirements.

The stock coil is around $110 to $130ish. The aftermarket run about half that. I think Accel and MSD make coils for the 4.2.

Screamin' Demon
 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DUI-31737/
Screamin' Demon Coil 45,000V for 4.2
on sale at SUMMIT RACING for $89.00

matching coil and wire set
 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DUI-4-2-0106RD/
Screamin' Demon Coil and Livewire 10MM wires in red, purple, blue, black.
$198.00

Stock Motorcraft coil - $68.79
Stock Motorcraft wires - $37.99

Rockauto.com

Anything else is a waste of money, if they are cheaper they are probably crap.

I think the MSD ignition box was originally manufactured by Jacobs electronics before MSD bought them out. I was about to splurge for a Jacobs when I bought my F150 11 years ago but Jacobs was clear that the improvement was minimal for stock NA engines but very useful for modded engines. I guess they are highly tune-able.

On the off chance that anyone still owns a 4.2, the OEM Ford Motorcraft part has dropped in pricing to well under $100. MSD is about $100. NGK & Denso offer units for about half of MSD pricing. When you look online, off brand parts can be found in the $20 price range.

And while you're at it, you may as well look at plugs & wires. That's if anyone still owns a 4.2.

I learned a long time ago, when buying ignition parts for the 4.2 V6, stay with factory FORD/MOTORCRAFT.
And, I still own my 07 F-150. 4.2 V6. 147K miles and still going strong!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.f15...fcd3682243.jpg

I do agree with Blue Oval Fitter that Ford Motorcraft parts will always be a good option. With every part on the car, OEM should not fail you. And most OEM Ford Motorcraft parts are actually good.

For the most part, that is true with most cars. You can't go wrong with the OEM parts. Most of the over-the-counter stuff at auto supply chains just isn't that great. Champion, Fram, Duralast, Autolite......wouldn't work well with a Ford, or Honda, or Mercedes, or any other car, compared to the OEM part.

I remember once buying a "Car And Driver" licensed, branded battery from an auto parts store, because the car was such a junker, and I only wanted to install the least expensive battery.

At about $3, the Ford Motorcraft spark plug in a Ford is hard to beat. It's the OEM, and it's cheap. There is room for improvement beyond OEM performance. I think it's worth the money to buy an Optima battery. I spend extra money for drilled & slotted brakes. I'm using a Goodyear Gatorback fan belt. I think you can do better than the OEM Hankook tires. But it's harder to justify upwards of $20 for an oil filter when Ford is about $3. You cannot save any money using Wal*Mart Super Tech filters.

I like using OEM whenever possible, and when it's efficient. However, I'm open minded to using other products. I just bought an AC Delco fuel filter, and AC Delco wiper blades. For whatever reason, pricing was about 1/2. I'm currently using E3 spark plugs, because I got them for $0.88. I have a MSD coil, because I found it on sale for $75, when the Motorcraft was $110 Is the MSD any better, in any way? No. Just a little less expensive that day. I have used all sorts of brands of Mercon V......As long as it says Mercon V, I don't care if it's Wal*Mart, Pennzoil, Castrol, or Amalie. Whatever synthetic blend or full synthetic is on sale, and I have a coupon, is what I'll use as long as it is 5W-20 or 0W-20. I've added 5W-30, since i had some left over, without any issues.

I am pretty certain, that over the years, none of the extra money spent on boutique brand oils has been worth the money. I was young, enthusiastic, had long hair, sideburns, and a moustache. Jim Jones was serving up Kool Aid in Guyana, Dan White was on a Twinkie diet, it was "The Golden Age" for adult videos, and I drove a Mustang II. Nobody understands the Quaalude Era.