Saw a previous post on 302 performance, and thought I'd ask, too.

I'm the new owner of a 1991 truck with the 302. Have a set of 8.8mm plug wires coming in, but noticed that Accel also makes better coils, distributors/rotors, etc. for this truck. How much a performance improvement will the addition of these items make? The cap/rotor is the original piece.

Where are the coils located on this engine? Was dark when I looked, didn't see them readily. Accel's system looks nice... is there anything better (MSD??)

Finally, will the Accel coils/distributor work with a supercharger? I plan to supercharge this truck in about 2-3 years and would like to keep the mods I make up until then.

Thanks,

Mike

 

I wonder what a Supercharged 302 runs like?

Anyways

Mike, I have included my added on items with the addition of a aftermarket iginion that a friend sold me after he took it off of a 95 302, its a MSD-6S ignition system.

The coil is located on the upper right side of the upper intake manifold, look for the sparkplug wire that leads to it. I replaced mine with a blaster coil several weeks ago, yet I have not noticed a difference, I hope to when I get the ignition installed.

I am more into mpg right now, so I hope I don't lose any. We'll see
good luck to you! and your new found Ford

As far as a supercharger, I am not sure if they would work, someone will probably include a statment later.

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Toydestroyer1@yahoo.com

1993 F-150 302/e4od/355 Limited slip. dual exhuast w/o mufflers,2 1/4" pipes with Echo Tips, headers, accel plugs/wires(8.6mm)/rotor/cap, hypertech powermodule,5% dark tint. Alpine cd player and Pioneer speakers.

1989 F-150 XLT 4x4 302/aod true duals with turbo mufflers, 30X9.50" wild country tires, 3:55 gears w/LS Looking for Manual locking hubs

New Name:"Future-Duty"

 

Seems like a supercharged 302 would be pretty nice... The truck performs as well, stock, as my '98 with the V-6 did chipped (sorry, Mike T!) and weighs a bit more (supercab.) Driving around town, I see what you mean about fuel economy... Ummmm... not too good...

I'll take a look at MSD's site. How much difference did your dual exhaust make? I'd like to add one to this truck, just not sure who to go with. I don't want the noise, either, since I work around horses (who don't like loud noise!) very frequently.

Thanks,

Mike

 

Mike, It is really funny, you mentioning the aftermarket ignition, I just got mine on the 30th. I probably wouldn't have gotten a ignition if this one wasn't so cheap. I have heard that they only increase mpg by about 1, and hp by about 10 or so, we'll find out!!!

Exhaust, I decided to go with a shop made setup when my factory tailpipe started falling off, I knew I wanted dual exhuast, sucks because of the cat though, I knew that a homemade would be cheaper, so I went with a y-pipe and Stainless Steel pipes for $150, the price went up since then, and added echo tips for $35/piece, I was really happy, but lost some power, and decided that I needed headers to bring that back up, I got Summit Racing headers for the truck 5.0@159 dollars. I saved money by not having any mufflers, so I think my total bill was around @310 dollars or so, it really isn't completely loud, but some people don't want it that loud, so you might think about flowmasters or turbo mufflers, I have them on a 89 F-150 4x4 302, and the owner before removed the convertor, and ran true duals, it is very quiet, but they sound like soft glassbacks up till about 30 mph.

 

Regarding ignition...

An ignition coil alone won't increase your horsepower or anything like that... the advantage that a strong coil is that it allows you to run a larger gap in your spark plugs, which exposes more of the spark to the fuel/air mixture, which in turn promotes rapid combustion. You might gain a few horses through this, but probably nothing you will feel. An ignition box like MSD's has multiple sparks which can cause the fuel mixture to burn more completely... this means you can sometimes get the same power output with less fuel, increasing fuel economy.

With regards to a supercharger, not only will these systems work with a supercharger, but I wouldn't supercharge a vehicle WITHOUT them. A supercharger creates a false environment of extreme atmospheric pressure for your engine, and it's more difficult for plugs to fire under those kind of conditions. A strong ignition coil is a must for a supercharged engine.

As far as which brand to get, I'm sure Accel is fine, but I've always been partial to MSD. I had the 6AL box on my Mustang, but the 6A is fine for any automatic. The Blaster 2 is the coil I use.

Good luck!



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-cm

 

A coil and/or a MSD ignition or whatever will do almost nothing except lighten your wallet on a stock 302 truck. Do the mods that are known to work like exhaust, K&N, gears and pulley's. You do not need an aftermarket ignition to run a supercharger either. A buddy of mine has made over 500 HP to the rear wheel with his intercooled twin turbo Mustang and a completely stock ignition. No matter what ignition box is run the plugs still need to be gapped small because of the tremendous cylinder pressure. If you are going to run a ton of boost then you will need an MSD with a boost retard device to back timing down as boost increases.

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Tony Santanni
1995 Eddie Bauer 5.8L F-150 SC 4x4
1989 Mustang LX hatchback
Vortech Mondo J-Trim blown 351W
800+ HP

 

Check this site out. Its a great source of information on older Ford engines.
http://users.erols.com/wrljet/engines

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99 4x4 SC Lariat 5.4l 3.73 rear, oxford white

 

MONDOLX:
I didn't mean to imply that an aftermarket ignition was a requirement for running a supercharger, but it will definately help the situation. For one thing, as you mentioned, you can get a box to retard timing per psi of boost, but for another thing a stronger coil will allow you to gap your plugs larger... when you're making a lot of boost, you have to run a smaller gap in your plugs, but getting a stronger coil allows you to widen this gap a little bit.



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-cm

 

Hey MONDOLX (TonyS) - Good you see you lerking on the F-150 site! I agree with your assessment that an aftermarket ignition is not going to do squawt on a stock 302, assuming the stock wires, coil, etc. are in good shape.

I can't believe what you have done to your Mustang. You have left me in the dust!!

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HotRodSix (aka Dennis Wingfield)
'98 STX Flairside 4.2L
Best 1/4: 16.26 sec. @ 84.4 mph
Dyno: 180 rwhp / 228 ft-lb

[This message has been edited by HotRodSix (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

Hey Dennis how's it going man? I might be coming your way to the NMRA race at Mid-Michigan this season, are you gonna be there? Are you going to run NMRA Pure Street? I think your car could be very competititve in that class. As for my car, it's going to be one fun ride with that Jerico. I will have way more power than the chassis can handle but that will get fixed in time. Talk at you later!


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Tony Santanni
1995 Eddie Bauer 5.8L F-150 SC 4x4
1989 Mustang LX hatchback
Vortech Mondo J-Trim blown 351W
800+ HP

 

Tony - Yes, I will be there. You will have to give me at least an 1/8th mile head start!! Looking forward to it! Now, do I race the Mustang or the truck?!!!




------------------
HotRodSix
'98 STX Flairside 4.2L
Best 1/4: 16.26 sec. @ 84.4 mph
Dyno: 180 rwhp / 228 ft-lb

[This message has been edited by HotRodSix (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

Dennis, I would race that car of yours man, not the truck. It's definitely no slouch, that's for sure. If my car can launch as hard as your car does I would be pretty damn happy I got my motor in the machine shop right now. I have the crank and rods and just got the deck height measurement today so I can order the JE pistons and rings. It's getting fun no doubt. Look forward to meeting up with you later this summer!!

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Tony Santanni
1995 Eddie Bauer 5.8L F-150 SC 4x4
1989 Mustang LX hatchback
Vortech Mondo J-Trim blown 351W
800+ HP