Accel HEI Super Coil (140003) Magic or Trash

[Dejure]

My new 78 is running an Accel HEI Super Coil, number 140003. Just looking at the plug wires, all except one are yellow, matching the truck paint (eat your hearts out), suggesting they should all be replaced, along with plugs, rotor and distributor cap.

The Accel HEI looks like a sleek solution for those wanting such. However, I am hard pressed to buy, they are magic, to the end the distributor cap and rotor never need replacing.

Accordingly, since I'm swapping out plugs and wires, I wanted to make sure the rotor and cap were in good shape too. Looking into replacements, I get the impression the Accell approach is for those with a lot of money to spend on proprietary caps, willing to swap coils when caps are replaced, or for those who are not overly concerned about maintaining one of the most critical parts of the go equipment on their rigs.

That translates to, I'm having little luck tracking down distributor caps and rotors for the Accell unit. Now, I'm looking at abandoning the Accell, though its working well [as far as I know], and going back to something that is maintenance friendly.

INPUT is welcome.

 

[bucket]

I'm not familiar with the part numbers here, as Accel has offered many coils. Is this the in-cap HEI type and the coil has it's own gray plastic cover? If so, they are a good coil. Although, I did have one fail on me last year, but that was the first time I've seen that happen.

But anyway, it's only the coil cover that is different. The coil works with a standard replacement cap and rotor.

 

[Ricko1966]

My new 78 is running an Accel HEI Super Coil, number 140003. Just looking at the plug wires, all except one are yellow, matching the truck paint (eat your hearts out), suggesting they should all be replaced, along with plugs, rotor and distributor cap.

The Accel HEI looks like a sleek solution for those wanting such. However, I am hard pressed to buy, they are magic, to the end the distributor cap and rotor never need replacing.

Accordingly, since I'm swapping out plugs and wires, I wanted to make sure the rotor and cap were in good shape too. Looking into replacements, I get the impression the Accell approach is for those with a lot of money to spend on proprietary caps, willing to swap coils when caps are replaced, or for those who are not overly concerned about maintaining one of the most critical parts of the go equipment on their rigs.

That translates to, I'm having little luck tracking down distributor caps and rotors for the Accell unit. Now, I'm looking at abandoning the Accell, though its working well [as far as I know], and going back to something that is maintenance friendly.

INPUT is welcome.

Doesn't that unit fit right over the top of a factory HEI cap, replacing the factory girdle? I think so in which case I'd by a new cap rotor and wires,reuse that coil and continue on. Otherwise I'd buy a factory cap rotor wires and coil. It's all you need on a mild street engine. More coil is kinda like more alcohol,if you don't need more,more won't do you any good. If you needed more,to light off a different fuel,boost etc. then it's a good thing but no better on a mild engine that doesn't have a problem lighting off. Just like if a 12 pack will make you pass out an,18 pack won't do you any good.

 

[fast 99]

^^^agree^^^

Stock HEI coils commonly produce 40KV and are dependable. My opinion replacing with an aftermarket "upgrade" a waste of money.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Aftermarket upgrade is not a waste of money imo. The real problem is anything under msd price range and quality is basically complete junk. Parts store units are junk. Lower tier stuff is junk.

If you want a reliable ignition, standard replacement stuff isn't the answer here. A streetfire is like $200. They work great.

 

[Snoots]

Does it work? Don't fook with it.

 

[Ricko1966]

A higher voltage coil only fires at a higher voltage if necessary so you can buy a 1 million volt coil it's still going to fire at 20k if that's all that's needed. I called tech inquiring about a street fire distributor,they couldn't tell me specs on the vacuum advance,or if the vacuum can could be swapped for a gm can. So I was not impressed. A distributor is not a one size fits all thing,there are different amounts and rates of centrifugal and vacuum advance,that vary from engine to engine. That is why GM had 100s of combinations. Don't belive the hype an adjustable can does not allow you to adjust necessary vacuum for full deployment,vacuum to begin deployment and total degrees of advance added. Yes a street fire is probably an okay distributor for a lot of people,but I'm not going to by one so I can spin it decide if I like the centrifugal curve and then try to decode their vacuum curve. And I sure wouldn't buy one to replace a perfectly functional stock HEI.

 

[fast 99]

Aftermarket upgrade is not a waste of money imo. The real problem is anything under msd price range and quality is basically complete junk. Parts store units are junk. Lower tier stuff is junk.

If you want a reliable ignition, standard replacement stuff isn't the answer here. A streetfire is like $200. They work great.

If you are referring to offshore parts I agree. Original GM failures are very rare. We used to pull distributors out of cars going to the crusher. With only basic checks installed them for hobby stock racing to 6500 without issues. Beyond that coil saturation [dwell] becomes a problem.

MSD stuff is good quality but hard for me to rationalize the expense. For many it's just for show and bragging rights. Does nothing to improve time from stop light to stop light.

 

[bucket]

^^^agree^^^

Stock HEI coils commonly produce 40KV and are dependable. My opinion replacing with an aftermarket "upgrade" a waste of money.

Right, but they already have this one. To replace it would cost them money.

 

[bucket]

A higher voltage coil only fires at a higher voltage if necessary so you can buy a 1 million volt coil it's still going to fire at 20k if that's all that's needed. I called tech inquiring about a street fire distributor,they couldn't tell me specs on the vacuum advance,or if the vacuum can could advance coukd be swapped for a gm can. So I was not impressed. A distributor is not a one size fits all thing,there are different amounts and rates of centrifugal and vacuum advance,that vary from engine to engine. That is why Hzm had 100s of combinations. Don't belive the hype an adjustable can does not allow you to adjust necessary vacuum for full deployment,vacuum to begin deployment and total degrees of advance added. Yes a street is probably an okay distributor for a lot of people,but I'm not going to by one so I can spin it decide if I like the centrifugal curve and then try to decode their vacuum curve. And I sure wouldn't buy one to replace a perfectly functional stock HEI.

The Street Fire distributor will accept the proper GM HEI parts.

 

[Ricko1966]

The Street Fire distributor will accept the proper GM HEI parts.

Good that you know it, I called them after last time you and I were discussing the street fire,their tech guys couldn't tell me specs or parts interchange. So this is good information going forward. Thank you

 

[bucket]

Good that you know it, I called them after last time you and I were discussing the street fire,their tech guys couldn't tell me specs or parts interchange. So this is good information going forward. Thank you

I guess I should also say, they "look" identical to the GM parts. I've bought many, but haven't needed to swap anything out on any of them. They seem to be very reliable. My newest one is probably 6 years old now.

 

[Ricko1966]

I guess I should also say, they "look" identical to the GM parts. I've bought many, but haven't needed to swap anything out on any of them. They seem to be very reliable. My newest one is probably 6 years old now.

See,I suspect they have a very lazy curve, and a vacuum advance that doesn't add much to total,leaving a lot of timing out,so they don't get come backs on detonation issues. That's why I called their tech to see what was really in them and if I could tailor them with readily available parts. I'm sure 99 percent of people put them in,no detonation and their car starts and runs reliably so they are happy. Blind to the fact they've left x? degrees of timing out of the equation that they could benefit by having. I actually only MSD because I value your opinion of the street fire,wanted to see what I was starting with instead of hit and miss chances of finding a usable JY distributor to go through,their tech guy blew that sale.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

If you are referring to offshore parts I agree. Original GM failures are very rare. We used to pull distributors out of cars going to the crusher. With only basic checks installed them for hobby stock racing to 6500 without issues. Beyond that coil saturation [dwell] becomes a problem.

MSD stuff is good quality but hard for me to rationalize the expense. For many it's just for show and bragging rights. Does nothing to improve time from stop light to stop light.

Original stuff is great of course. But it's very common for them to get rusty sitting for a long time and plain worn out. Junkyards aren't what they used to be and everyone wants a million dollars for their used parts.

Parts store units are not worth the $100 when you could spend $100 more dollars for a quality reliable unit. Then the replacement maintenance parts are junk too, wouldn't even trust a parts store cap these days.

Depends on the use too. I daily my stuff and don't want to work on it constantly. For a project that sits, $200 might be a lot, but it'll fire every time.

Msd has been great to me and they are adjustable too. The stock curve is pretty decent, but you can change if you want to.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

See,I suspect they have a very lazy curve, and a vacuum advance that doesn't add much to total,leaving a lot of timing out,so they don't get come backs on detonation issues. That's why I called their tech to see what was really in them and if I could tailor them with readily available parts. I'm sure 99 percent of people put them in,no detonation and their car starts and runs reliably so they are happy. Blind to the fact they've left x? degrees of timing out of the equation that they could benefit by having.

I would say the only thing they really need is lighter advance weight springs. For a truck anyways. Which they supply when you order the distributor.