Keep Frying HEI Coils PLEASE HELP!

[Bextreme04]

Other than heat management and maybe calibrations for emissions, shouldn’t a stock setup make the same “power” just when it’s applied is the difference? Which on a computer controlled system I suppose you can’t really do anything unless you tune. Did the distributor come before the tuned PROM?

The aftermarket coil and ignition box is probably giving a stronger spark or maybe can handle a shorter dwell that is allowing a larger spark plug gap and therefore a hotter, cleaner spark. That can provide a better combustion event that can also help reduce engine knock and therefore allows the engine to make more power from the actual firing event as well as letting the computer keep more timing in the engine. Remember the computer is pulling timing for knock events and also making fueling adjustments based on O2 sensor readings, all of which can be affected by spark efficiency. I'm sure the biggest difference came from the tuned PROM that takes advantage of the better ignition components though.