Slightly OT: Replacing coils

[Garry]

I was just talking to the place that's (hopefully) help me install all the parts in the motor ... anyway, they suggested I should sometime look into replacing the stock coils with something better, like e.g. MSD ... I just did a quick google on it, as I mainly knew MSD for carburator engines ...
The numbers and diagrams for the LS1 coil replacement look impressive, with something like three times the output from the stock ones ... but is there a point in putting $600 upwards into different coils? (I'm talking moderately modded street-car, not 9s racecar)

[Doc]

IMHO, no.

[eboggs_jkvl]

Were I to change the coils out for the MSDs I would be doing it for "show" to bling up the turbo engine bay. As far as getting anything else by acquiring the coils (other that a MUCH lighter and thinner wallet) you aren't getting much extra at all.

In a word? Fuhgedaboudit.

Elmer

[eurospec1]

IMHO, no.

:exactly:

[joecar]

The GM factory coils are already very good (one of the few things where GM excelled), and aftermarket coils can't seem to come close in quality/reliability (as your web search would have revealed).

I say: stay with stock coils.

Cheers,
Joe
:cheers:

Edit: and $600 is too overpriced for "bling" factor.

[TAQuickness]

Stick with what you got. I don't know the limits of the stock coils, nor I have met anyone that does.

[Garry]

Tnx y'all ... maybe the suggestion was waranted given that the guy that made it comes from the F-community (and I don't mean F-Body ;) )

[dfe1]

For what it's worth- As has been stated, the stock coils are very good. If you think your engine needs a little more zap at the plugs, you can increase dwell time a bit. The biggest limitation with any standard coil is that there isn't sufficient charge time at higher rpm levels to develop maximum spark energy. But that's when a single coil is firing eight cylinders. With a coil for every cylinder, you'd have to spin the engine at 50,000+ rpm before saturation time becomes an issue. On the other hand, coils can deteriorate over time and if a coil NEEDS to be replaced, it might not be a bad idea to upgrade, but if the engine is running fine and pulling hard to 6500+/- rpm, there's probably little if anything to be gained by replacing the existing coils. I have heard of some people seeing a power improvement with the MSD coils, but I haven't seen any definitive test results.