Installing a set of ACCEL Super-Coils on the Blacktop Hemi Shop Trucks
Story/Photos: T-Bone Check out the video on Blacktop TV!
We like bolt-on performance adders. Today we picked up a set of ACCEL Super Coils for the Hemi Magnum motor in the Blacktop Bruiser shop truck. These coils are made for high-compression and/or supercharged motors and are advertised as a straight replacement for the stock coil-packs. We are hoping to see some added performance or fuel economy. So let’s get to wrenching.
Billy suggested we start with the far back drivers side coil, as that looks to be the most difficult to get to. It sits under the brake booster can and right up in the firewall. I suggested we take the front one off first, just to see if there are any issues, how much wrenching is going on, etc. with one we can actually see. We both agreed and got to it. We grabbed a set of sockets and got busy.
The two bolts that hold the coils in place are pretty easy to remove. A simple crack and then they are almost hand tight the rest of the way. The coil has a long rubber hose that guides the connector into the Hemi valve cover and connects to the spark plug. After removing the front one, we decided to keep it in place and work from the back forward on the drivers side. Good thing we had a Tite-Reach socket extender! Those back ones were a bear to get to. The extension was a great tool to help reach nuts and bolts in tight spaces. Now over to the passenger side, which has plenty of room to work in. So we thought.
The 2005 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi Standard Cab has about 47,000 miles on it. Note: If anyone is looking for slightly used stock coils, we will let you have them for a reasonable offer. The coils were removed and replaced one-by-one so as to not get any dirt or debris into the plug holes. When we got to the seemingly simple passenger side. We had to work around our AEM Cold Air System and there was a braided cable pack that was right over the row of coils. Well within about 40 minutes we had the coils replaced and the old ones bagged and boxed for any of our friends who may need a set. Hint, hint.
Time for a test ride. We took the bruiser out on the Blacktop Magazine test track. A series of freeways and side-streets of Southern California which we share with over 8 million of our neighbors. As we cruised along the test facility we tried hard launches from stop signs, aggressive acceleration on freeways and slow-idle speeds. There were no noticeable changes. We will report on any fuel savings after more miles are driven. A call to ACCEL and they said that the coils produce a “hotter” spark that will not blow out with a supercharged or high-compression engine. Now we have to install a supercharger (oh, darn-it) and see how it works.
To learn more about ACCEL or other Prestolite Performance brands visit: www.PrestolitePerformance.com