How do I hook up my aftermarket coil pak?

I am a neebie on here and the amount of info I have received off this site is insane, so thats for all the help first off. Anyways I purchased a 97 xj i had my eyes on for about 2 years. It has a 5.5 RE lift w/ 33", SYE, and stock gearing. I will post some pics below if they will work. Anyways the guy I bought the truck from for $3500 took the jacobs coil out of it because of a money issue he was having but he never sold it. I want to put it back in the truck to see if it helps my MPG and torque. If i regear, flowmaster and this i sould be set. It is my DD so i hope this mod is ok for DD. All I'm asking is how do I hook the dang thing up correctly. I will put some pics below and tell me what you guys think. Thanks for everything!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/bville870/100_0155.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/bville870/100_0092.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/bville870/100_0074.jpg

Ignition Pics
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/bville870/100_0176.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/bville870/100_0175.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/bville870/100_0174.jpg

a very quick search will tell you to get rid of that thing quick

The stock coil is VERY powerful........hard to improve on it.

Second Goatman. If you really want to try to improve, however, PM me and I'll look up some MSD part numbers for you.

I hope you didn't pay for the Jacobs - I've heard more horror stories than positive reports from the field. As a result, I didn't even cover them when I wrote my book, and I don't plan to... Just one man's opinon.

YMMV, TANJ, TANSTAAFL.

"If tin whistles are made from tin, what do they make foghorns out of?"

5-90

I hate to hear that. The previous owner said the ignition did good things with this particular xj. I did not have to pay for it so i am not out anything. Are the negatives of this unit long term effects? I am going to search the subject when i get a chance. Thanks for the input.

THe negativesof this unit are the lack of any results whatsoever.....except lightening of your wallet by $350.

Then my unit failed after 1.000001 years. But, Jacobs offered to sell me a new unit for only $275....wasn't that nice of them?

CRASH

5-90, Let me know some MSD part numbers too. I have a 95 XJ. So, the stock coil is awesome? I will not upgrade then.

Silent

If the stock coil ever goes south, the MSD 8228 is a straight replacement. I have one in my spare parts bin for a rainy day. I hope it stays dry. Here's a pic:

If stock coil is better than any aftermarket, why by a MSD, why not just another stock coil for a spare?

Silent

Bump, need answer before I purchase.

Silent

Also, 5-90 still waiting on post of part numbers for prerunner/DD spark plug wires.

Silent

Bump again. Still needing more info.

Silent

Let's see...

MSD P/N 8228 should be a direct replacement for your 1995HO coil, with no need to change any wiring. Of course, if you toss in a 6-Offroad (P/N 6470) you'll need to adapt using P/N 8873 "Universal" harness. And, the 6-Offroad is complemented by P/N 8769 for "just in case" (just in case you catch air all of a sudden, rev up, and get grab again, for instance.)

The later HO ignition does have a measurably higher output at the plug (I am given to understand,) but I've not had a chance to measure coil outputs side-by-side.

For plug wires, you'd have no trouble with a decent aftermarket set (like Bosch, Delco, or Borg-Warner,) and I've had good luck with bulk Accel and MSD wiring and crimping my own (although this isn't a common capability in most hobbyist's garages...) MSD P/N 33223 or 33239 are listed for 1993-1998 XJ/TJ/YJ 4.0, and will probably work with 1987-1999 4.0 (2000 and 2001 used the "coil-on-plug" setup with no wires. The boot styles are the same, the distributor didn't move, and the MSD "Multi-Angle" plug boots and terminals are pretty damn spiffy!)

For those of you with RENIX setups, you can use P/N 8813 (for 2.46L I4 and 4.0L I6) to adapt an MSD ignition box to the RENIX setup. I've yet to see a coil that will work with the RENIX setup, so you'd have to add in an MSD box (like a 6-Offroad,) to get the extras - which may not be a bad idea anyhow... (you hear me, CRASH?)

RE: the Jacobs box - don't bother. I've heard so many bad reports from the field that I didn't feel it worth covering when I wrote my book, and I probably won't add them in later unless I start hearing something a lot better than what I've had so far. For performance ignitions, I prefer MSD (standard spark discharge) or Mallory (Magnetos.) I've not had mentionable trouble with either (simply because if there have been problems, they were resolved post-haste and with a minimum of pain or difficulty. I like that.)

I hope this little treatise proves useful.

5-90

Those seem like good parts. But, I am not sure what I need to get. I know I need plug wires, rotor, and distrib cap. But, what else? I am not sure what goes with what. Also, will these parts work for prerunnin and daily driver.

Silent


Thanks for response 5-90.