The coil change has to do with the ignition wire connectors. The later coil
and distributor cap use a post for the connection. Most after market wires
sets will work on both the post and earlier sleeves. The post is a huge
improvement.

The Vanagon ignition for both Digijet and Digifant need the factory coil.
These systems vary the dwell depending on engine speed to maintain a hot
spark at high RPMs. Standard coils use a fixed dwell and many even need an
external resistor. At best, you will burn up the coil. At worst, you get to
replace the ignition control module and if that shorts out, you get to
replace some wiring. Remember an ignition coil is just that, a coil with low
resistance.

The Bosch 4477 plugs work fine. There is little benefit to increasing the
spark energy. As for getting amore complete burn, if you are not, something
is wrong and needs fixing. I've dealt with high energy ignition systems in
the past and most of them cause more problems and for street use, offer very
little benefit. If you have miss firing, you have a problem.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Geza Polony
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 11:32 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Non-stock ignition coils/plugs?

I've been thinking about installing a higher-voltage ignition coil in my '84
1.9, along with Bosch 4477 plugs, in order to achieve better starting and
hopefully a more complete fuel burn. More power--better mileage--that kind
of thing.

Pipe dream? Is it worth it? Anybody messed with this kind of mod? I don't
find much in the archives.

Also, for some reason I don't understand, the part number for the OEM coil
changes in the middle of 1984. What could possibly be different in the
engines they made?

Could putting in a new aftermarket coil (such as Pertronix) do any damage?