Do Ignition Coils Add Horsepower? Granatelli Ford 4.6L/5.4L 2V Coil Dyno Results

Do Ignition Coils Add Horsepower? Granatelli Ford 4.6L & 5.4L 2V Coil Dyno Results

Ford's 4.6L and 5.4L 2-valve Modular engines have powered everything from the Mustang GT and SVT Lightning to F-150s, Crown Victorias, Expeditions and other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. These engines are now old enough that many are still running factory-style ignition coils, while others have been modified with superchargers, turbochargers, nitrous, cams, higher compression and additional boost.

That leads to a common question: Can upgrading the ignition coils actually make more horsepower? The answer is yes — when the existing ignition system is limiting spark energy or struggling to maintain a consistent spark under cylinder pressure. The Granatelli Motor Sports 28-1697SC Pro Series Extreme Coil Pack & Connector Kit was developed specifically for compatible Ford 4.6L and 5.4L 2-valve Modular V8 engines and produces up to 65,000 volts.

Why Ford 2V Engines Need a Strong Ignition System

An ignition coil has one primary job: Generate enough voltage to create a strong, consistent spark across the spark plug gap. As cylinder pressure increases, firing the spark plug becomes more difficult. This becomes especially important when you add:

• Supercharger boost
• Turbocharger boost
• Nitrous
• Higher compression
• More aggressive camshafts
• Higher RPM
• Larger spark plug gaps
• Additional horsepower

A factory-style ignition system that works perfectly on a stock engine may eventually become one of the weak points as cylinder pressure and horsepower increase.

What Is Spark Blowout?

One of the problems commonly encountered on boosted engines is spark blowout. As boost pressure increases, cylinder pressure increases with it. The ignition system must generate enough energy to jump the spark plug gap under those more demanding conditions. If the ignition system cannot consistently fire the plug, the engine may experience:

• Misfires under boost
• Breakup at high RPM
• Hesitation under heavy load
• Inconsistent power delivery
• Poor throttle response

This is one reason Granatelli developed a higher-output coil specifically for performance Ford Modular applications.

Granatelli 65,000-Volt Ford 2V Coil Packs

The Granatelli 28-1697SC Pro Series Extreme Coil Pack Kit is designed for compatible Ford 4.6L and 5.4L 2-valve engines. Each coil is capable of producing up to 65,000 volts, giving the ignition system substantially more available voltage than a typical factory-style replacement coil. The complete kit includes:

• 8 Granatelli Pro Series Extreme ignition coils
• Matching coil connector kit
• 65,000-volt maximum coil output
• Zero-ohm resistance design
• RFI and EMI suppression technology
• Direct OEM-style installation on compatible applications
• No external ignition amplifier required

Granatelli 2V Coil Dyno Results

This is where the upgrade becomes more interesting. Granatelli Motor Sports has performed ignition testing on Ford Modular engines and has documented horsepower and torque improvements when replacing weaker factory ignition components with higher-output Granatelli components.

What Does Granatelli Report for the Current 65K 2V Coils?

For the current 28-1697SC 65,000-volt Pro Series Extreme coils, Granatelli reports performance gains of:

Actual gains vary depending on the vehicle, existing ignition system, spark plugs, engine modifications, tune, boost pressure and condition of the coils being replaced.

Why Would a Coil Change Show Horsepower on a Dyno?

An ignition coil does not add airflow to the engine the way an intake manifold, camshaft or turbocharger does. Instead, an ignition upgrade can help the engine make better use of the air and fuel already entering the cylinders. If the existing ignition system is delivering a weak or inconsistent spark, combustion quality can suffer.

Providing the spark plug with stronger and more consistent ignition energy can help the engine maintain combustion under higher cylinder pressure. That is why the largest improvements tend to occur when the existing ignition system is already becoming a limitation.

Naturally Aspirated vs. Boosted Results

A naturally aspirated Ford 4.6L 2V typically places less demand on the ignition system than a highly modified supercharged or turbocharged combination. That is why the potential improvement can be different depending on the engine.

Historical Granatelli Modular Ford Dyno Testing

Granatelli has been testing Ford Modular ignition components for many years. Earlier Granatelli testing across a variety of Ford Modular applications reported dyno gains as high as:

• Up to 15 horsepower on naturally aspirated engines
• Up to 35 horsepower on supercharged engines

Those figures came from broader historical testing across different Ford Modular applications and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed gain for every 4.6L or 5.4L 2V engine. The important takeaway is that ignition demand increases dramatically as cylinder pressure and horsepower increase.

Why 65,000 Volts Matter on a Supercharged 2V

One of the best examples is the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning. The Lightning's supercharged 5.4L 2V engine produces substantially higher cylinder pressure than a naturally aspirated Modular engine. Increase the boost, upgrade the supercharger, add a smaller pulley or increase horsepower, and the ignition system has to work even harder. The Granatelli Pro Series Extreme coils are designed specifically for applications like this, where maintaining a strong spark under load is important.

Great Upgrade for the 1999–2004 Mustang GT

The Ford 4.6L SOHC 2V Mustang GT remains one of the most popular platforms for Modular Ford performance. The Granatelli 28-1697SC coil kit is compatible with 1997–2004 Mustang GT 4.6L 2V applications, including the 2001 Mustang Bullitt. It can be used on:

• Stock and lightly modified Mustang GTs
• Cammed 4.6L 2V engines
• Supercharged Mustang GTs
• Turbocharged 2V Mustangs
• Nitrous combinations
• High-RPM naturally aspirated builds

Granatelli Coils for the SVT Lightning

The same 28-1697SC kit is also compatible with the 1999–2004 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning 5.4L supercharged 2V. Because the Lightning is already supercharged from the factory, it places greater demand on the ignition system than a typical naturally aspirated truck. That demand becomes even greater as boost and horsepower are increased.

Other Ford 4.6L & 5.4L 2V Applications

The Granatelli 2V coil kit is not just for Mustangs and Lightnings. Compatible applications include select:

• Ford F-150 4.6L and 5.4L 2V
• Ford Expedition
• Ford Explorer 4.6L
• Ford Crown Victoria
• Ford E-Series vans
• Ford Excursion 5.4L
• Lincoln Town Car
• Mercury Grand Marquis
• Mercury Mountaineer
• Early Lincoln Navigator 5.4L 2V

Because Ford produced 2-valve, 3-valve and 4-valve Modular engines during overlapping years, always verify engine configuration and original coil design before ordering.

Do You Need a Tune After Installing Granatelli Coils?

The Granatelli coils are a direct OEM-style ignition upgrade and do not require an external ignition amplifier. Simply replacing the coils does not normally require a tune by itself. However, highly modified, boosted or nitrous engines should always have a calibration appropriate for the complete engine combination.

Will New Coils Fix a Misfire?

They can fix a misfire if weak or failing ignition coils are the actual cause. However, a misfire can also come from:

• Worn spark plugs
• Incorrect spark plug gap
• Fuel-delivery problems
• Injector problems
• Vacuum leaks
• Mechanical engine problems
• Wiring or connector issues
• Incorrect tuning

A misfire should always be properly diagnosed rather than automatically assuming the coil is the cause.

Do Granatelli Coils Help Throttle Response?

A stronger, more consistent ignition system can improve combustion quality when the original coils are no longer performing properly or when the engine's power level is demanding more from the ignition system. Granatelli designed the Pro Series Extreme coils to help provide consistent spark delivery throughout the RPM range, particularly under heavy load.

65K Granatelli Coils vs. Factory-Style Replacement Coils

Who Should Upgrade to Granatelli 2V Coils?

The 65K Granatelli Pro Series Extreme coils make the most sense for owners looking for more ignition capability than a standard replacement coil. They are particularly suited for:

• Supercharged SVT Lightnings
• Supercharged Mustang GTs
• Turbocharged 4.6L 2V Mustangs
• Nitrous-fed Modular engines
• High-horsepower F-150 builds
• Cammed and modified 2V engines
• Engines experiencing spark blowout under load
• Owners replacing an aging factory ignition system with a performance upgrade

The Bottom Line

An ignition coil cannot create airflow or boost, but it can become the difference between proper combustion and an ignition system that struggles as horsepower and cylinder pressure increase. The Granatelli Motor Sports 28-1697SC Ford 2V Pro Series Extreme Coil Kit delivers up to 65,000 volts and was designed for naturally aspirated, supercharged, turbocharged and nitrous Ford Modular applications.

Historical Granatelli testing on Ford 2V/3V performance coil packages showed an 8-horsepower and 11 lb-ft torque improvement, while current Granatelli performance data for the 65K Pro Series Extreme coils reports gains of up to approximately 12 horsepower naturally aspirated and 25 horsepower on forced-induction or nitrous combinations. The exact improvement depends on the vehicle and how much the existing ignition system is limiting combustion.

But as boost, cylinder pressure and horsepower increase, having enough ignition energy becomes increasingly important.

Shop Granatelli Ford 4.6L & 5.4L 2V 65K Coil Packs

Shop Granatelli 28-1697SC Pro Series Extreme 65K Ford 2V Coil Packs

Written by JoJo Granatelli — third generation at Granatelli Motor Sports in Oxnard, California, and the one who drives what the company builds. He set a quarter-mile record of 7.06 seconds at 157 mph at Famoso Dragstrip in August 2026. More about JoJo.