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Re: Which Coil to use?

To: reid.w.simmons@intel.com, spitfires@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Which Coil to use?
From: DANMAS@aol.com
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 20:44:50 EDT
In a message dated 6/15/99 1:31:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
reid.w.simmons@intel.com writes:

> I would like to tap the collective wisdom of the group to help me determine
>  which coil to replace my 20 year old stock coil with.  The current choices
>  are:
>  
>  Lucas Sport coil
>  
>  Crane "Street" coil
>  
>  Crane "Chrome" coil
>  
>  Another stock coil
>  
>  The engine will be essentially stock with emissions controls and a
>  "Luminition" electronic ignition.

Reid,

There are two factors which will determine which coil you can use:

1) Does your car have or not have a ballast resister,

2) What is the minimum coil resistance tolerated by the ignition system.

All ignition systems have a minimum coil resistance requirement to prevent 
damage to the ignition. -- either electronic or conventional points. This 
minimum can be met either by the internal resistance of the coil, or by the 
combined coil/ballast resistance.

Some coils require a ballast resister to match it to your ignition system and 
some do not. For example, the Lucas Sports coil doesn't require one for most 
systems, including the Crane/Allison units. If your car has a ballast 
resister and your coil doesn't need it, it is very easy to remove; likewise, 
if your coil requires one and your car doesn't have one, it is very easy to 
add one.

This doesn't directly answer your question, but I think it will point you in 
the right direction to find your answer. For more information, see:

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/ballast.html

Dan Masters,
Alcoa, TN

'71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
'71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion - see:
                    http://members.aol.com/danmas/
'74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition - slated for a V8 soon
'68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74

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