What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

What Ignition Coil Should I buy?

1-ton

1-ton

3/4 ton status
GMOTM Winner
Joined
Apr 17, 2004
Posts
5,752
Reaction score
3,161
Location
Las Vegas, Nevada
I bought one of Jegs Chines made, bright red...Super Wazoo coils for my brand new 1991 TBI small block crate engine, and it died after only two hours of engine run time. Does anybody have a recommendation for a reliable ignition coil? Price is not really an issue. Rock Auto has a Delphi OE brand coil for a decent price. Would a more expensive Accel or MSD be better, or just a waist of money for another brightly colored ignition coil made in China?

555-40110.jpg
 
Mexico or China, maybe Canada if lucky, no matter what the Name is.
 
Unless you have a bunch done to your motor I'd just put an OE back in. For the price of a fancy one you could have two OE. Money's probably better spent on good cap and wires
 
Might want to measure your alternator output also--if its charging too high it'll fry any coil,plus do a number on the battery too..
I usually buy used OEM ignition coils from salvage yards the few times I have needed one (none failed on me,I just needed one to assemble a complete HEI distributor to swap in place of a points one)..

GM did use two different HEI coils --both look almost the same,but one has a different color wire that goes to the pickup coil--its been awhile,but I think one had a white wire,the other one had a yellow wire--these are color coded to match the pick up coil's wire colors and polarity..if you look close at the OEM ignition module,you'll see a dot of white or yellow paint on it ,these parts need to be matched for best results..

The reason they did that I have read,is because Chevy distributors rotate CCW ,and the pickup coil is wound a certain direction,and Olds & Pontiac and some others were CW rotation and the pick up coil polarity is reversed...
You can put "any" GM coil on an HEI--it'll still work and run,but with the polarity mis-matched the coil's output is reduced by a good amount,and the engine will not perform as well,also it could eventually overheat and make it fail..

GM had a service bulletin out in the mid '80's regarding this,it seems they goofed and installed the "wrong" coil on some Chevy's...an '86 Monte Carlo SS someone I know had was one of the recalled vehicles,and when the coil was replaced,the engine ran with much more pep and power..started better cold too..
 
GM distributors rotate clock-wise.
diesel4me said:
The reason they did that I have read,is because Chevy distributors rotate CCW ,and the pickup coil is wound a certain direction,and Olds & Pontiac and some others were CW rotation and the pick up coil polarity is reversed...
Click to expand...
 
diesel4me said:
Not ALL GM's ,just Chevy;Buick and Caddilac...Pontiac and Olds rotate CCW..look it up,I did to ensure I was not dispensing incorrect info..
Click to expand...
You said Chevy distributors rotate CCW. The rotate clockwise...;)
 
diesel4me said:
Might want to measure your alternator output also--if its charging too high it'll fry any coil,plus do a number on the battery too..
I usually buy used OEM ignition coils from salvage yards the few times I have needed one (none failed on me,I just needed one to assemble a complete HEI distributor to swap in place of a points one)..

GM did use two different HEI coils --both look almost the same,but one has a different color wire that goes to the pickup coil--its been awhile,but I think one had a white wire,the other one had a yellow wire--these are color coded to match the pick up coil's wire colors and polarity..if you look close at the OEM ignition module,you'll see a dot of white or yellow paint on it ,these parts need to be matched for best results..

The reason they did that I have read,is because Chevy distributors rotate CCW ,and the pickup coil is wound a certain direction,and Olds & Pontiac and some others were CW rotation and the pick up coil polarity is reversed...
You can put "any" GM coil on an HEI--it'll still work and run,but with the polarity mis-matched the coil's output is reduced by a good amount,and the engine will not perform as well,also it could eventually overheat and make it fail..

GM had a service bulletin out in the mid '80's regarding this,it seems they goofed and installed the "wrong" coil on some Chevy's...an '86 Monte Carlo SS someone I know had was one of the recalled vehicles,and when the coil was replaced,the engine ran with much more pep and power..started better cold too..
Click to expand...

I tested the alt output a couple of days ago, and it was in the 13.6 volts range.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom