Author Topic: Coil Issues  (Read 4147 times)

sixt9x33rs

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Coil Issues
« on: March 10, 2018, 06:24:06 PM »
I wanted to share a problem that I had and the end result to fix. I had a misfire at 4500 rpm seemed like a lean problem. So I checked the carb, and ended up rebuilding it which was not the problem. Then changed the fuel pump which resulted in me removing the smog pump to get to the fuel pump. Still not the problem. So I changed out the old 293 coil with a Mallory coil that I have had for 24 years. Bingo bad coil. Since I did not have the correct number coil, I ordered a repo coil with the "298" embossed on the part, correct for a 69 Z28. I thought new coil should take care of the problem. Nope, same misfire at 4500 rpm. Put the old Mallory coil ran great. I thought maybe my plug wires had aged so put in good relatively new wires with the new 298 coil...misfire. So this told me the coil was bad for sure. So put the Mallory coil back in the car, and then put the crappy "correct" date coded Packard wires back on. Car runs great now. But previously I had the old 293 coil on the car with the Packard wires and the car ran fine. Just over the time has this problem surfaced. So I am wondering if I still have a problem masked by the better high output coil?
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

KevinW

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Re: Coil Issues
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2018, 08:56:48 PM »
I had a similar issue, random misfires. Changed a lot, but they went away when I put in a Pertronix flamethrower coil (the black one and I removed the label).  works much better now.  The new coil is a tad bigger in diameter, so I had to get a longer clamp bolt

L78 steve

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Re: Coil Issues
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2018, 09:02:47 PM »
Its probably the coil. If you test a stock dist. with points on a Sun machine the points will start to bounce at around 4500rpm.
This causes a weak waste spark ATDC and a weak coil cannot recover from this.
With a strong coil this waste spark has no effect on performance.
This can be clearly seen on the Sun Dist. scope.
69 Z/28 Dover White. SOLD
67 SS/RS Mt. Green 1W,2LGSR,3SL,4K,5BY,07C. SOLD
70 Nova L78 Blk. Cherry,Sandalwood,M21,02B

sixt9x33rs

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Re: Coil Issues
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2018, 12:18:24 PM »
Its probably the coil. If you test a stock dist. with points on a Sun machine the points will start to bounce at around 4500rpm.
This causes a weak waste spark ATDC and a weak coil cannot recover from this.
With a strong coil this waste spark has no effect on performance.
This can be clearly seen on the Sun Dist. scope.
Great info thanks. I bet the points are bouncing. No idea how old they are.
'69 RS Z/28 65B, 711 Flat hood no spoiler, endura, 4:10 43K miles
69 X77 Z/28 69 69 711 Original Paint Unrestored (Sold)
'69 X66 Convertible 69B 712 auto, (Sold) 44K miles

69z27z87

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Re: Coil Issues
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2018, 04:40:58 PM »
I also had issues with a 293 repro coil.... once the engine had some heat in it, if I put it in gear (auto trans), the engine died. Tried fiddling with the carb settings but nothing made any difference. Put the AC Delco service replacement coil back in... problem goes away....

Guess the 293 coil is just for show.....
1969 SS396 - L35, Z87 Daytona Yellow, Yellow Houndstooth, Black Vinyl top
1992 Z28 - LB9 Purple Haze, T-5WC, grey leather interior

Kelley W King

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Re: Coil Issues
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2018, 08:34:19 PM »
In the early 70,s we only had points and crappy wires. If you drove your car on the street a while the misfire around 4500 started. We called it (busting out). Fresh plugs, and I mean fresh would straighten it out. We carried a new set for money street races. Someone had a spark plug sandblaster that helped a lot, small unit with a grommet hole for the plug. Then came Accel points and the big yellow Accel super coil the hung on the firewall. You also have to remember the tune up intervals when cars had points. When HEI started the selling point on new cars was no tune up for 20,000 miles. I think some guys might have weak coils but some just have original equipment old cars.
69 Z28 RS Scuncio Hi Performance
69 SS L78
67 SS Chevelle
64 Corvette
66 GTO Tiger Gold
77 Trans Am Special Edition

169INDY

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Re: Coil Issues
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2018, 09:40:29 PM »
FWIW; I have experienced perfectly good LOOKING plug wires that were breaking down with a increase of temperature, Thermal breakdown, the OHM readings were within spec on a cold motor, but after some heat development and soaked in,  the wires were the problem, fresh set and off we went. 18 y/o Restoration wire may look nice but silently failing.

JIM
Jim
68 SS/RS L35 Th-400 LOS
69 Pace Car L48 Th-350 LOS
68 Z28 M21 LOS