dennis sellards

How can I test my old coil to see if is still good?

Joel 67

measure primary winding resistance between the two posts. .35 to .55 ohms is considered good.

measure secondary resistence between either post and the main terminal. 8-12000 ohms is good.

dennis sellards

thanks

buns

Another method ......if you are stuck on the side of the road......(old school)........



Simple Ignition Coil Check
In the absence of any testing equipment a simple check of the ignition coil can be made as follows: Turn on the ignition switch with breaker points closed. Remove the high tension cable from the center socket of the distributor cap and hold it about 3/8" away from a clean spot on the engine. Then open and close the breaker points with an insulated screwdriver. If the coil and other units connected to it are in good condition a spark should jump from the wire to the engine. If not, use a jumper wire from the primary terminal of the distributor to the engine; if the primary is in good condition a spark will occur.

Pacecarjeff

if your car runs - your coil is good.
Coils are either good or bad.
Inspect for leaks - if it is leaking it will fail very soon.

67L36Driver

All the above is good advice. But, a coil can be very sneaky about failing at underhood temperatures. Once an old coil warms up it may go either open or short despite checking good with a VOM at room temperature.

My dad once had a new '65 El Camino that would just shut down while driving on the highway. Pull over on the shoulder and check for fuel and spark and find everything OK. Chased the problem for over a year changing fuel pump, fuel filter, points etc. Swapped the coil one day and problem disappeared.

salty_waders

I dont want to steal the thread, but.....can anyone tell me where I can get a coil that will fit under my ignition shielding on my 65 small block. I ordered one from Lectric Limited that was supposed to be factory size and its too tall.

provette67

here is one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CORVE...em110222875186

dmentzer

Just got one from NAPA. IC12 is the number.

Plasticman

Uh no, a coil like any magnet wire wound device can suffer internal turn to turn shorts (an electrical short from one internal magnet wire coil turn to another). These shorts will cause higher current draw (and heat), but develop less output voltage. And are self defeating, in that one internal short begets another, and then another, due to the internal heat that continues to break down the wire insulation until total failure (in most cases a short induced open fusing of the internal magnet wire).

Plasticman

Black_Magic

Standard Brand – UC12x

Fit OK on my '65 SB

George

JohnZ

The "Standard" UC-12 works fine and fits perfect - probably the same as the NAPA item mentioned above; I keep one in the shop for use as a "known good coil".

I wouldn't buy a used 40-year-old "202" coil from anyone unless I knew him personally.

rene-paul

I bought a Standard uc-12 and found the diameter is larger than stock and a bit longer. Had to open the coil clamp and use a longer screw. I believe gm still has a replacement coil, unsure about dia or length.
brgds
rene

ffas23

I use to sell Standard Ignition. The UC-12 Standard Ignition Brand Coil is a Universal Coil as the letters UC stands for it. The UC-12X Standard Coil is their Blue Streak line of Universal Coil and should be "Blue" in color as it was back in the day when I sold Standard Ignition.

Dan Hampton

Buns:

By "primary" do you mean positive side of the coil?

DH

Rick59

Move the bracket???

corvetteed

Do you realize this thread is eleven years old?