I don't know what you are running but when they went from 6 volts to 12 volts in the 50"s . they added an ignition resistor either a ceramic block or a wire in the harness. In the start mode the coil was hooked to the 12 source for better spark, the starters would make measured voltage at the coil drop to about 10 volts instead of 14 that you would get measuring across the battery at the run position in non starting situations. the resistor dropped the measured voltagae to about 9 volts at run condition. if you are burning up coils you probably have a wrong or cross connedtion to the coil giving it 14 volts, i have seen coils explode when they are hooked up wrong and the car is just sitting there with 14 volts going to the coil. retired auto shop teacher, auto engineer