Coil problem - no spark??? HELP

OK guys, I just mounted my ignition coil to my firewall. I have it "upside down" meaning the one large wire connecting to distributor is coming fromm the bottom.

Now trying to start deuce, no can do, we tested and found no spark when upside down, but spark OK when upright.

What the heck?

have you guys tried this or run into similar problem and any suggesitons? there are so many ugly wires connected to the terminals that I prefer that cluster of spagetties to be at the bottom, and the pretty slip on cover to show at the top. I believe I have seen deuces running similar set-ups... Why am I running into this problem?

FAITH

Be careful most coils are not designed to run upside down. If they can they are usually the potted type and not oil filled. Running oil filled usually results in a longer term fault but I could certainly see how the secondary could short out if not fully immersed in its oil bath. That's there for electrical insulation and thermal management.

I put my coil and ignition box inside the car. Glued wood up high inside the firewall to mount things. Only the large wire comes through the firewall.

Kitz

Any chance you have a loose wire and with the coil upside down the coil feed wire (from the ignition switch source) wire is pulled away from the terminal?

And when the coil is returned to upright the loose wire returns to the contact where - even though loose - it transmits electricity.

You could prove or disprove this theory by running a jumper wire from battery positive to coil positive (ignition switch side of the coil).

If things start working then you can check the wiring for problems.

I've seen coils mounted upside down now and then.
The owners didn't report any problems.

I also note that more than a few factory stock cars have the coils lying on their sides.

A coil should work in any position. Even if it is an oil filled coil, it will work in any position, but MAY eventually leak if ran upside down. I have to concur with C9X, if it works right side up but not when you turn it the other way, either you have a loose connection or an intermitant short inside the coil itself.----------Denny---she wanted a different answer:LOL: :LOL:

The coil position is fine, just turn the car over.......

Never seen a coil that wouldn't work in any position. Are you sure the coil was grounded well when it was inverted? Taking it off and reinstalling it the "right way up" could have made better connection.

I still think ya just need to turn the car over and leave the coil alone.....

coil on my '51 chevy is mounted upside down. oil filled I'd assume, this is stock

I like Dave's Idea too :LOL: :LOL:......May I open Pandora's box? Put a mag on it. Hot firing, easy to set up, clean looking not to mention cool looking.

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Originally Posted by brianrupnow

A coil should work in any position. Even if it is an oil filled coil, it will work in any position, but MAY eventually leak if ran upside down. I have to concur with C9X, if it works right side up but not when you turn it the other way, either you have a loose connection or an intermitant short inside the coil itself.----------Denny---she wanted a different answer:LOL: :LOL:

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Not every coil is designed to operate in any position. Particularly true of high voltage coils. Very good. When you uncover part of the secondary (due to air inside depending on the make) it can short.

C9x, well Dr. Kitzmiller has seen 'em fail first hand. And laying on the side is usually OK as it does not tend to uncover the secondary. In this orientation any air is spread out real thin and usually won't uncover the secondary.

Of course one would always check for bad connections; this is assumed.

I agree with Dave. :LOL:

Kitz

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Originally Posted by nitrowarrior

I like Dave's Idea too :LOL: :LOL:......May I open Pandora's box? Put a mag on it. Hot firing, easy to set up, clean looking not to mention cool looking.

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There ya go!!!! Come to think of it, I have an old Joe Hunt modded Vertex mag and beeper box packed away in a box someplace----one of the few survivors from the sprint car days.....

Are you serious Denny?...I haven't thought about one of those in years (not to make any of us look "old"). I was thinking vertex though. Slim design, adaptation for her app. Worth a think over. By the way, how long have you had that CD unit?

Then on second thought, That would be kinda cool lookin' too.

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

The coil position is fine, just turn the car over.......

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.....Dave, my coil is mounted on it's side with the top of coil pointed towards the rear. So should I set my car on end with the grill shell pointed down??? And if I do this how will I get the car in the garage??? Thanks, Bill ;)

Like I said in the Fibreglass Firewall thread......................."Ground the Friggin' coil...............

Poncho.... we haven't had a response as to which coil it is. Can you give Faith some time to answer? If it's a coil that needs grounding, it's too antiquated to make the thing run right anyway. What if it's an Epoxy style or an "E" coil? Give her a chance to get back, okay? Even internal HEI's only use the grounding for module stability and RF control, they still fire. I can hold an old fashion oil filled coil in my hands and it will fire. Patience please.

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Originally Posted by billlsbird

.....Dave, my coil is mounted on it's side with the top of coil pointed towards the rear. So should I set my car on end with the grill shell pointed down??? And if I do this how will I get the car in the garage??? Thanks, Bill ;)

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Simple, you'll have to make the garage higher, or dig a basement. Take your pick.....

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Simple, you'll have to make the garage higher, or dig a basement. Take your pick.....

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LOL....... ;)

PROBLEM SOLVED.

Answers:

1- not all coils can operate in any position. As a matter of fact most of them can't. To operate a coil upside down you need an epoxy filled coil. OIl filled ones usually tend to short if in the upside down position. (Sean found that out the hard way while he was holding it and hit the started :eek: ZAP!)

2- One trip to PAW later, I came hone with a brand new epoxy filled coil, mounted it and vavoom. Back in business. The finned cover mounted on firewall looks bitchin'! Actually my deuce right now is looking so darn good I can't beleive it. I was so unhappy with my paint job at first and now I love it - go figure... I just had to let go of my own concept and get used to seeing the new look .

That's good info to know about the coils. I'm planning on hiding mine inside the firewall, and was planning on aiming it sideways or upside down.

What did you tell them at the auto parts store? Did they actually know which ones were epoxy filled?

Don

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

That's good info to know about the coils. I'm planning on hiding mine inside the firewall, and was planning on aiming it sideways or upside down.

What did you tell them at the auto parts store? Did they actually know which ones were epoxy filled?

Don

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Oh yes. It states it in the catalog "epoxy filled and can be mounted in any position". If you want i can post the brand and model I am using. the same brand has two other models that cannot be used upside down.

Did it need to be grounded?

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Originally Posted by brianrupnow

A coil should work in any position. Even if it is an oil filled coil, it will work in any position, but MAY eventually leak if ran upside down. I have to concur with C9X, if it works right side up but not when you turn it the other way, either you have a loose connection or an intermitant short inside the coil itself.----------Denny---she wanted a different answer:LOL: :LOL:

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I eat my words!!! I stand corrected!!! I don't have an oil filled coil to try it with, but I'm really quite surprised that I was wrong. Oh well, I was wrong once before----

Okay Brian, that's your one time for the year.......:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: