coils

[Lou]

Just installed a NOS coil and I confirm it is just night and day with the chrome ones - Cold start is not an issue anymore! It's definitely worth the cost.

Glad to hear that, the test I did shows the voltage is much higher with the NOS coil then any of the reproduction coils.

[Refit1701]

Coils remain a nagging issue with MVs. The AJP coils are not really proven out by long term use and the NOS coils are generally not available. We need a large enough group of vendors to get together to have the proper coils made. China CAN produce stuff that works if you pay them enough.

[rickf]

I am waiting to hear the results of the latest batch of coils John Debella got from China. They were supposed to be better although louies testing did not show that. I have since picked up an old Snap-On Counselor diagnostic scope, I am curious to get it hooked up on my mutt and test a NOS coil against a Chinese coil and see what it looks like in real world. Not sure if I can do 24 volt on there, will have to look into it. It has been 40 plus years since I used one of those dinosaurs!!

[Hambone]

I am waiting to hear the results of the latest batch of coils John Debella got from China. They were supposed to be better although louies testing did not show that. I have since picked up an old Snap-On Counselor diagnostic scope, I am curious to get it hooked up on my mutt and test a NOS coil against a Chinese coil and see what it looks like in real world. Not sure if I can do 24 volt on there, will have to look into it. It has been 40 plus years since I used one of those dinosaurs!!

Can't trust China, always have a stash.

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[rickf]

That is quite some supply BUT, It is still wiring from 40 to as much as 60 years old. Wire insulation does not last forever even encapsulated in a can.

[John Mc]

I am waiting to hear the results of the latest batch of coils John Debella got from China. They were supposed to be better although louies testing did not show that.

Are these different than the cols he originally had made? I've seen the original test video. If this is a new batch, was there another round of tests done?

I've been using one of the earliest coils from his first batch on my M37 (251 engine, Pertronix ignition). No problems so far, though my truck has been down for a few months after I was run off the road a while back.

[Hambone]

That is quite some supply BUT, It is still wiring from 40 to as much as 60 years old. Wire insulation does not last forever even encapsulated in a can.

You may have a good point but I've been running one for 12 years now, best option out there right now.

[rickf]

I am waiting to hear the results of the latest batch of coils John Debella got from China. They were supposed to be better although louies testing did not show that.

Are these different than the cols he originally had made? I've seen the original test video. If this is a new batch, was there another round of tests done?

I've been using one of the earliest coils from his first batch on my M37 (251 engine, Pertronix ignition). No problems so far, though my truck has been down for a few months after I was run off the road a while back.

John, There was only one test done on the new group of coils. That test showed there could be a problem using the coils with the electronic ignition due to feedback from the coil. The Pertronix is a more robust setup so probably will not be affected. But as far as I know there were no more tests. Send a PM to Lou and he could tell you more since he was the one that did the test.

[John Mc]

I am waiting to hear the results of the latest batch of coils John Debella got from China. They were supposed to be better although louies testing did not show that.

Are these different than the cols he originally had made? I've seen the original test video. If this is a new batch, was there another round of tests done?

I've been using one of the earliest coils from his first batch on my M37 (251 engine, Pertronix ignition). No problems so far, though my truck has been down for a few months after I was run off the road a while back.

John, There was only one test done on the new group of coils. That test showed there could be a problem using the coils with the electronic ignition due to feedback from the coil. The Pertronix is a more robust setup so probably will not be affected. But as far as I know there were no more tests. Send a PM to Lou and he could tell you more since he was the one that did the test.

OK. I misread that post. When you said "latest batch", I thought perhaps he had revised the design and had a new batch out.

[rupert's]

The coils are a problem, I keep reading that the Chinese ones break quickly and the NOS ones are scarce and expensive.

I recently broke the coil of my distributor... Luckily, in this forum I had seen that it is common for this to happen and I had a spare distributor so as not to be left lying on the road. Now to be calm I want to have that spare coil again, but I only find Chinese or NOS at a very high price.
I found this coil, which has me a little confused, it is silver like the Chinese ones, but it has a label that looks old and the upper part where the connections go also looks old and on the bottom part it has something that looks like a cork... What is your opinion? Will it be US or will it be Chinese?

[rickf]

Thats a tough one. We all know that the label would be very easy to duplicate and early label and even quick and easy to age it like it was actually old but the the top and case do not match. It almost looks to me like the coil was put together with a new case and an old recycled top. What are the resistance readings on the primary and secondary terminals showing? Original would be around 5 ohms for the stock coil and around 11 ohms for a Chinese coil on the primary windings and if I remember correctly around 10,000 ohms for the stock and 15,000 ohms for the Chinese on the secondary. Primary measurement is between the two small terminals and secondary is between either of the small terminals and the center coil wire terminal.

[Hambone]

I've never seen a shiny NOS coil, all the shiny ones are foreign made from what I have seen, as mentioned earlier, how does it compare in weight to NOS?

[rupert's]

I haven't bought it yet, and I can't measure it. What I intend to do is buy it if I am sure it is US and not buy it if it is Chinese. I have been looking at pictures of other Chinese coils and I think they are brighter and do not have the top belt.
I am also waiting for the response from the seller.

[rickf]

There were some US coils that were shiny but not chrome shiny. But the measurements told the story about how they were made.

[John Mc]

1500 miles on my Debella coil in my M37 with Pertronix MV-161A ignition installed in the waterproof military distributor, including just about every combination of short trips (including multiple half-hour hops in one excursion), long trips (more than an hour), hot weather (above 90˚F), stop & go traffic, and cruising at 50 MPH. No problems so far.

It's been a couple of months since I spoke to Peter Debella about the results he is hearing back form the field, but last I heard he was not hearing reports of problems when used with an electronic ignition.

Keeping my fingers crossed. Really interested to hear what comes of this investigation, and whether there is the demand to justify a run of redesigned coils which more closely match the original.

I'm up to 3000 miles on the Peter Debella Jeep coil in my M37. (It would be more, but I had about 5 months downtime after an "argument" with a utility pole when I was run off the road by someone who would not get over onto their own side of a narrow dirt road last November.) I've had zero problems with the coil or my Pertronix ignition. I have no doubt that the NOS coils would be better, given their higher spark voltage as noted in the video Lou linked to back in Nov 2020. However, Peter's coil has been getting the job done for me.

I'll have good longer-run test in late August, when I make the 160 mile drive to the Power Wagon Rally in Lee, MA.