coils

[John Mc]

Thought I'd give another update on the Debella Jeep coil I have installed in my M37 (with a Pertronix MV-161A ignition):

I'm just over 5000 miles since installing the coil and the Pertronix ignition in a freshly rebuilt engine. I've had no problems at all with the coil or ignition system. Cold starts (a few as low as 14˚F/-10˚C), hot starts, Stop and go traffic in 90˚F weather, a 330 mile round trip at 45-50 MPH, hauling a 4000 lbs load (1000# in the bed plus 3000# in a trailer). It just keeps running.

These have been out for a while now. I'm curious if anyone has reports of failures (other than those caused by operator error, such as leaving the ignition on for extended periods with the truck no running).

[rickf]

I am glad you are giving reports on yours because nobody else is talking!!!! At least not on here. I don't know if anyone is talking about them on the M37 forums or M38 forums. But glad to here it is working out well. I talked to Debella last year at the Gilbert meet and he told me he only had one return and it was burnt to a crisp. I think we have all seen the results of leaving the ignition switch on. If the points are closed it will fry the coil. And that is any coil. That was the demise of many NOS coils.

The fact that nobody is talking about the coils anymore is probably a good indication of the new coils endurance.

[John Mc]

I've heard of one Debella coil failing in an M37, but that person did not have the distributor vent lines hooked up. ("What do I need that for? I'm not fording with it." Sorry, bud, they need to be connected. It's not just a fording thing.) I'm up to about 7000 miles in my M37 with a Debella coil and Pertronix ignition at this point (I would have been much higher, but other commitments this summer kept me busy away from home.) No problems at all.

As for leaving the ignition on: I do wish Pertronix would make one of their higher-end ignition systems available for the M151 and M37 vehicles - their higher end units have protection if the ignition is left on. Fortunately, my truck has an electric fuel pump which I can hear running when the engine is off. It makes a great reminder to shut off the ignition.

I am curious if anyone else has heard any failure reports on the Debella coils. so far the only ones I've heard of are the fried coil rickf mentioned (ignition left on) and the no distributor vent lines one I mentioned. Those would kill any coil. I've not yet heard any reports of one simply failing without some sort of underlying operator error. Has anyone else?

[rickf]

I will be going to the Gilbert show on the 21'st and I will ask Debella again if he has had any more reports. If he has any of the coils with him I may get a couple.

[csmith]

I've heard of one Debella coil failing in an M37, but that person did not have the distributor vent lines hooked up. ("What do I need that for? I'm not fording with it." Sorry, bud, they need to be connected. It's not just a fording thing.) I'm up to about 7000 miles in my M37 with a Debella coil and Pertronix ignition at this point (I would have been much higher, but other commitments this summer kept me busy away from home.) No problems at all.

As for leaving the ignition on: I do wish Pertronix would make one of their higher-end ignition systems available for the M151 and M37 vehicles - their higher end units have protection if the ignition is left on. Fortunately, my truck has an electric fuel pump which I can hear running when the engine is off. It makes a great reminder to shut off the ignition.

I am curious if anyone else has heard any failure reports on the Debella coils. so far the only ones I've heard of are the fried coil rickf mentioned (ignition left on) and the no distributor vent lines one I mentioned. Those would kill any coil. I've not yet heard any reports of one simply failing without some sort of underlying operator error. Has anyone else?

NOT SURE WHAT IGNITION SWITCH A M37 HAS BUT IF ITS THE SAME AS A 151, CONSIDER GETTING ONE OF THE SWITCH LOCKS AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE, INEXPENSIVE AND WORKS GREAT, TO CLOSE IT YOU MUST BE SWITCHED OFF, USE A PADLOCK AND ITS GREAT PROTECTION FROM THIEFT OR SOMEONE JUST SWITCHING YOUR RIG ON AT A SHOW OR WHILE PARKED. I THINK FIL OR HALFTRACK IS SELLING THEM.

[halftracknut]

must be Fil....not me....

[rickf]

It is Fil but he doesn't come on this forum anymore for some reason. You will need to go to the G503 to get them there. Or Facebook, I refuse to do Facebook.

[Hambone]

Vin Zike on the facebook forum has some original coils and electronic ignitions that came out of rebuild distributors from Red River, so they are originals.

[rickf]

The ones we are talking about are the second generation Chinese coils that Pete Debella is selling.