1984 Ignition Coil Question??

[Turbeau]

Hello ladies gentlemen...

I just have a quick question. I've got a 1984 TR; all stock. I went out with my timing light just to check if the spark was consistent over all the wires, and to see if there were any that were not firing right. I put the light on the front 3 and they fired decent, the back three were very erratic and not consistent. I swicthed them from front to back....same thing. I'm used to all the wires firing the same with working on old Chevies. Is this a design of the ignition coil and the way it fires one bank for both wires?? It's idling a little rough, like a misfire.

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

Hello ladies gentlemen...

I just have a quick question. I've got a 1984 TR; all stock. I went out with my timing light just to check if the spark was consistent over all the wires, and to see if there were any that were not firing right. I put the light on the front 3 and they fired decent, the back three were very erratic and not consistent. I swicthed them from front to back....same thing. I'm used to all the wires firing the same with working on old Chevies. Is this a design of the ignition coil and the way it fires one bank for both wires?? It's idling a little rough, like a misfire.

Welcome- You have just entered a different world. The problem you are facing is the ignition system on the 84/85 hot air is simply out of date and there are no replacement parts being made. The only solution is convert the ignition system to the 86/87 setup. This will require an 86/87 coil module, 86/87 coil pak, Caspers 84/85 to 86/87 coil module wire harness adapter and the bracket for the coil module to bracket adapter. I would throw away your spark plug wires and replace them at the same time. The test for the coil pak is 11-13k Ohms accross each tower and each plug wire should be within 10% of each other as well on ohms. When replacing the coil pak and module only GM parts will meet your expectations. Don't ever go cheap when dealing with the ignition system. Brad

 

[Turbeau]

Thanks for the response....

Would something like this work as a replacement coil??
Accel 140016 Accel Buick V6 Super Coil

 

[O SO LO]

As Brad said...

When replacing the coil pak and module only GM parts will meet your expectations.

Check with Kirban's or GBodyparts.com and they can help you out.

 

[Turbeau]

I went out to ohm out the coil just to see. It read about of 17.3k on all three post. What's that telling me?? I know the answer is to upgrade and replace, I'm just trying to get smart about the system. I've read the range on the ohm reading should be 11-13K. I ohmed while installed on the car, what makes the readin high??

 

[novaderrik]

Welcome- You have just entered a different world. The problem you are facing is the ignition system on the 84/85 hot air is simply out of date and there are no replacement parts being made. The only solution is convert the ignition system to the 86/87 setup. This will require an 86/87 coil module, 86/87 coil pak, Caspers 84/85 to 86/87 coil module wire harness adapter and the bracket for the coil module to bracket adapter. I would throw away your spark plug wires and replace them at the same time. The test for the coil pak is 11-13k Ohms accross each tower and each plug wire should be within 10% of each other as well on ohms. When replacing the coil pak and module only GM parts will meet your expectations. Don't ever go cheap when dealing with the ignition system. Brad

the 86/87 setup isn't the only option.. junkyards are full of 3.8 powered fwd cars from the 90's that have a setup that bolts right in place with the bracket from the donor engine and plugs right in with the Casper's harness. this opens up the option of using 3 MSD coils..
there is also the "coil on plug" setup that uses 6 LS coils- but thats getting up there in price..