Electronic Ignition question

[Corey Bowcutt]

I have a 1968 GT350 that was equipped with a Crane Cams Fireball XR700 ignition system along with a chrome JACOBS Electronics Energy Coil when I purchased the car.  I am trying to relocate the coil from the front of the motor on the drivers side to on top of the intake on the passenger side.  Unfortunately this coil is smaller in diameter and longer than the stock gold top coil so does not fit in this location and does not clamp in the stock coil mount without shimming between the coil and the mount.  I know nothing about these electronic ignition system.  Is this a special coil required by the Fireball XR700 or will it work just as well with a standard gold top coil?

Thank you for any help,

Corey

[shelbydoug]

You need to ask the manufacturer but most of those systems require 12v to the coil and a matching coil to the system.

The pink wire from the ignition switch is going to reduce the voltage from 12v down to 6v. It might show 9v while running but what will happen is that the aftermarket coil won't be putting out the advertised voltage to the plugs with just 6v.

It's the Ford yellow top coil that you can't run a full 12v to. Not the other way around.

[gt350bp]

Get a piece of black neoprene to fit between the coil and mount. Acts as an isolator and allows the mount to clamp properly.

Just a suggestion.

Don
gt350bp

[Corey Bowcutt]

Get a piece of black neoprene to fit between the coil and mount. Acts as an isolator and allows the mount to clamp properly.

Just a suggestion.

Don
gt350bp

Don, I can easily fix the diameter problem as you suggest.  The bigger problem is the length.  It just will not fit in this location with the Holley carb.
Corey

[Bob Gaines]

I have some of the shorter pertronix blaster coils that put out 35-40,000 volts of spark. They are the same length of the yellow top coil in fact I typically paint the top the correct yellow top color to disguise them.   PM me if interested. 

[shelbydoug]

I have some of the shorter pertronix blaster coils that put out 35-40,000 volts of spark. They are the same length of the yellow top coil in fact I typically paint the top the correct yellow top color to disguise them.   PM me if interested.

Was that a custom color or did you find something off the shelf?


Yup. The yellow top is a compact coil and frankly, if you aren't going to put hundreds of thousands of miles on your car, driving through bad weather through the darkness of the night with no human life around, just the howl of the wolves in the moonlight, all that you need is a points distributor and a yellow top.

When you look at vintage pictures of race car engines, notice the coils used. Lots and lots of yellow tops.