48 Coil hook up

FLA48

FLA48

Senior Member
I just got my car back and for some reason the mechanic hooked the ignition coil up wrong and fried it. Before I hook up the new one can does someone have a decent picture or description of which wire goes where along with the resister?
Frank
 
Assuming positive ground, the wire from the ignition switch goes through the resistor to the negative terminal on the coil. Another wire goes from the positive terminal on the coil to the distributor.
 
I think - always dangerous - that the stock '48 coil had the terminals labelled "BAT" and "DIST" for Battery and Distributor, respectively. The wire from the resistor would go to the "BAT" terminal and the "DIST" terminal would, logically, go to the distributor. If your coil has "+" and "-" terminals, your mechanic might have not been aware the car was positive ground and "fixed" the ignition wiring for you. Good luck.
 
As others have described, the wire from the ignition switch first goes to the resistor that then passes the current to the battery or - side of the coil. The other wire hooked to the distributor or + side of the coil goes to the distributor.

CoilResistor.jpg


IMG_2959.jpg


IMG_2960.jpg
 
Thanks all. Old Henry, the pictures were perfect. They verified the descriptions. The car started right up with the new coil and resister properly hooked up.
 
Coils very seldom burn up with the engine running. They burn up when the ignition switch is left on. Even with the switch left on you have a 50/50 chance of not cooking the coil, if the points are open there is no voltage to the coil. When the points are closed and the engine not running the coil winding becomes a resister and heats up like the wire in a toaster. Sometimes the battery runs down before cooking the coil but it is really bad with a battery charger hooked up. G.M.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top