Echlin IC 55 Coil

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Inherited40tudor

Junior Member
Can anyone give me any information on an aftermarket Echlin IC 55 Bakelite coil? The exterior is in excellent condition and the bulb seems intact. It may be N.O.S.
Thanks.
 
Did not mean to be so blunt, unfortunately the terms are often abit mixed up thanks to e-bay where many embelish their items. They are simar in vintage, but have diffrerent origins and varying quality. Will see if it is in my 1962 Echlin book. It is hit and miss in some areas. Rod
 
I have one of those Echlin coils with the light bulb in the top. I took it to my Napa store and they called someplace, maybe the factory, and they sent me about 3 sheets of Echlin coil no's. Mine was for old buick and Packard and a few others, back in the early 30's. Walt
 
Rowdy
My Echlin catalog is 1982
49-55 Lincoln and Mercury is IC8
28-34 Mercury is IC9

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time
 
I believe the bulb is #1000 which is the same bulb used in the 32-34 head light. The bulb acts as an ignition resistor, dropping the voltage to the coil. Mallory also used a coil in approximately the same time period, it too had a wire wound resistor attached. Because these coils have a resistor does NOT mean the Ford resistor has to be disconnected. I run 6V and have the Mallory coil with the resistor in addition to the Ford resistor using a 42-46 Ford style dual point distributor.
 
Some excellent information here. Thank you. I'm currently running a N.N.S. (new new stock :) aftermarket 6v on the wheel well (for temperature problems) on my '40 V8. I thought this one might look cool there but wanted to make sure it would work. Thanks again.
 
Bear coils were a popular gimmick (due to the light bulb resistor) back in the day and the hot rodders knew they worked too. That aftermarket performance part of Echlin was spun off and became ACCEL many years ago. That is why you can't find them in the stock OEM replacement catalogs. You have to look for the Bear.

Here is a short history version from NAPA. http://www.napaechlin.com/Welcome+to+NAPA+Echlin-History/Content.aspx

It's a part of Standard Motor Products now according to this short history.
 
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Kirby

Thanks for the link to Echlin Napa.
In the early 50's I would ride into town with my grandfather to Blankenships, which was the Napa dealer, for parts. Sometimes we would stop at the A&W for a rootbeer.
When I took over ordering parts at work, I switched to Napa and Echlin. Every body was happy with the product.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time
 
I know this is very old thread, but I run one of these Echlin coils on my 31 coupe and love it. The thing looks really cool and has never let me down. I've been contemplating converting my car to 12V to give it more engine cranking power and am wondering if I can run the coil on 12V. I don't want to risk ruining the coil (I do have a few spares) so if it's not possible I'll just stay 6V. I've read that you can run a 6V coil on 12V as long as you install a ballast resistor, but with the Echlin coil already using the light bulb as a resistor will that work?
 
Echlin IC 55 Coil

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Yep! Exactly what I run. IC55 6V coil. Looks amazing and never let me down. Can I run it on 12V?
 
The short answer is "Yes", if you add a ballast resistor. If you have a multimeter, "ohm it out" to determine the resistance through the primary windings. Using Ohm's law, determine the current going through the points. In this example, I am using 1.5 ohms resistance through a 6 volt coil, which is typical; yours may differ.

I (current) = V (voltage) / R (resistance) e.g. 4=(6/1.5)

Then, calculate the total resistance through the coil required to give you the same current going through the points.

R (resistance) = V (voltage) / I (current) e.g. 3=(12/4)

This means that you need to add 1.5 ohms of resistance (ballast resistor) to the coil circuit to maintain equilibrium.
 
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