[64speed]

Too much conflicting information. Can you mount it on its side or not? I wish it would fit in the factory mount and I’d just attach it to the head. Please show pics if you’ve done something besides just a loop mount to the firewall.

[grivera]

It’s my understanding if the coil is oil filled you want it vertical so the inner coil’s aren’t uncovered. Not sure how much of an angle is acceptable. If it’s an epoxy core coil it matters not. Looking forward to responses on this.

[65 Lamnas]

Originally Posted by 64speed

Too much conflicting information. Can you mount it on its side or not? I wish it would fit in the factory mount and I’d just attach it to the head. Please show pics if you’ve done something besides just a loop mount to the firewall.

I've also had issues with the factory mount not fitting aftermarket coils...so I found this one and it fits and works fine. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097Y9R3BN...roduct_details

[steve25]

What coil did you buy?

[unruhjonny]

I have understood that conventional oil filled coils are supposed to be mounted to stand vertically;
Aftermarket coils which do not use oil, can be mounted horizontally.

[grivera]

Originally Posted by 65 Lamnas

I've also had issues with the factory mount not fitting aftermarket coils...so I found this one and it fits and works fine. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097Y9R3BN...roduct_details

Cool bracket - seems it would work well on back of passenger side head - maybe with a spacer for heat.

[Schurkey]

Oil-filled canister coils can be mounted in any position you can imagine, from straight-up to straight-down, and anywhere in between.

Mopar, Ford, and Jaguar used to lay 'em on their sides. Chevy mounted them entirely upside-down, with the coil wire coming out the bottom, and VW did essentially the same. Virtually everyone leaned 'em over a few degrees.









I don't have a photo of the Chevy. Sorry.

It's totally non-critical. The air bubble inside the coil is miniscule. The coil itself is sealed, if there's any leakage the coil was defective already.

At this point it's difficult to find an oil-filled coil; most are epoxy-filled. And lots of modern cylindrical coils are high-failure Chinese crap anyway.

BE CAREFUL what you buy.

[steve25]

I can’t believe this post!
In these types of coils the oil is used as the dielectric that stops the high voltage produced in the secondary winding from arcing back to the primary.

These coils are fILLED with oil and can be mounted in any position you can dream up!

[chuckies76ta]

https://www.cpperformance.com/instructions/120-8202.pdf Oil filled coils mount vertical and Epoxy any position according to MSD. Mount your coil to the back of the passenger head.

Here is a MSD coil compatibility list for different coils and boxes. not sure what your using. https://documents.holley.com/techlib...ompability.pdf

[P@blo]

Originally Posted by steve25

I can’t believe this post!
In these types of coils the oil is used as the dielectric that stops the high voltage produced in the secondary winding from arcing back to the primary.

These coils are fILLED with oil and can be mounted in any position you can dream up!

Like a Pontiac air freshener for a convertible? I better start a new thread...

[64speed]

Originally Posted by steve25

I can’t believe this post!
In these types of coils the oil is used as the dielectric that stops the high voltage produced in the secondary winding from arcing back to the primary.

These coils are fILLED with oil and can be mounted in any position you can dream up!

Well y’all all bitch about not googling. Google and it will give you conflicting info. ALSO, I would like to mount it to the head like factory but the mount won’t work. Didn’t know about the Ford mount. Last but not least, some of you guys have some really sweet engine bays. Mines just in a loop next to the box in a ****ty loop style holder. Was looking for ideas. I don’t know why you guys read or comment on my posts if you hate them so bad. Thanks to the helpful members by the way

[grivera]

Originally Posted by steve25

I can’t believe this post!
In these types of coils the oil is used as the dielectric that stops the high voltage produced in the secondary winding from arcing back to the primary.

These coils are fILLED with oil and can be mounted in any position you can dream up!

I have a Dave Ray “small body HEI” and in his instructions is a diagram for the oil filled coil mounting, which he says should be vertical. I realize some OEMs mount other ways and I’m not arguing one way or the other but there are certainly differing opinions on this.

[unruhjonny]

interesting replies.

I am not posting this to say I am correct (I am totally fine with being wrong);
This is from that MSD pdf linked in post #9:

... It is recommended to mount the PN 8202 and 8223 coils in an upright
position. The High Vibration Coil, PN 8222, can be mounted in any position due to its epoxy potting compound.

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by chuckies76ta

https://www.cpperformance.com/instructions/120-8202.pdf Oil filled coils mount vertical and Epoxy any position according to MSD.

When I mentioned high-failure Communist Crap ignition coils, the MSD Blaster 2 is among the ones I have in mind.

A properly-made oil-filled coil is totally non-sensitive to the angle it's mounted at.

IF (big IF) you don't need an ignition coil with low primary resistance--for example, used with an ignition system using a ballast resistor--avoid heaps of trouble. Get your coil used in good condition from the Treasure Yard. An OEM Delco canister coil is probably about $5, and built far better than the brand-new "boutique" brands.

[chuckies76ta]

Originally Posted by Schurkey

When I mentioned high-failure Communist Crap ignition coils, the MSD Blaster 2 is among the ones I have in mind.

A properly-made oil-filled coil is totally non-sensitive to the angle it's mounted at.

IF (big IF) you don't need an ignition coil with low primary resistance--for example, used with an ignition system using a ballast resistor--avoid heaps of trouble. Get your coil used in good condition from the Treasure Yard. An OEM Delco canister coil is probably about $5, and built far better than the brand-new "boutique" brands.

My post wasn't directed at you. I just posted what MSD say's in there literature.

[chiphead]

With MSD, I assume it's a CYA thing. If the coil is upright and does leak, it's going to run longer before the air bubble inside gets large enough to cause failure. Mounted upside down, a leak will drain the can faster, the air bubble will grow until turn-to-turn arcing in the windings happens and poof goes the output. Production oil filled coils couldn't have high failure rates, the big 3 would own the supplier in short order. There is a built in incentive to have good QC when you're an automotive supplier, like 100K a day in fines if you shut a line down or cause a recall. Aftermarket, you just chuck it in the trash and buy another.

The only coil I've ever had fail was a yellow Accel oil filled coil, mounted upside down. It was mounted to the head of a chevy straight six. I think the key got left on, and the points ignition cooked the coil.

[Va68goat]

We mounted mine inside the car behind the dash...no problems and it keep the engine compartment clean looking.

[HWYSTR455]

My understanding is that vibration is the biggest killer of oil filled and solid coils. I won't mount them on an engine.

You want the coil to cap plug wire as short as possible as well.

You take those 2 considerations into account, and you basically figured out where the coil should be mounted.


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[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

My understanding is that vibration is the biggest killer of oil filled and solid coils. I won't mount them on an engine.

Every manufacturer I can think of mounted oil-filled coils on the engine, Pontiac included. Yes, the coil was typically mounted fairly close to the distributor.

The problem now is not so much vibration, it's ****ty quality control and crappy design, direct from the aftermarket manufacturers who outsourced to low-wage countries in order to improve profit margins (not quality) and don't have to provide millions of coils each year all of them under a nationally-recognized 1-year or longer warranty.

[HWYSTR455]

Heat is the other killer of coils.

I understand that many OEs mounted coils on the engine but doesn't mean it's right or best. Look at other things OEs have done as an example, like pressed in rocker studs, non-adjustable valvetrains, substandard exhausts, and fit & finish.

Yes, agree quality is a big issue, though depending on type/source, you can still find a decent coil and have them last.

I find it interesting that many are/were hardcore advocates of HEI, some on the thread, and now are recommending going back to points. Would one have changed an HEI out for a points distributor if they had bought a car new with one? Or swapped out disc brakes for drums? Or removed fuel injection for a carb?

That's how I'm seeing it on this thread. Just makes no sense to me to go backwards.


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