'49 Coil Wires - 8BA
 

Rookie question here. I just put in replacement distributor and coil (not new). Coil terminals are marked + and -. I made an assumption that + is the "hotwire" from ignition and - goes to the distributor. I can't find it in my (well worn) Green Book, and all my wiring diagrams don't specify which is which. Haven't tried to start it yet, but did I get the wires right, or possibly, does even make any difference. Thank You for all replies.

Re: '49 Coil Wires - 8BA
 

+ is positive so if you have original 6V positive ground system the
wire from the distributor would go to the coil +.

Bob

Re: '49 Coil Wires - 8BA
 

Great. Thank You!

Re: '49 Coil Wires - 8BA
 

Yep, polarity of the coil should match the polarity of the battery. If you are running positive ground at the battery, then the negative would be the "hot" wire to the coil. As Bob said, the (+) would connect to the distributor and the (-) would connect to the ignition (battery).

Re: '49 Coil Wires - 8BA
 

I just came across this post and had an experience recently when I installed the coil in my stock 6 volt pos gr 8ba backwards. It did seem to run and idle ok but after it warmed up it would miss and run bad especially under load. Took me a while to figure it out. I was surprised it ran at all.

Re: '49 Coil Wires - 8BA
 

They will work wired backwards, but at a lower level (greatly decreased performance).