The Ford Barn

Bill Lee/Virginia · 02-20-2017, 11:53 AM

I recently converted my Cabriolet to 12 volt negative ground. I want to install a 12 volt epoxy filled coil (with internal resistor) in the upside position.

Question: Will the upside position of the coil degrade its performance?

Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

Tom Wesenberg · 02-20-2017, 12:21 PM

No problem. Did you mean with the tower UP, when you say upside?

Anyway, with an epoxy filled coil, I don't see a problem in any position.

hardtimes · 02-20-2017, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Lee/Virginia

I recently converted my Cabriolet to 12 volt negative ground. I want to install a 12 volt epoxy filled coil (with internal resistor) in the upside position.

Question: Will the upside position of the coil degrade its performance?

Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

Hey Bill,
'upside' is open to Q ? Upside down or tower up, you will be ok with this coil. I use same coil for years with tower DOWN and have had excellent coil performance.

Bill Lee/Virginia · 02-20-2017, 02:48 PM

I want to install the coil with the tower down, the same as original Model A coil.

Many thanks for the info and advice.

Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

Synchro909 · 02-20-2017, 05:31 PM

With an epoxy filled coil, you'll be fine mounting it with the terminals down. Not so with an oil filled one.
Don't ask how I know.

noboD · 02-20-2017, 05:47 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Look at every air cooled VW ever made. They never had a problem with the tower down.

Dick Steinkamp · 02-20-2017, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro909

With an epoxy filled coil, you'll be fine mounting it with the terminals down. Not so with an oil filled one.
Don't ask how I know.

Isn't a stock Model A coil oil filled?

Fullraceflathead · 02-20-2017, 08:40 PM

Original coils were Tar filled.
Inverting a oil filled coil may overheat as their is an air pocket inside to allow for expansion.

blgitn · 02-20-2017, 08:42 PM

I thought so too.

Kurt in NJ · 02-20-2017, 08:49 PM

The original A coils I have taken apart were tar filled

The VW upside down coils were oil filled, rarely leaked ---modern production Bosch made in other than Germany I have had leak, the original Lucas coil in my MG is mounted tower down, oil filled and rarely leaked, modern production leaked in a week

My A has a 70s Ricks "show script" coil, it is oil filled and hasn't leaked, it's a regular coil with a cover, has very strong spark----offshore made in the pre china era

I had an epoxy coil X rayed, it looka like there is enough to turn it down to fit inside original coil case

Dodge · 02-20-2017, 10:39 PM

I was told by a coil manufacturer that the oil filled can go straight up or straight down
but don't like to go on their sides because the air pocket doesn't cover the coils when
on the side causing the coil to overheat.

Tom Wesenberg · 02-20-2017, 10:40 PM

Studebaker mounted the oil filled coil with the tower down, and the only one I saw leak was from a junk yard, and leaked through a rust pit. BTW this is also a 6 volt positive ground car.

02-20-2017, 11:53 AM	#1
Bill Lee/Virginia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 295	Inverted Coil Performance? I recently converted my Cabriolet to 12 volt negative ground. I want to install a 12 volt epoxy filled coil (with internal resistor) in the upside position. Question: Will the upside position of the coil degrade its performance? Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

02-20-2017, 12:21 PM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? No problem. Did you mean with the tower UP, when you say upside? Anyway, with an epoxy filled coil, I don't see a problem in any position.

02-20-2017, 02:48 PM	#4
Bill Lee/Virginia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 295	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? I want to install the coil with the tower down, the same as original Model A coil. Many thanks for the info and advice. Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula

02-20-2017, 05:31 PM	#5
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? With an epoxy filled coil, you'll be fine mounting it with the terminals down. Not so with an oil filled one. Don't ask how I know. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

02-20-2017, 05:47 PM	#6
noboD Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 319	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Look at every air cooled VW ever made. They never had a problem with the tower down.

02-20-2017, 08:40 PM	#8
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,176	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? Original coils were Tar filled. Inverting a oil filled coil may overheat as their is an air pocket inside to allow for expansion. __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

02-20-2017, 08:42 PM	#9
blgitn Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: West Point, VA 23181 Posts: 373	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? I thought so too.

02-20-2017, 08:49 PM	#10
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? The original A coils I have taken apart were tar filled The VW upside down coils were oil filled, rarely leaked ---modern production Bosch made in other than Germany I have had leak, the original Lucas coil in my MG is mounted tower down, oil filled and rarely leaked, modern production leaked in a week My A has a 70s Ricks "show script" coil, it is oil filled and hasn't leaked, it's a regular coil with a cover, has very strong spark----offshore made in the pre china era I had an epoxy coil X rayed, it looka like there is enough to turn it down to fit inside original coil case

02-20-2017, 10:39 PM	#11
Dodge Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sonoma, CA. Posts: 1,496	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? I was told by a coil manufacturer that the oil filled can go straight up or straight down but don't like to go on their sides because the air pocket doesn't cover the coils when on the side causing the coil to overheat.

02-20-2017, 10:40 PM	#12
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Inverted Coil Performance? Studebaker mounted the oil filled coil with the tower down, and the only one I saw leak was from a junk yard, and leaked through a rust pit. BTW this is also a 6 volt positive ground car.