New Repro Yellow Top Coil

    Hi all.


    I wanted to start a new thread on this one, just in case it gets lost amongst the other threads, so have a look at part 1:


    [url=http://www.hipomustang.com/hpmx/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6324&SearchTerms=ignition,coil]Yellow Top Part 1[/url]


    Here's my second report regarding new repro yellow top coils:


    Well, I had the second drive with my new repro yellow top coil which I bought here in Australia, but came from VA Mustang and the kar has once again died on me in heavy traffic <img src=images/icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>. I had heard bad reports about repro coils, so I kept an original second hand yellow top coil in the boot (trunk). I swapped them over and what do you know, the kar started straight away and sounded like it's supposed to sound. I had noticed before the kar died that from take of in 1st, the revs struggled and only got worse. With the other coil, it was idling smoothly and taking off easily.


    Either I got a dud, or these new repros aren't any better than the previous ones.


    I think from here on in, I will only use the yellow tops if I'm showing the kar.


    Has anyone else had problems with repro yellow tops?


    Regards,


    René

    It has been my experience that the repo yellow top coils don't work well and will as you indicated leave you on the highway. I can also tell the repro from the orginal and when judging concours cars with that coil I deduct points. I would suggest that you detail your orginal as they normally work well. I have 40 year old coils on my cars and they have worked great.

    I had a new repo yellow top coil on one of my cars and had the same problem, when the engine reached operating temp the coil primary windings would open or short out,causing ignition failure,then would restart after it cooled down. i called the vendor and they said it was from a bad batch of coils with to few primary windings and were breaking down when they were hot,this was 7 years ago, since then i run an original ford yellow top, whenever i get a chance i pick one up ,run test it clean and detail it. i have a few extra coils if any body needs one,send me a PM and i will send pics and price.

    We need to make a distinction between "old" and "new" repop coils. The new repops have only been on the market for about a year (maybe less) and are advertized to be identical in both appearance and performance to the original Ford yellow tops. The top on these is really yellow, not just painted. The only difference is the new repops don't have the numeric code between the terminals like originals. The older repops were terrible in both looks and performance, I had one actually slowly explode (uncoil!) on me.


    Chuck, it sounds like your situation involves an older repop if it happened 7 years ago. Is that right?


    René, can you confirm the coil that failed on you was a new repop and not just a NORS older one? If so, that is disappointing since they were supposed to be a "huge improvement" over the older repops.


    I was hoping they had figured these things out, good thing I have a few originals lying around!

    Dave
    6S1757

    <BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>René, can you confirm the coil that failed on you was a new repop and not just a NORS older one? If so, that is disappointing since they were supposed to be a "huge improvement" over the older repops.

    <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana" size=2 id=quote>


    Hi Dave.


    I'm afraid that the one that has failed is indeed a brand spanking new coil. The guy I get my parts from didn't sell the coils prior to now because they were crap. He was informed that there is a new better type. He got a few in and I was the guinea pig, lucky me <img src=images/icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>


    The other day when I took the kar out it was 93F and when running cold it was fine, when the kar got warmer it died big time. My parts guy will swap my coil for another yellow top, but I'm not really sure I want to put it in the kar. I think I'll stick to my second hand coil, or buy a pertronix and paint the top yellow.


    Regards,


    René


    Edited by - rene.pilat on 02/15/2007 19:18:32

    Thanks for the info René, sorry to hear that. Guess I'd better start cleaning up the originals I have lying around. I've learned the hard way to always keep a spare in the trunk.


    Dave

    Dave
    6S1757

    So, where do we get a reliable coil for driving? I'm going to guess that you will tell us it's NAPA (Echlin) since their other products, like distributors, are so good. Does anyone know? I've had a repop for a few years and have had no problems, but I'd rather not take a chance.

    (One of the super guys on the site has my original, cause his car is concours.)

    <BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

    So, where do we get a reliable coil for driving? I'm going to guess that you will tell us it's NAPA (Echlin) since their other products, like distributors, are so good. Does anyone know?

    <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana" size=2 id=quote>


    I have just bought a Pertronix Flamethrower. I haven't installed it yet, but on Part 1 of this thread, that was the one that was mentioned a few times, so I thought I'd give it a go. This coil is filled with oil, so I'm assuming it should be well insulated against the heat from the motor. I've got a car club cruise this weekend, so I'll give it a go and report back.


    Regards,


    René

    Hi Noelfisher...I always go for NOS or original used when available. After that I go to NAPA for availability before the Mustang houses. I find NAPA products to be high quality at resonable prices. Their shocks, for example, have a close structural appearance to the originals and give a smooth controlled ride. Hydraulic or gas...you choose. They are blue out of the box so I paint them black before installation. Wish I could find a good reproduction of the AUTOLITE decal which was used on the factory originals. Thanks...Ed


    So, where do we get a reliable coil for driving? I'm going to guess that you will tell us it's NAPA (Echlin) since their other products, like distributors, are so good. Does anyone know? I've had a repop for a few years and have had no problems, but I'd rather not take a chance.

    (One of the super guys on the site has my original, cause his car is concours.)

    [/quote]

    As far as I'm concerned the most reliable coil for driving is an original. I've been contemplating one of the new VA coils for show but this report is not promising. This is just the info I've been waiting for before purchasing one. Anyone else bought one of these yet?


    I have no doubt a NAPA replacement will hold it's own for driving, however it is not a yellow-top.

    The coil I bought may be a dud. The President of MOCA in Adelaide SA bought one from the same place I did on the same day from the same shipment. He's been driving his 71 everyday for 2 weeks and we've had a lot of hot days here, and he hasn't had any problems with his.


    I have been given a replacement to the one that quit, so I may have just been unlucky. I'm not sure if I'm game enough to give it another go.


    Regards,


    René

    <BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

    The coil I bought may be a dud.....I have been given a replacement to the one that quit, so I may have just been unlucky. I'm not sure if I'm game enough to give it another go.

    <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana" size=2 id=quote>Thanks for the update René, since your's failed so quickly I suspect too it was a dud. I got one of the new repop yellow tops recently and am going to install it soon so will report how it performs as well. The original I have in the car now is dying.

    Dave
    6S1757

    Hi all.


    Here's a further update. I had a club run yesterday. Five people are running the yellow top coils, all bought from the same shipment as mine was in, all those yellow top coils have been running perfectly. I am yet to try my replacement, but the Pertronix I am running was perfect.


    I also noticed the sticker on the box says China. Are the coils made in China? I was expecting made in the USA, how odd <img src=images/icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>


    Regards,


    René

    <BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

    I also noticed the sticker on the box says China. Are the coils made in China? I was expecting made in the USA, how odd <img src=images/icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>


    <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana" size=2 id=quote>


    Don't be surprised that many of the re-pop items on the market aren't made in the USA anymore. Today, so many items are manufactured in China, it makes your head spin. Naturally, there will be quality issues with the imports. They are not made with quality and performance in mind, but are made to look <i>almost</i> like the originals do, and sell at a much lower price...

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