1983 RX-7 GS.

Ignition is stock.

If I'm just replacing my stock ignition coils with those from Black Dragon (Crane Cams "Fire Ball" Premium Street Coils), do I trash the included external ballast resistors or do I use them somehow?

Thanks,

DD

 

I had them on one of my 1st gens. I liked them. Good quality product. I never used the ballists.

 

I do believe you have to use the ballists if you could do you think you could post some DIY pics?

 

I also just installed these coils and did not use the ballasts...I thought you only use them for points ingtions. I believe I talked to Doc about this or someone at one point.
Yeah if you have any definate answer to this I would love to know also.

 

The resistors should only be used if you still have a Sa with points.

 

Thanks again Doc!

 

Thanks for the "points" clarification Bigmotoxer and rx7doctor. I missed that connection the first time I searched here and the Crane site. Then I searched Crane again and found where they said "Includes ballast resistor for points applications."

So, I don't have points on my FB and won't use the ballast resistors.

Thanks for the input from the rest of you, too.

DD

 

Might not need to know this but it may help you. I have an 84 GS that I installed the fireball packs on. I had to change my plugs to the NGK iridiums as well as my wires to the Magnecor 10mm spiral core wires. With the stock plugs and wires hooked up to the fireball packs it would " cut out " at higher rpms because the voltage the packs put out was too much for the wires and plugs to handle. I can not remember the proper term for the problem but I called Racing beat and they told me what setup to use. Something to consider anyway

 

The reason you probably had to replace your wires or plugs is because one or the other were worn out in the first place.

I do not know why you were told that you needed 10MM wires and Iridum plugs because of the coils. That is a FALSE statement.

 

Thanks doc.

seldawg,

maybe they told you that because the Crane website, when referring to this particular coil, says:

"For general purpose use in applications when engine RPM does not exceed 6500 RPM."

And since your car would "cut out" at higher rpms, Racing Beat came to the conclusion that you need to upgrade your wires and plugs. I dunno.


I'm still trying to decide if I want to use them now...Daaaah. I don't want to introduce potential problems in an effort to improve the car. You know what I mean?

Thanks,

DD

 

The coils will work fine in your car.

But you might want to do some full research about real coil performance. Most coils have a high starting voltage and start dropping off rapidly from there. The key to a good performance coil is that it carries the voltage across the Rpm band and not just at start up or thru mid range and then drop off.
When I first researched coils many years ago I found at that time that the Jacobs Coils were the only ones back then that carried a higher than stock voltage delivery across the whole Rpm spectrum.
Best thing to do is read, read, and read some more. If you can't get the answer you are looking for then I recommend calling the manufacturers tech line and get the scoop.

 

This would probably be a typical scenario if my wires and plugs were worn. At the time I installed the fireball packs I was using a brand new set of Racing beat wires and ngk plugs. As I said , I could not tell you the exact term that was used to describe my " cut-out " but I believe it had something to do with spark jumping. Again, though, this was something I did long ago and had to try a couple different setups to get it to work properly. I am by no means an expert when it comes to ignition and electronics, just wanted to share my experience with a fellow owner in case he may run into the same problem.

 

Well again the only way that spark can jump is when the wires are bad. You had a defective set of ignition wires. Plugs had nothing to do with it.

I didn't have a problem with you sharing your info, that is what this section is about. The issue I had is the content of the info that you stated about having to use a specific set of wires or plugs as supplied to you by another source. That source unfortuneatly at that time was not accurate.

 

I also would like to use the fireball coils, i have new plugs wires and ngk 4 prong plugs. The coils i have now "work" but may not work to there fullest extent because they are old. So is the final conclusion to these coils fireball coils is that they cut out at a rpm over 6500? If so whitch coils would I be better off with?

 

If one has a problem with the spark/ignition cutting out at higher rpms, rev up the engine in a dark setting. If there is any spark leakage, it will show up quite well in the dark. Had a friend with a TII that was cutting out out above 5k rpm. When we pulled it into the shop where it was dark, we could see the spark jump from one of the coil towers to ground, nice bright blue glow. Turned out the coil tower had a crack that we could not see. Replaced the coil and all was good there after.

I suspect you are getting spark leakage somewhere. It could be where the bootslips over the coil tower, the boot connects to the plug wire on either end, or even at the plug. If there is even the smallest crack in a coil tower or a wire boot, the spark will take the shortest path it can find to ground.

If there is no leakage to be found, the only other reason for a coil to cut out is because it doesn't have enough time time to build a charge or isn't getting enough juice to begin with.

 

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion.

I have one minor question that is still nagging me in the back of my mind. There is a small rubber L shaped boot that covers one terminal on each coil (not the center boot) and is part of the wiring loom. One of those rubber boots has a hole in it. Can just the boot itself be replaced or successfully repaired (rubber cement/RTV sealant/silicone?) so the spark won't "leak" or arc out through the hole?

Thanks again,

DD

 

It covers the + side of the coil. I've run them without anything covering it. No problems.