<VV> Ignition Questions

Andy Clark slowboat at mindspring.com
Thu Sep 7 19:33:24 EDT 2006


Hi, Bob. See answers below.
HTH
Andy Clark
1966 140/4 Monza Sedan
1966 140/4 Yenko Clone
1966 180/4 Cord 8/10 #60
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob & Kathy Gilbert" <bgilbert at redshift.bc.ca>
To: <corvairs at cybrus.net>; <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 10:28 AM
Subject: <VV> Ignition Questions


> Hi,
>
> My recollection of my LM ignition system is that the coil gets 12 volt
with
> the solenoid on (key in Start position) and then it gets some reduced
> voltage (key in the On position) as coil voltage is supplied through a
wire
> with a built in resistor.
>
> 1) Does anybody know what the value of the resistance is and/or what the
> normal running voltage at the coil should be?

Normal running voltage should be about 8volts. If I remember correctly, the
resistance of the wire is around 1.5 to 2 ohms.
>
> 2) Why was this done? Why not simply feed the 12 volt battery voltage to
the
> coil at all times?

Because the coil will overheat and melt the primary winding isnsulation if
run on 12V continuously. It's designed to run on the lower voltage. The
momentary 12V for starting is to ensure a very hot spark for those cold
mornings.
>
> 3) Non-Corvair question - was all of the above common practice for North
> American cars of that era? (I'm trying to diagnose a non-Corvair motor
> problem)

Can't say if all American cars did it this way, but my '66 Chevelle SS396,
my '69 Merc Montego, and several other GM and Ford cars that I no longer own
either had a resistor wire or a resistor block (that ceramic thing you
sometimes see) for exactly the same reasons.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
>
> 66 180 convertible




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