MTFCA Forum

I am still sorting out my 26 Tudor and have tracked down a miss to the #4 cylinder, easy enough. The plug and wire are both fine but when I ran it with the lid off of the coil box I noticed the the #4 coil was really arcing when the points break. The other three barely show any spark. I moved the coil to #3 and the miss moved. I don't have a tester but do you think I should try to adjust it or just send it back. The coils are the new cheaper plastic coils and have only been in the car for 2 weeks.

Thanks and God Bless,

Joshua A. Powers

Since it’s only been in the car 2 weeks I would call the parts supplier and tell them it quit working. Don’t just send it back before calling them first. Get the name of the person you talked to and then send it back. Make a copy of the invoice and send it also if you still have it.
Hope this works.

Do not attempt to adjust yourself without a coil tester and knowing what you are doing.

Usually when you get a lot off sparking of the points It indicates a bad capacitor. It should be tested or replaced.

The plastic case coils generally don’t work too well, even when they are new. Send them all back if you can.

As far as I know, the only new coils that had a decent reputation for working properly were the ones purchased directly from “Fun Projects”. Also suitable would be “properly rebuilt” original Ford coils from experienced individuals who specialize in such things.

There was a time when buying brand new coils, they had a note saying that they must be set before using. I don't know if that's still the case.

Send them all back and purchase a set of rebuilt coils from one of the coil folks listed on the supplier page. If you still have your old coils, have them rebuilt- you and your car will be much happier in the long run.

Does anyone else remember a time before the rage of hand crank coil testers, and now the electronic coil testers, where we used to adjust the coils by ear? They did not run 'perfect' , but they got along pretty darn good. Just wondering.

You’ll be fighting a losing battle with those plastic coils. I might suggest getting a refund and getting a good set of rebuilt Ford/KW coils from one of the coil rebuilders.