Is the Lucas Sport coil worth the effort?

[Brosky]

Anyone using one of these on a 74 or later TR6? If they're worth the effort, what do you have to do to make it work (easy version, I'm lazy!) on a later model with the ballast wire?

Should plugs be upgraded and re-gapped wider after coil install?

 

[Guest]

I just bypassed the ballast wire, ran an unfused wire from the block to the + pole on the Sport coil, - to the dizzy. Opened gap on regular Champions. Seems to work well.


Bill

 

[vettedog72]

When you add the more powerful, high voltage coil, keep in mind that it requires more power to make it work. There is plenty of supply power but the weak link becomes the points and condenser. This can be overcome by replacing the points (and condenser) with the addition of an electronic switching device. I got both at a British Car show in New Orleans for around $100. Other wise you may explore the "dual points" dizzy, a very costly option. I don't think anyone has measured the difference in performance of the coils and or electronic switching with anything other than a buttometer. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dave Russell]

Not sure how your present ignition system is set up.

The 74 & later TR6 may already have a different coil such as the Lucas 15C6 & ignition system. This coil is made to be used with an external ballast. A "sport" coil might be substituted by bypassing the existing ballast. It's not likely that the conversion would produce noticeable gains on the later systems.

For use with points, a "sport" coil such as the Lucas DLB105 which is internally ballasted, has a primary resistance of around 2.6 ohms. The standard internally ballasted standard coil such as the Lucas HA12 has a primary resistance of about 3.1 ohms. The exact numbers will vary with the particular models of coils being compared.

The sport coil would draw about 18% more current through the points, give about 6% increase in available voltage & around 18% increase in spark energy. Many folks feel that the increased output offsets the somewhat shortened point life. There may be a slight benefit from opening the plug gaps .005" to .010".

In the end, you may notice slightly better starting & a little smoother running.
D

 

[Brosky]

Thanks for all of the info. I have the standard setup, with points and condensor. I just remebered that I bought a Petronix Ignitor and their matching coil several months ago. Then all of this other stuff started and I forgot about it. I just may switch over to that and try it out for a while.