C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Using a pertronix coil

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 18, 2014 | 08:58 PM
  #1  
ozzyrulesme's Avatar
ozzyrulesme
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 404
Likes: 1
From: roscoe il.
Default Using a pertronix coil

Can I use a pertronix flame thrower coil with stock points in my 74 l-82? Would it hurt anything? Or should stick with a acdelco coil.. Thanks!!!
Reply
Old Dec 18, 2014 | 10:59 PM
  #2  
Mooser's Avatar
Mooser
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by ozzyrulesme
Can I use a pertronix flame thrower coil with stock points in my 74 l-82? Would it hurt anything? Or should stick with a acdelco coil.. Thanks!!!
I left my flamethrower coil on when i removed the pertronix unit, never got around to putting the delco back on. Ran with no issues for a couple of summers.

M
Reply
Old Dec 18, 2014 | 11:11 PM
  #3  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

You can, but it won't make any difference in performance.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2014 | 10:37 AM
  #4  
7T1vette's Avatar
7T1vette
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Default

Not really. The stock points, stock coil, and the ballast resistance built into the vehicle wiring all work together to set up proper ignition spark. If you just mess around with one or two pieces of that system, you won't gain much...and could end up frying points much more quickly.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2014 | 12:30 PM
  #5  
Mike Ward's Avatar
Mike Ward
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Default

The common myth is that a hotter spark somehow causes the engine to produce more power. It doesn't. The fuel/air mixture either ignites or it doesn't. The stock coil does an excellent job.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2014 | 05:36 PM
  #6  
gcusmano74's Avatar
gcusmano74
Drifting
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Default

I can tell you this:
The stock coil ran fine for nearly forty years.
I replaced it with a Pertronix coil, which only lasted six months.
Now, I have another stock coil.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2014 | 07:23 PM
  #7  
ozzyrulesme's Avatar
ozzyrulesme
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 404
Likes: 1
From: roscoe il.
Default

Thanks for all the in put. Just cleaning up the engine and my buddy had a new chrome one the at he said I could have. Not sure how old the acdelco is.
Reply
Old Dec 19, 2014 | 10:31 PM
  #8  
CanadaGrant's Avatar
CanadaGrant
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Default

Originally Posted by Mike Ward
The common myth is that a hotter spark somehow causes the engine to produce more power. It doesn't. The fuel/air mixture either ignites or it doesn't. The stock coil does an excellent job.
I'm using a Petronix in my 69 big block but have swapped stock coils with theirs and changed back and forth to points with both and find that the coil is just a gimmick. A stock coil will work just as well and so will theirs.
Use the one you have.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Dec 20, 2014 | 12:02 PM
  #9  
69427's Avatar
69427
Tech Contributor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,847
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Default

Originally Posted by ozzyrulesme
Thanks for all the in put. Just cleaning up the engine and my buddy had a new chrome one the at he said I could have. Not sure how old the acdelco is.
I'm still running the original '69 Delco coil (hooked to an HEI module instead of points) in my car. The original coils are a lot more robust and dependable than aftermarket coils.
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2014 | 12:28 PM
  #10  
Peterbuilt's Avatar
Peterbuilt
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,417
Likes: 1,554
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Default

Is there any way to test for
A - a good coil
B - if one might give more out put than the other?
Reply
Old Dec 20, 2014 | 12:42 PM
  #11  
74modified's Avatar
74modified
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by Peterbuilt
Is there any way to test for
A - a good coil
B - if one might give more out put than the other?
http://www.aa1car.com/library/ignition_coils.htm
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Using a pertronix coil





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:11 AM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE