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My Street Fire distributor eats coils

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Old Dec 2, 2016 | 12:29 PM
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Default My Street Fire distributor eats coils

I purchased a MSD 8362 Street Fire distributor a few years ago. I have a 1978 Corvette that gets driven only a thousand miles per year. After a year the coil went bad. I purchased another Borg Warner coil that lasted only a year, now I am on my third coil.

What could be happening?
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Old Dec 2, 2016 | 12:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Snoopysvet
I purchased a MSD 8362 Street Fire distributor a few years ago. I have a 1978 Corvette that gets driven only a thousand miles per year. After a year the coil went bad. I purchased another Borg Warner coil that lasted only a year, now I am on my third coil.

What could be happening?
Check to make sure there is no "overvoltage".....higher than say 14.5-15 v.....it is only a one wire plug in BUT.......how are your ground straps?
An HEI distributor is grounded by the block......

Jebby

Last edited by Jebbysan; Dec 2, 2016 at 12:33 PM.
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Old Dec 2, 2016 | 02:46 PM
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Try a good aftermarket performance coil like MSD or Accel. They are built to handle higher current loads. BTW how did you install your coil? Most auto coils are liquid filled and need to stay vertical - not horizontal or weird angles. Also high temp can kill a coil to. Some locations on the intake are much hotter than others.

Hope this can help.
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Old Dec 3, 2016 | 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Snoopysvet
I purchased a MSD 8362 Street Fire distributor a few years ago. I have a 1978 Corvette that gets driven only a thousand miles per year. After a year the coil went bad. I purchased another Borg Warner coil that lasted only a year, now I am on my third coil.

What could be happening?
You have the wrong primary current. Check your ballast resistor.
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Old Dec 3, 2016 | 11:51 AM
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No ballast resistor on a 78'.

Jebby
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Old Dec 3, 2016 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by Jebbysan
No ballast resistor on a 78'.

Jebby
Your correct. 8362 is an HEI.

I would buy a DUI unit, and be done with it. I have little faith in most MSD stuff anymore.
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