I have a 1968 327 that has been upgraded with a mild cam and a Mallory electronic ignition (both done in early '90s). A few years ago I also upgraded to a Holley Sniper EFI. Since then I've had a problem with coils failing after about one year of use. It has been suggested that I upgrade to an MSD Blaster 2 coil to resolve my issue. Supposedly a direct fit replacement. Also suggested that I would not require an external resistor on the coil. Has anyone had a similar problem with the Sniper and coil failure? Thanks.

 

Mallory Electronic Ignition meaning you replaced the points with an infrared module or you have added a Mallory CD box or similar box?
Is the original dual wire that was connected to positive coil terminal still being used to supply power to whatever Ignition system you have?

 

Upgrade to a Hyperspark or Dual Sync from Holley to utilize your timing control........you paid for it, get the stuff to use it and have total control over your tuning.....

Jebby

 

The Mallory is a distributor only - no separate module. And the original two-wire connetor is connected to the positive terminal. Setup worked fine for 25 years until the Sniper was installed. Still works but the coils go bad quickly.

 

Measure the voltage at the positive terminal with engine running.

 

How is the Sniper system hooked up to your ignition system for RPM information? Does it hook to the coil C- terminal?

 

I have been using a MSD 6AL and a MSD Pro Billet Distributor with a "standard shaped" Round can MSD (Part #8202) Ignition coil for decades. In the past few years I have had 2 or 3 MSD coils fail and the tech guys at MSD all claim it is because the standard coil is not as tough as the newer Blaster 2 Coils are. The solution has been to swap my standard can shaped coils for the MSD Blaster 2 SS (Part #8207 or the Part #8253) and to relocate it to a body mounting location. They claim the vibration and heat will damage the coil when mounted on the intake manifold in the factory original location. It seems the solution is to change from a regular $50 coil to a $300 coil, gee who would have guessed?

Having owned this C3 for 32 years and only started experiencing Coil failures in the past few years I am curious to learn what changed. The MSD system was working fine with the regular MSD Can style coil and had been for 20 plus years. Then a few years ago I had a coil start to fail and after replacing it, all of my coil problems started. I personally think MSD changed something to do with the standard factory style (MSD #8202) Canister coil and the "quality" has gone out the window. The MSD Technicians all claim that my coil problems will go away with one of their fancy High Dollar coils mounted on the body and not on the engine itself.

I have seen no differences in coils since I installed the Holley Stealth Sniper EFI system on the 427. I guess when the current coil starts to go I will buy a "better" (?) more expensive $300 MSD coil and see if that works any better than the $50 coils did. I suspect you are dealing with the same issue I am dealing basically being related to cheaper made components. MSD spark plug Wire quality has also changed (Dropped) in the fast few years as well, I sure hope they can recover and keep a "good name" in the aftermarket ignition business. It might be time to start looking elsewhere for quality ignition components. That would be a shame as I have been a devoted customer of theirs for decades.

 

I ended up switching to the MSD 8222 high vibration coil almost 20 years ago. It was the only stock mount style cannister coil I have found that would last.

 

I used a the 6Al digital with a MSD dizzy and the blaster 2 with no coil problems with the Sniper controlling timing...but I agree to eliminate all issues go with the Holley dizzy and have a pro tune it and get your fuel Map correct...the self tuning just gets it running, not tuned

 

I think the problem with MSD is that the more recently made coils are not lasting like the original ones did 20 years ago because of the poor quality of the components being made in China. The problems I have had with their spark plug wires has also only developed in the past few years where they had been perfect for decades before. The Techs at MSD suggested that the oil filled canister style coils were the ones I should avoid. The MSD part #8222 looks the same as the #8202 on the outside, so I wonder what they did to it internally to "eliminate" Vibration issues. From the information online appears that the #8222 is potted in Epoxy and not bathed in Oil like many of the canisters shaped coils. That might be a better alternative that going with a $300 coil.

The Holley Stealth Sniper works just fine with the MSD 6AL Ignition and MSD distributor as long as you remove the Centrifugal and Vacuum Advance mechanisms. Using the information from the Holley EFI Software it is possible to solve most issues. Efisystempro has and will look at any data and make suggestions without the need to pay someone "Pro-Tune" the engine. Here in Northern Virginia there are not many DYNO tuning shops that will work on a non-computerized engine. They suggested I find someone else when I told them about having a Holley EFI system on my C3. I am sure that if you pay someone enough they might try and help you, these guys up here won't even help DYNO tune my OBD1 C4 Corvette. I am glad I have the experts at efisystempro out there to help me since I bought the equipment from them. Holley did a great job making the system "user friendly" and the software they created is very nice and the it's versatility is simply amazing.

 

Thanks for all the information. Currently, the car is running fine (just replaced the coil with a new AC Delco unit). I'm going to purchase an MSD 8222 unit and install it in the near future

. Just curious where you would mount a coil in a non-engine mount location. I have both AC and PBs so there is not a lot/any firewall space for mounting.

 

mines on the engine but if you dont like that try in the notch between the powerbrake master and the wiper motor...dont know how long your coil to cap wire is going to be though

 

Are the MSD 8202 and 8222 about the same physical size?

 

Yes. they should be. The high vibration fits just fine in the stock intake manifold bracket. That is where I have mine. My coil actually went thru a hurricane, was cleaned up and still good. It now sits on a big block I built and run.

 

Thanks for the photo. Should fit under the ignition shield. Appreciate the help.