electrical problems

[chadwallen]

Sorry for the length of the following message, but I think its all relevent.

5 years ago, my father gave me his '83 Cab w/48000 miles on it. I drove it from Columbus, OH attempting to get home to Gunnison, CO. It made it as far as Colorado Springs when the car just quit.

With the expert advise on this fourm, I found a failed CDI box caused by high voltage (failed voltage regulator). I had the CDI box rebuilt and replaced the regulator. (see thread "no spark" from 2001) and coil (installed a silver Bosch replacement- but the original still tested out ok)

Since then, the alternator failed, replaced with new. Replaced battery with Optima.

Last week, the car quit once again. This time it was the "new" silver Bosch coil. Today, I put the original 23 year old, black, coil back in the car and it started right up.

Through all these failures, I've never lit the "idiot light". It does light while starting the car. I've got a Passport radar detector & use the volt meter display all the time now. Since replacing the voltage regulator in '01 volts have never run higher than 13 volts.

A mechanic friend looked at the fried (leaking) coil and fears a deeper problem is overheating the coil. I've also read some threads indicating problems/cheap construction of the silver coils. Plug wires look old, may be original. I will definately change them out, think I'm changing the plugs too. Should I consider an MSD replacement & new coil?

My fears: I can't drive anywhere outside my town without being "in the sticks" without cell service. I'm afraid of the condition of the "old black" coil, having been subject to high voltage problems in '01. I'm afraid of the condition of the rebuilt CD box. Anyone have feed back on rebuilt units? Its got about 4000 miles since rebuild.

I know that this is a little "out there", but I want to be sure the car is reliable before I try to drive much.

Thanks
Chad