MSD or Bosch coil for my Carrera?

[Tippy]

I don't have to wait long for a Bosch coil to come in but I was wondering since I can pick up an MSD Blaster coil locally for a little cheaper, should I get it?

Will the coil wire from my Clewitt Engineering work?

[daniel911T]

The MSD coil works great! The one thing to note is that the Blaster 2 coil cannot be mounted upside down. If you want to do that you need to use the High Vibration coil from MSD. Sadly, I find the HV coil is not usually carried at your FLAPS. Your Clewett wire will work with an upside down coil.

The Blaster 2 works great with an MSD or any other Capacitive Discharge system, such as a perma tune or Bosch CDI. It's usually available MUCH cheaper, like more than $100 cheaper, than the Bosch coil.

If you want to go the quick and less expensive route and get the Blaster 2 coil, here's how I mounted mine:



Good luck!

-Dan

[Tippy]

How do you know the Clewitt coil wire will work? Are the socket dimensions universal between American stuff and say the Bosch?

Second, does the Blaster coil fit inside the factory bracket, or is the coil smaller around?

By the pictures, it appears to me that the Blaster is smaller in diameter but it has been years since I touched the American coils.

Mine is a Carrera, so it is mounted rightside up on the inside of the left fender.

[Tippy]

Came to my senses and ordered a Bosch unit

[Lorenfb]

"The Blaster 2 works great with an MSD or any other Capacitive Discharge system"

Big Problem! The CDI (Capacitive Discharge Ignition) coils are NOT designed for
inductive discharge ignition systems which is used on the 911 3.2 Carrera.

Bottom line: To shortened the life of your DME ECM, use the wrong coil!

[Tippy]

Thanks Loren.

As I stated, I ordered the Bosch because I read what you just stated somewhere else here.

[daniel911T]

Originally Posted by Tippy

How do you know the Clewitt coil wire will work? Are the socket dimensions universal between American stuff and say the Bosch?

Second, does the Blaster coil fit inside the factory bracket, or is the coil smaller around?

By the pictures, it appears to me that the Blaster is smaller in diameter but it has been years since I touched the American coils.

Mine is a Carrera, so it is mounted rightside up on the inside of the left fender.

Tippy,
I'm glad the experts sounded off and kept you from making a mistake. Sorry about the bad advice!

Just to closeout some of your questions in case someone else looks here,

-The coil wire connectors are standard. The Clewett wires will hook right up.
-They are close enough in size that the stock bracket works fine, at least on early cars, and I assume on your car too.

Glad you were able to get the right thing! I'm so sorry about speaking before I fully understood what you have.

Hope you get it running great!

-Dan

[Tippy]

Thanks, no problem

[partha]

Hi Dan:
"Blaster 2 Coil Hi-Performance
Part number: 8202
If you are looking to upgrade your stock coil, or want to compliment the performance of your MSD Blaster Ignition, MSD 5, 6 or 7, the Blaster Coil lin (...)
Make sure to mount these coils vertically, since they do contain oil in them to cool the windings." is the specification.
Basically this implies gravity acts along the axis of the cylinder for oil circulations to occur for natural convection cooling. Mounting top facing down should be OK as long as there is no danger of the oil leaking out.
Partha

[Lorenfb]

"If you are looking to upgrade your stock coil"

Like, "upgrade" in what way?

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by Lorenfb

"If you are looking to upgrade your stock coil"

Like, "upgrade" in what way?

"Upgrade" the look!

They failed to mention that I guess.........

[Tippy]

Loren, the stock coil has a resistor built in, correct?

[daniel911T]

Originally Posted by partha

Hi Dan:
"Blaster 2 Coil Hi-Performance
Part number: 8202
If you are looking to upgrade your stock coil, or want to compliment the performance of your MSD Blaster Ignition, MSD 5, 6 or 7, the Blaster Coil lin (...)
Make sure to mount these coils vertically, since they do contain oil in them to cool the windings." is the specification.
Basically this implies gravity acts along the axis of the cylinder for oil circulations to occur for natural convection cooling. Mounting top facing down should be OK as long as there is no danger of the oil leaking out.
Partha

The blaster 2 is known for leaking when mounted upside down. I'm still not perfectly vertical, but it seems to work well enough for now, and if it leaks, it won't leak much when mounted like I have it.

MSD claims that the 8202 will work either with conventional points-condenser system or CDI. If memory serves, using with the conventional system requires installation of a resistor, but isn't required for CDI, including MSD systems.

Sorry again to all for the bad info about a CDI coil being good for all! I wasn't aware that the 3.2 systems were different.

-Dan

[Lorenfb]

"the stock coil has a resistor built in, correct"

Yes. Inductive discharge ignition systems usually require
some internal resistance (2-3 ohms) to limit the switching current,
whereas the capacitive discharge coils do not require a current
limiting resistance.

[rick-l]

Isn't the current limiting done by the DME? That differential amplifier and the sense resistors (R518, R528, T502 and T505)?

[Tippy]

"the stock coil has a resistor built in, correct"



Yes. Inductive discharge ignition systems usually require

some internal resistance (2-3 ohms) to limit the switching current,

whereas the capacitive discharge coils do not require a current

limiting resistance.

Thanks

[Brando]

In answer to the original question... I would say upgrade the Coil AND go with an MSD box. If you need a wiring diagram for our Carreras, let me know. It's also right on my profile

[dshepp806]

The current-limiting would be handled by this [mentioned] internal resitance (outboard to the DME, I would think...) ...

Best,

Doyle

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by dshepp806

The current-limiting would be handled by this [mentioned] internal resitance (outboard to the DME, I would think...) ...

Best,

Doyle

Take a look at the schematic. The differential pair and the select in test resistors.

[partha]

I changed my ignition box from permatune to Summit 850610 (basically an MSD-6ALexcept for the box) and changed the coil to MSD Blaster-2 yesterday. The old coil was the black coil from Permatune. My 1980 SC idles fast at 2000 rpm compared to 900 originally. I can't explain it. Any suggestions.
Partha