Electrical tune up Q's

[rooster]

Hi,

I'm going to be replacing some of the ingnition components on my 76 TR6, before putting my car back on the road in the spring.

How can I tell if it there is a ballast resistor for the coil?

What are a recommended spark plugs?

How bout spark plug wires? Are the ones from the big 3 any good or should I look for some generic ones locally?

I am also thinking of putting in a pertronix pointless ignition, is there a particular one I should look for or are they all the same?

Thanks

 

[martx-5]

I don't have a TR6, so I can't answer most of your questions. However, you can tell if you have an internally ballasted coil or not by measureing the resistance between the two small posts on the coil. Remove at least one of the wires when you do this. If the coil is internally ballasted, it will measure about 3.0-3.5 ohms. If it is externally ballasted, it will measure about half that, or about 1.5-1.6 ohms.

BTW, the wiring diagram for your '76 shows a ballast resistor wire going to the coil.

 

[Brosky]

I used Magnecor Competition wires that I got from Moss. No radio interference.

Pertronix ignition has worked well for me. I matched it with their coil. Just give TRF or Moss your year and model and they'll send the right parts.

I like NGK plugs for the TR6.

Wires, dizzy & coil shown below:

 

[rooster]

I don't have a TR6, so I can't answer most of your questions. However, you can tell if you have an internally ballasted coil or not by measureing the resistance between the two small posts on the coil. Remove at least one of the wires when you do this. If the coil is internally ballasted, it will measure about 3.0-3.5 ohms. If it is externally ballasted, it will measure about half that, or about 1.5-1.6 ohms.

BTW, the wiring diagram for your '76 shows a ballast resistor wire going to the coil.

Thanks for the tip about measuring the coil. I should get a wiring diagram for my year. I only have the earlier manual, that dosn't cover the later years.

 

[rooster]

I used Magnecor Competition wires that I got from Moss. No radio interference.

Pertronix ignition has worked well for me. I matched it with their coil. Just give TRF or Moss your year and model and they'll send the right parts.

I like NGK plugs for the TR6.

Wires, dizzy & coil shown below:

Hi Brosky,

I can get the pertronix and coil from a local place that specialises in electical components for cars. Their price is about 40 bucks cheaper for the pertronix after shipping and duties ect ect. I just need to give them the correct model number. I 'll ask them about the magnecor wires.

Do you remember what type of NGK plugs you are using? Don't bother to go an pull them on my account though.

Thanks!

 

[martx-5]

Thanks for the tip about measuring the coil. I should get a wiring diagram for my year. I only have the earlier manual, that dosn't cover the later years.

Here ya go. Courtesy of Advance Auto Wire. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cheers.gif

 

[rooster]

Thanks!

 

[Alan_Myers]

Hi,

You might search the archives a bit regarding Pertronix. There have been a lot of discussions about them in the past.

NGK get my vote too, just the standard ones... not the multi-electrode or platinum, unobtanium, kryptonite. I don't have a TR6, so can't say exactly which NGK, though.

There are a number of sources of good, uprated plug wires. I've got Magnecor on my Land Rover and I like them. Pricey though. My TR4 has Mallory wires, that seem fine too.

 

[rooster]

I have Champions, I will pull one and see if there is a
NGK equivalent for it, which there probably will be.

Thanks