Reproduction D-R ignition coils

[D S.]

Has anyone had any experience with having a reproduction ignition coil being judged? I read or heard somewhere that Delco-Remy ignition coils are being reproduced and wondered if they passed without deductions.

Thanks
Scott Sims
Texas Chapter

[Pat M.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

I don't have my judging sheets in front of me but I don't think I lost any points for my repo coil for my 70 all the way up to the National level. I don't recall where I got it, but it would've been one of the usual vendors.

[D S.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

Thanks, Pat. At least it's good to know that they have the raised numbers/letters like the originals. And new and work.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

Thanks, Pat. At least it's good to know that they have the raised numbers/letters like the originals. And new and work.

I'd be as (or more) concerned with whether judges have noticed the script differences in the bakelite, and somehow correlated this to coil # and year [if, indeed, such a pattern is non-random]. Notice the hook in the "l" of Delco (bends left or right); notice the length of the tail of the 'y' on Remy (extends under the 'm' on some). Eagle eyes could pick out at least a few more differences.

These 4 coils are all original (no service units) and are: (clockwise from top left 207; 210; 202; 270B-R.

[Bill C.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

Scott,

My 1st time I had the original coil on and no issues.
The other 2 times I had a AC Delco reproduction coil from Paragon (I think).
I received no deductions .

I looked at both coils side by side and they look almost exact, I would say 98%.
I was actually very pleasantly surprised how well done the repro coil is.

If there are any differences, they are SO minor. It would take a very experienced judge to tell the difference.

Hope this helps some.

[D S.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

I'd be as (or more) concerned with whether judges have noticed the script differences in the bakelite, and somehow correlated this to coil # and year [if, indeed, such a pattern is non-random]. Notice the hook in the "l" of Delco (bends left or right); notice the length of the tail of the 'y' on Remy (extends under the 'm' on some). Eagle eyes could pick out at least a few more differences.

These 4 coils are all original (no service units) and are: (clockwise from top left 207; 210; 202; 270B-R.

With reproductions we tend to pick them apart for inaccuracies but when such coils as 287 B-Rs and 1100882 and 884 alternators being so hard to find one has to do something. Even the reproduction D-R distributor caps have a couple of inaccuracies.
I have read a post by someone on the TDB that the fonts are different than from originals coils. But what does one do? Like Bill Chamberlain we tend to go with what we can find and try to be as close as possible with reproductions. We are making an effort to try to be as correct as possible when original parts are impossible to find. Unfortunately original parts don't have DNA and can't be as precisely cloned.

[Ken A.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

I'd be as (or more) concerned with whether judges have noticed the script differences in the bakelite, and somehow correlated this to coil # and year [if, indeed, such a pattern is non-random]. Notice the hook in the "l" of Delco (bends left or right); notice the length of the tail of the 'y' on Remy (extends under the 'm' on some). Eagle eyes could pick out at least a few more differences.

These 4 coils are all original (no service units) and are: (clockwise from top left 207; 210; 202; 270B-R.

The original tooling was a 6 cavity mold. The chances of finding 2 towers alike are slim, because no two were alike in the mold.

[Don L.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

Scott,

My 1st time I had the original coil on and no issues.
The other 2 times I had a AC Delco reproduction coil from Paragon (I think).
I received no deductions .

I looked at both coils side by side and they look almost exact, I would say 98%.
I was actually very pleasantly surprised how well done the repro coil is.

If there are any differences, they are SO minor. It would take a very experienced judge to tell the difference.

Hope this helps some.

Bill: When you used the repro coil, did you find that the original bracket screw would not work? I had heard that the repros are actually sleeves over an aftermarket unit and when sleeved, the OD is such that the screw is too short to clamp the coil body in the mounting bracket.

[Terry M.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

Bill: When you used the repro coil, did you find that the original bracket screw would not work? I had heard that the repros are actually sleeves over an aftermarket unit and when sleeved, the OD is such that the screw is too short to clamp the coil body in the mounting bracket.

I do not know if that "feature" is true of ALL coil reproductions, but I see a lot of coil mounting bracket screws that are too short, or are overly long. More importantly, I note that the ears of the mounting bracket are too far apart, indicating the coil is too large (fat).

As a judge one need not identify why the coil doesn't properly fit the bracket. One need only identify that the installation of the coil is not TFP (Typical Factory Production). End of story for the judge.

[Bill C.]

Re: Reproduction D-R ignition coils

I did not have any issues with reusing my original screw and bracket.
The coil fit snuggly in the bracket, and I was able to get maybe 2-3 turns while tightening it up.

I do remember that with my original coil the screw was further in than with the reproduction coil, maybe 5 or more turns.

All in all - the coil is pretty decent. My original does work but I think it is getting week and was not acting all to well at higher RPMs. That all went away once I installed the new Delco coil.

Even if we loose a point for any of several reasons, I still rather have a new coil that looks 100% to everyone in the world other than our savvy judges and have my car run efficiently.