62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

[Anthony P.]

Hello,

I am not sure if I am being too picky, but I have a question on the coil and plug wires.

Q1: The AIM (sect 6 sheet 11) states that the + terminal should face forward. Is there a specific way that the coil +/- wire terminals should be attached to the coil? (I do not mean where does the + and - wires go, but what is their orientation on the coil terminals- see red arrows)

The only way that I can prevent the terminals from hitting the shielding is how I have them slipped on the screws from the side as it shown on my picture attached.


Q2: As a follow on question, I know how the plug wires are routed through the rubber grommets and supports, however, is there a specific way that that should be crossed over one another going to the disty cap? (I see the AIM diagram, but it is hard to make out how every wire crosses-I just noticed that I do have some wires incorrect in the attached pic showing the wire grommets)

Both of these questions are from a points deduction viewpoint, is there a correct way?

Thanks

Tony

[Mike E.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

I've NCRS-judged engine compartments on 62's since 1977, and have never taken a point off for orientation of the coil or orientation of the coil wires. I'd turn the coil so that it doesn't give opportunity for the wires to contact the shielding. I, too, years ago noticed the AIM notation for coil orientation--went out on the car, did that, and realized that an engineer in a vacuum probably was the one that called that out. Makes no sense at all.

[Anthony P.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Thanks Mike. Makes complete sense.

[Bob B.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Tony,

Most folks with a correct coil orient it so that the number shows as much as possible from between the tightening part of the bracket. That makes it easier for the judges and prevents someone from having to loosen the bracket and rotate the coil to let them see the number. But not having a terminal touch the shielding is more important.

The plug numbers on the rubber retainers keep the wires convenienty routed, but also do this in a way to prevent any arcing between wires that might cause one cylinder to fire that would be in opposition to the cylinder that is supposed to be firing.

As for the cap, I'd keep the same wires separated as best you can, but the main thing is to just don't have one twisted around another.

Keep in mind that the factory workers put all these on as fast as they could and how much attention they paid to this depended on the individual.

Bob

[John F.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Following the AIM is a trick in itself. The ballast to coil wiring is shown in two different ways (Engine section & Radio capacitor section). Mine is like this and I think I have all the wires going properly thru the numbered grommets.

[Jack H.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Something's squirrely here...

Original coils from this era (1962 was when the coil design changed if I remember correctly), used special 'tanged' mounting washers. They could only mount to the coil's pad in one orientation...the position that allowed the tangs to engage in the locating holes in the coil's mounting pad.

That fixed/dictated how the attaching wires could connect to the terminal posts. There was only one mounting position that allowed the spade lug terminals on the connecting wires to clear the 'lips' of the tanged washer...

[Anthony P.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Jack,

You are correct with the mounting washer having a tanged (bent edges), however, you can remove them from the stud, and then rotate them 90 degrees so you can then slide the spade terminal on from a different direction.

[Jack H.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Hum, I think I'm talking past you... Attached is a picture of the correct early era coil washer.

Note, the top side of the washer has lips on three of its four sides. The fourth side is flat/open to accept the coil wire's spare lug. It has a 'tang' that's bent DOWN to enter and locate/lock the washer in one of the locating holes that were integral to the coil's terminal pads.

So, there's only two ways to install things and BOTH alternatives wind up with the shank of the coil wire's spade lug terminal tangential to the coils' outside lip.

That was my comment about the pictures you posted. A savvy judge would know immediately that the wrong hardware (washer) is in use due to the orientation of the coil connecting wires and the lack of three discrete lips on the washers...

[Bob B.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Hi all,

Glad Jack jogged my memory here! The reason Tony does not have what Jack is talking about is because his coil, as best as I know, is the style that came into use in 1963. I'm attaching some pics. The first two pics show the 62 and earlier coil with a smooth coil tower and two holes on either side of the terminals so that the tanged washer Jack showed can go either way. The tang prevents the washer from turning when the nut is tightened.

The upturned three edges, as Jack mentioned, are so you will put the wires on only from the tang end, but the upturns are so small that a lot of people never pay attention to this as in the second pic.

The third pic is of the later coil style with shoulders on the sides of the coil tower adjacent to the terminals. Since the washer is square, the shoulders prevent it from turning and the tang is no longer needed.

FYI, from '62 down, the 091 coils were used on carbureted engines and, despite what those who sell reproduction coils with the 091 toward the top might tell you, the 091 on original coils is stamped toward the bottom of the coil. The 107 (FI use) on original coils is stamped at the top, but all the reproduction coils have the shoulders, which didn't come into use till 1963. Someone with one might carefully grind the shoulders off and repolish.

Bob

[Anthony P.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Jack, Bob,

All makes sense now. Thank for the pictures. That helps clear things up. In my picture it is a repro coil and besides the tower, the stamping is in the wrong location, and the washers only have 2 upturned edges.

Thanks

Tony

[John F.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

My coil is like picture #1 and the 091 is near the bottom.

John F

[Stephen G.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Maybe these will help. Not untouched over the years but seemed to work OK & judge OK. Wiper motor is out for service.

[Jack H.]

Re: 62- Coil wire orientation (am I too picky)?

Therefore the 'correct' factory orienation of the coil & its connecting wires are NOT your primary scoring issues, eh?

When you get the correct/original parts, things begin to self-clarify. Remember, in addition to simply matching numbers, judges set aside 20% of the available originality points on a line item for INSTALLATION. So, things like how the washers are oriented versus the screw terminal/coil mounting pad become a consideration.

When the coil is 'right' and it has its locating holes to match the tanged washer, one aspect of installation correctness evaporates. Then, when you see there's only one side of the washer that lacks an outer lip, it gets pretty obvious there's only one correct orientation for the low voltage coil wire spade lug terminal to mount...