Log in

View Full Version : Broken Coil mount bracket, first ride of shame


Murd
06-28-2019, 02:48 PM
Wednesday Afternoon engine suddenly shut down on the freeway 40km from home at the end of a 400km round trip. Got across 3 lanes of traffic and safely off to the side. Pertronix Coil bracket broken. Blown coil Fuse. Coil resistance checks out ok so I'm guessing the positive terminal shorted out to the engine when it came loose and blew the fuse.

I was only using one bolt hole on a two hole mount, so take warning anyone else who might be doing the same. It appears to be just cheap pot metal.

I just ordered the Ford performance single bolt style mount, hopefully it works out better.

Hour and a half at the side of the hwy waiting for the truck, first real ride of shame (got towed a couple km home last summer behind my own pickup when I blew my transmission). At least the driver was a super nice guy who used to be into Fox mustangs so lots to talk about on the ride home, and he helped me push it up my driveway.

Thanks to the FFR driver who stopped to check on me, sweet car!




109719109720
Avalanche325
06-28-2019, 03:28 PM
A good heads up for an item to put on the periodic checklist.

I looked at my coil a couple weeks ago and it had rotated and was putting tension on the + wire. It was tight in the bracket. I had to loosen it to turn it back. Lots of vibration and heat cycles can do strange things.
GoDadGo
06-28-2019, 04:27 PM
If you want to simplify, then maybe consider going HEI!

https://performancedistributors.com/product/ford-dui-street-strip-v8-221-289-302-cid/

Sorry that you had an issue, but you'll recover soon, very soon!
Murd
07-02-2019, 06:10 PM
Follow up,
I remounted the coil, put in a new fuse and it fired up first crank.
SSNK4US
07-03-2019, 12:36 AM
Always pushing for that dark side technology aren’t you GoDarkGo ;)

Glad it was an easy fix Murd! :)

Kurt
Railroad
07-03-2019, 07:33 AM
Bracket needed a flat washer under the head of the bolt.
Murd
07-04-2019, 10:01 AM
Railroad,
It did have a washer under the bolt, do you mean a bigger one?
AC Bill
07-04-2019, 02:45 PM
I was only using one bolt hole on a two hole mount, so take warning anyone else who might be doing the same. It appears to be just cheap pot metal.
Unless I'm looking at the wrong spot, showing the break, it looks more like a stainless steel mount, then cast pot metal? I'm thinking it broke from fatigue, probably from the coil wiggling back and forth.
Railroad
07-04-2019, 03:58 PM
Railroad,
It did have a washer under the bolt, do you mean a bigger one?

Since it is after the fact, do not want to sound like I am bashing you. Yes a larger washer would distribute the load to more metal on the coil mount. The surface under the coil bracket does not look like it is flat. If not, I would put a matching flat washer under the bracket. Good luck, glad the issue was only a fuse.
Murd
07-05-2019, 10:40 AM
Since it is after the fact, do not want to sound like I am bashing you. Yes a larger washer would distribute the load to more metal on the coil mount. The surface under the coil bracket does not look like it is flat. If not, I would put a matching flat washer under the bracket. Good luck, glad the issue was only a fuse.

All good I figured that’s what you meant. There is a machined flat spot around the mounting hole in the head.
I now have a new single bolt coil mount that has 3 layers of steel, should be good now.