[TR] Puzzled by simple things. Looking for guidance

[Randall]

I used a 3 ohm Pertronix coil, and so far it has worked flawlessly. After a new Lucas coil died in less than a year, I won't use Lucas again.

Another alternative is to check with your FLAPS. I walked into a NAPA store in a small town last year, and they had a 3 ohm coil on the shelf. It has worked fine so far as well (on a Ferguson tractor with the Standard engine). Price was over twice that of a Pertronix from Amazon, but I got to try it that afternoon.

For wires, I went with classic copper core wire, combined with plug connectors that have suppression resistors built in. The plug boots I used are normally sold for motorcycles, I found some 135 degree ones from NGK that fit nicely. On Amazon IIRC, but likely available at my friendly local motorcycle parts store :)

The other option I see is to convert completely to push-on connectors for the high tension leads and carbon core wires. There is a distributor cap available with modern (well, more modern anyway) push-on terminals that fits exactly in place of the original cap with the piercing screws. Used on MGB I believe, probably lots of other British cars as well.
-- Randall

On 13 June 2019 19:17:32 GMT-06:00, Dave MacKay <dave at mdmackay.ca> wrote:
> Puzzled by simple things. Looking for guidance
>
>Hello:
>
>I’m looking to replace the coil and spark plugs wires on my TR3A. The
>car
>has been converted to negative ground and has a Crane XR-700 electronic
>ignition. I’m a bit unsure about what I need.
>
>1) Coil
>
>Using instructions that Randall posted several years ago, I measured
>3.8 o
>hms and 10.8 volts from my existing coil. That makes me think that I
>need a
>12v non-ballasted coil. Is that correct?
>
>The connector for the high tension lead (to the distribution) is a push
>on;
>the two small terminals on the coil are threaded so that the wires are
>attached with nuts (not Lucar-type connectors).
>
>I would welcome any recommendations as to coils. I was thinking of a
>replacement like Moss #143-220 (
>*https://mossmotors.com/coil-ignition-push-on-coil-wire-lucas*
><https://mossmotors.com/coil-ignition-push-on-coil-wire-lucas>) or Moss
>#
>143-221 (
>*https://mossmotors.com/coil-ignition-push-on-coil-wire-aftermarket*
><https://mossmotors.com/coil-ignition-push-on-coil-wire-aftermarket>).
>
>2) Spark plug wires
>
>I thought this would be simple, but it seems not. I was planning to buy
>Moss
>571-005 (
>*https://mossmotors.com/ignition-wire-set-push-in-style-cobalt-brand*
><https://mossmotors.com/ignition-wire-set-push-in-style-cobalt-brand>)
>but
>was told that they weren’t appropriate because of my Crane unit. I
>didn’t
>understand why.
>
>What sort of wires would I need for my TR3A? I don’t run a radio in the
>car
>so that I don’t imagine interference would be an issue.  I had thought
>I
>could just buy any old spark plug wires, but find I must make a number
>of
>choices: resistor or non-resistor wire, solid core or braided, type of
>cap,
>screw-in, etc.
>
>What does one need to know to select spark plug wires for a TR3A? Any
>recommendations?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Dave MacKay
>
>1960 TR3A s/n 68639L
>
>Near Toronto, Canada
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