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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 56 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 56 | Hi all,
I recently replaced my ignition coil on my 3100 half ton (55 first series, 235 inline 6) and noticed the coil gets very hot after a typical drive of 20-30 minutes. the old one I replaced also was very hot. the coil is clamped by a metal ring, which is bolted directly to block, making a very efficient heat conduction path to the coil. Has anyone ever made a spacer to move the coil a bit further out and less heat conductive, like a wood carb spacer,etc. I gotta imagine that heat can't be very god for my coil
Thanks to all who reply
joe
Joe Finkelstine
Born and bred in Motown
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 | Use to take an old bike inner tube and cut out a piece to wrap around the coil then put the bracket on over it.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 | I doubt that the heat is from conduction from the engine. Coils are a bunch of wire wrappings and make their own heat. As long as it is working fine and isn't melting off the top (which faces down on an AD) and spewing out its oil, you should be fine.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,061 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,061 | Hy Joe Finkelstine, you should not insulate the coil from the engine, the coil can generate more heat than the engine does and it needs an uninterrupted path to conduct that heat to the engine block to prevent the coil from overheating, hope that helps. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 631 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 631 | Couple of data points after 40 minute ride:
Ambient temp 85*
Coil 140*
Valve cover. 152*
Head. 183*
Distributor cap. 136
Radiator top. 180*
Oil filter can. 140*
Last edited by showkey; 07/26/2016 11:04 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 56 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2015 Posts: 56 | Hi All
Thanks for the replies and advice. At this point, I think I am going to leave the coil as is and monitor it. Showkey's numbers above indicate the very hot coil I touched might be normal - I will get a thermometer as well and see if I match those
Thanks again to all who responded
Joe
Joe Finkelstine
Born and bred in Motown
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