I have a crane fireball HI-6R ignition box and PS-91 ignition coil running my carbed 3.4

It has about 1500 miles on it now. I was on my way back to work (came home for lunch) and about 2 minutes into the trip I go around a corner and the motor shuts off. I tinkered with it for a bit and found out the coil wasn't sending a spark. I have a toolbox with misc auto stuff in my trunk and had a stock GM ignition coil. I spliced some wires to it and the car started up. I drove it home (2 minutes). That poor GM coil didn't like the multi-spark action . When I got home I tried plugging the Crane coil back in. It fired up but the idle wouldn't pick up above 500-600 rpm and it was searching. I figured the coil just wasn't putting out a good spark now.

So, has anyone else had a good/bad experience with the Crane ignition coil?

Yesterday I put in new spark plugs and gapped them at about 48 instead of the normal 45 which should be fine since I'm running a high voltage ignition system right?

Also, the coil is mounted on the firewall of the trunk in the engine compartment...a bit to the left of the center. Could the heat in there have done the coil in? It doesn't seem like it would since the stock coils are even closer to the exhaust and engine than this one is. The fact that it worked after sitting for about 5 minutes makes me think the problem could be heat related. I'm thinking it might be worthwhile to just mount it inside the trunk.

any thoughts?

thanks
Dave

I have that same combo (or maybe PS-92?) in my V8 install. I also have it at the trunk wall about the tranny/flywheel line. I don't think heat is a problem there. I had an Accel there for over 30K miles and an MSD in another car for over 15K miles. One thing I found out is that the Crane box didn't work with the Accel coil. Back to your question, I have used the Crane only for about 1K miles so I'm not a good example. But I do expect it to last much longer than 1500 miles. Just in case I'll throw in the Accel as a spare. I already have a splice designed for such swaps. Oh well...

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Palm Beach Fieros
http://pbfieros.tripod.com

well, I just ordered another one from summit. They're pretty cheap so I'm willing to try one again since the ig system is the same brand. I tried it again after work and it doesn't run very good. The ignition box isn't putting out any trouble codes either.

I can't be 100% sure it's the coil, but I'm almost positive. The only other thing it can be is the pick-up coil but it's not backfiring and runs smooth when I give it gas....just can't hold its own in the low rpm's....classic of a weak spark.

I'm hoping that if it is the coil this is just a random occurance. I've heard nothing but good about the crane fireball coils up to this point.

we'll see