Fellas,
I was wondering if you can take out the Fiero blower mechanism (the toob's and electrics that cools the coil), and replace it with a simple high performance coil? I want to clean up my engine room with a high performance coil; one that will not melt in the hot engine area of the Fiero? Has this been done before?

Cordially,
Kevin

p.s. I have a 2.8 V6

hard to say. yes, I removed my tubes. and, I did use a MSD coil. I expect they were put there because some may in fact have overheating problems. I did not.

What is a "toob's"?

quote Originally posted by Vernon8360: What is a "toob's"?

Tubes. Funny, you're the only one that didn't understand.

I wouldn't touch the cooling tubes. The engine bay runs hot already, and a "hotter" aftermarket coil is just more likely to run hot and fail quickly.

88 V6 alternators have a reputation for lasting less long than 85-87 V6 alternators... they also don't have the cooling tubes.

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: Tubes. Funny, you're the only one that didn't understand. I wouldn't touch the cooling tubes. The engine bay runs hot already, and a "hotter" aftermarket coil is just more likely to run hot and fail quickly. 88 V6 alternators have a reputation for lasting less long than 85-87 V6 alternators... they also don't have the cooling tubes.

yes - the 88 alternator is a newer style - and - it is a fine upgrade to any 85-87 V6 Fiero - install a '88 alternator.
it is smaller. it has a internal fan, which as shown above, makes it last longer. it puts out more power at lower RPMs - so wipers dont slow down, lights dont dim, blinkers dont slow down when you come to a stop.
its a direct bolt in - and, you need to cut off the existing connector, and replace with a new one - or, if you can find one, use an adapter.

quote Originally posted by pmbrunelle: Tubes. Funny, you're the only one that didn't understand. I wouldn't touch the cooling tubes. The engine bay runs hot already, and a "hotter" aftermarket coil is just more likely to run hot and fail quickly. 88 V6 alternators have a reputation for lasting less long than 85-87 V6 alternators... they also don't have the cooling tubes.

I must have been thinking of "boobs", so I appologize for my fantasizing mind causing a misspelling And, thanks for your ideas. So I can remove the cooling tubes, the ones pointing at the coil, without a bad electrical consequence. I need to get a '88 alternator though....

Cordially,
Kevin

[This message has been edited by kevin (edited 01-15-2010).]

The 88 has no such cooling of the coil and I don't think they made any changes to the coil to compensate for the lack of cooling. That whole trunk fan looks kind of mickey mouse to me I would get rid of it if I had it (I have all 88s).

Thanks jscott1,
I think I heard that if I replace my '86 V6 stock coil with an Accell, MSD, Mr. Gaskett, etc., all these performance coils would also fail over time--for the same reason, heat. Is that true? Why would Pontiac design their original Mickey Mouse, coil cooling system, for the '85 and '86? And what particular modifications did Pontiac design for the '88's coil cooling, that fixed these earlier "problems"?

Cordially,
Kevin

[This message has been edited by kevin (edited 01-15-2010).]

I thru the tubes away and put an Accell coil on mine. Some say there not reliable but I never had another problem with it. I know people that had trouble with MSDs. Whatever your choice, its better than stock.

Remember that the trunk fan only comes on when the main radiator fan comes on. If you don't have a problem with overheating in summer in traffic, well then, perhaps you can delete the trunk fan. I cannot remember the last time my radiator fan came on so in my case I should be safe to remove it if I so desired. I do have an 88 CS alternator and also a MSD ignition coil. I did purchase the very best heat sink compound from Radio Shack for my ignition module.

The MSD coil has been tested as the better coil,,check out orge article in cave ,,about accel coil..
It is advantagious to mount coil futher away from the exhaust heat,, this is what I did ,moved it as far as the wires would allow ,eventually I will mount my coil close to where the blower is..
The average coil will last a long time
the coils seem to hold up as well as some other cars ..My 115,000 mile Gt has the original coil,, I think..
the stock wires limit the distance you can move the coil,,unless you lengthen the wires by soldering a section in the middle..or solder longer wires to the connectors.so you can mount the coil on the trunk wall..
The jacobs coil is also an upgrade ..my memory fails me about the Jacobs coil performance over the years..
simply installing an aluminum plate between the engine heat and coil would help,,a simple V - L,,or just an L block

[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 01-15-2010).]