View single post by Tom Bradley
 Posted: 03-13-2021 03:32 am
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Tom Bradley

 

Joined: 07-15-2013
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 Both Tim and "Distributorguy" have good points, except for the "load of crap" part. IF everything in the HV circuit is good and the timing is mostly correct, then the voltage is limited to the breakdown voltage of the spark plug gap. In that case, either size is OK.

HOWEVER, if there is any problem, such a a loose connection, bad plug, too-large gap, etc. then the coil, being an inductor, will build up the voltage until there is a path to ground. With the smaller stock distributor cap, the path could more easily be places you do not want, such as punching a pinhole through the cap. This is even more likely to happen with a coil with a higher voltage rating. The larger distributor caps were designed to handle higher voltages. That was the whole intent of the design. So these will be more tolerant of problems, which, as most of us know, will happen, probably sooner than later in these cars. The materials used in the larger caps are also often better quality than the cheap thermoplastic and aluminum conductors available nowadays in the smaller caps.

Last edited on 03-13-2021 03:33 am by Tom Bradley