Stupid question of the day - plug wire to coil?

[CJ7inNH]

I have searched for hours on what's prob real easy.

1985 CJ I6 with what looks like OEM ignition coil.

All cars/trucks that I've worked on before had a coil with the male end for a spark plug like end to fit onto it. This coil has the wire just going right down into it.

How the heck do you change out the coil wire that runs to the distributor?
Can I put a higher grade replacement wire onto/into it?

Thanks.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Should be a double male end wire.
Fatter 'boot' on the coil end.
LG

 

[Torxhead]

You could buy a MSD ignition wire set, which is the best, and make yourself that replacement wire. When it is time for a new wire set you will have one, it comes with extra wire anyway. Without that boot water and corrosion can get in there. I would think by now that coil could be due for a replacement, and get away from that slip on connector.

 

[mtnwhlr]

You could buy a MSD ignition wire set, which is the best, and make yourself that replacement wire. When it is time for a new wire set you will have one, it comes with extra wire anyway. Without that boot water and corrosion can get in there. I would think by now that coil could be due for a replacement, and get away from that slip on connector.

this is what I have done

 

[Hedgehog]

It sounds like it's time for a new wire set for your Short Bed Scrambler(CJ7 ). The MSD wires are competitively priced and well worth the effort. Your Short should run better with nice new wires.

 

[CJ7inNH]

Thank you for the quick reply guys.

I'm not sure I'm explaining my brain freeze correctly.
The plug wire that runs from the distributor, then into the coil - on the coil end side, it just seems to go straight down into the coil, no attaching it to the top with the normal plug/boot end.

I just don't understand how the wire attaches inside the coil.
Does the coil come appart? Does the wire somehow screw in? Does the coil come with the wire already attached inside?

I have everything all set for the TeamRush upgrade.
I could go the route of getting a Blaster 3 which has the "plug on" type top, but I want to run stock for now (too many debates on if a resistor is needed).

Thanks.

 

[IOPort51]

any chance of a picture on this one??

 

[Torxhead]

I think you are asking how the coil wire fits into the coil?
It is just a plug in, be careful when you remove it as there is a metal clip that goes around the wire into the coil. Similar to the oppisite end.

 

[CJ7inNH]

I don't have a picture of mine with me now, but it's the standard OEM one that doesn't have the "male post" to plug the cap onto (like the top of a spark plug).
After pulling the cap back, it looks like the wire just goes down into the top of the coil, like the top of a beer bottle - that I can relate to.

I'm trying to understand if it's just a bare wire that somehow you push into it and it inserts.

I'm trying to upload a pic of what mine looks like, but not sure if it's working.

I'm prob way over thinking this.

Thanks.

 

[mtnwhlr]

The coil wire mounts the same way into the coil as the distributor.

 

[CJ7inNH]

I must be way over thinking this, or am just missing something.

Pic below is my coil, with the boot at the end of the wire pulled back.

It looks like the wire from the distributor gets pushed down into the coil.
What I'm trying to figure out is how that wire attaches within the coil.

We've got some nice Jeepin' weather on the way and I don't want to screw this up and be left spending the weekend in the garage.

Does it just push down into the coil?
If that is the case, can I get a good replacement wire with that correct end on it, or do I need to modify one that has the spark plug like boot on the end?

Thanks.

 

[Petescj]

Pull the wire straight up and it will come right out. It attaches inside the coil just like the other end in the cap or like on a spark plug. It's just a crimped metal fitting

 

[Hedgehog]

It's just a missing boot. No big deal should not effectthe way it will run. I'd be inclined to replace the wires though.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Like I said-uses a 'fat' boot on the coil.
BTW-Why does that coil look so wet?
LG

 

[CJ7inNH]

Yup, that's all it took. I was paranoid about breaking it and being stuck in the garage on what looks to be an ideal jeepin weekend. It's typically the easy things that I screw up.

Thanks for all the help and for not completely flaming me with something so simple - it's one of the reasons I think this is the best site of it's kind.

I have everything for the TeamRush upgrade, this was the last on the list. I think I saw a post on how to make that type of connection if the wire isn't already set that way, so I'll look it up.

Here's another question that may be obvious - I bought the wires that were recommend on one of the TeamRush postings. It came with 8 wires (7 plug, and the one for the coil). Why is there an extra plug wire? Just in case?

And my coil is dry, just looks wet in the pic. Well, maybe some residual oil on it from what was a very leaky valve cover and oil fill.

Thanks

 

[CJ7inNH]

Update.

You can ignore that comment on creating a plug that will work with my coil. I just started fitting everything and now see how it works. All good.

TGIF. Almost there.

 

[graycj7]

Are you saying that it doe's not feel as though it locks in as you push it in? Sometimes it will not seem like its tight enough but it is.

 

[gutthans]

Are you saying that it doe's not feel as though it locks in as you push it in? Sometimes it will not seem like its tight enough but it is.

Those types of ends can be 'squished' or 'expanded' to provide a tighter feel fit...A pair of pliers (needle-nose preferred) is all it takes to do either operation. You just want a nice 'pop' when you stick it all the way in.

Use 'Boot grease' (dielectric, non-conductive) on the boot over the connection to reduce the tendency for your spark to siphon off to ground along the outside of the coil.