Official Curmudgeon
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Kansas
Posts: 4,706
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Re: quick question about wires from the coil
An ignition coil is an auto transformer. This means it has only one winding and the primary system charges only a tiny portion of it. When the primary cuts off the power, the characteristics of a coil try to keep the current flowing at the original rate. It flows through the larger, secondary portion of the coil looking for a path to keep the current flowing and creates a high voltage. This is when you get the spark, when the voltage is removed from the primary.
As to the capacitor, I've seen very few points systems that would not run without the capacitor. Usually it just reduces radio noise but it appeared that some coils had too quick a discharge period without it and never provided proper spark. With electronic ignition, the capacitor can prevent spiking the solid state switching device.
If it were a points system, I'd say try it without, what could it hurt. But since I seem to remember from the other post it's a '76-'77 with electronic ignition I'd say try to find the capacitor. Without it, you could ruin the module though I'd think it would have internal protection but that's beyond my field of expertise. So, I guess it's down to the question of Dirty Harry, "Do you feel lucky, punk?" (No disrespect intended)