Justin 87 GTA

iTrader: (3)

I am re-installing the intake on the motor, doesn't the coil braket go in the rear passenger 2 intake bolt holes? I don't want to install and torque the manifold and then have to back the rear two bolts out to install the coil mounting bracket. -J

Black 91 Z28

Yes

Justin 87 GTA

iTrader: (3)

someone said that there is another braket that goes there too, like a vaccum type bracket that goes under the coil braket. Is that accurate or is it just the coil? anyone have a pic. i have a 87 GTA if that makes any diffreence. thanks -Justin

Black 91 Z28

Yes, that's accurate. I guess you could say there are 3 parts. The top part of the bracket is attached to the coil. Then there is the lower part of the bracket that bolts to the intake manifold. This other piece gets sandwitched inbetween the top and bottom brackets.

I'll see if I can find a pic of it.

Justin 87 GTA

iTrader: (3)

yeajh please....I'd like to bolt this thing together, but no untuill i knwo what goes there, cause i don't want to remove the bolts once they are in, since they get torqued in sequence. thanks -J

HalfInchWrench

The coil bracket doesn't attach to the bolts that hold the intake onto the engine. It uses small bolts, think they are 10 or 11 mm that go into the intake just a little to the right and foreward of the distrubuter.

Justin 87 GTA

iTrader: (3)

are you sure? cause I had my the two rear intake bolts marked like the also attached the bracket. Someone else said it goes there too. I don't have the 2 small bolts that you are talking about either, unless i lost them....I would make sense though, that it doesn't attach via the intake bolts...but then again what does GM do that makes sence ....anyone have pics? thanks J

Black 91 Z28

This is the setup from my car. I'm pretty sure they're the same on yours. I could be wrong though,

ZZsmpch

iTrader: (1)

I didn't have that bracket when I did my TPI conversion so I had to fabricate one. Makes it harder to reach the Dist hold down bolt though. The solenoid in the middle is for the EGR. I think HalfInchWrench is talking about non-TPI coil mounting. That pic sure would have helped out when I was trying to figure out how to mount the coil.

HalfInchWrench

I just repaced my TPI coil about a week and a half ago. I had to remove the bracket and drill out the rivits holding the origional coil. Could swear they were not the intake hold down bolts. I'd go take a pic but it's raining outside.

My bolts were straight down, not angled like in the diagram that is posted.

ZZsmpch

iTrader: (1)

Did yours look like the pic? I made one that looks like that, well, sort of... Does your car have pretty good access to the hold down bolt? I'd like to see it when you get a chance. I remember drilling the rivets on my 4th gen's coil (LT1) to replace the coil too.

HalfInchWrench

I just checked a spare intake I have in the house and there are only intake hold down bolt holes and the dist. bolt in that area. Nothing else. The intake I just looked at is an 87, the one in the car is an 88. I doubt if there are differences. That diagram must be right, have no idea how I could remember something so recent wrong. I remember thinking if I lose those little bolts trying to get them in, it's gonna suck finding them and getting them back.

Black 91 Z28

I think you're thinking of the bolts in the pic labeled "4". They're small and require a size 10 or 11mm socket.

Cooper

That's what I was thinking too, those 2 little bolts are all you need to remove the coil. And yes, I did lose one years ago and never found it, lol.

Justin 87 GTA

iTrader: (3)

GREAT diagram thanks! I guess that the bracket is really held down with intake bolts....that's kinda weird, but atleast I know now. Thanks a lot! Thirdgen.org rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks guys

HalfInchWrench

That is what I removed. Three pieces of bracket total to hold the coil. The lower bracket and the two pieces that clamp to both sides of the coil.

Cooper has first hand experence with my fear. Tight down there. I installed the coil bracket while holding the bolt with a socket and extension. The second one I thought would disappear.

Justin 87 GTA

iTrader: (3)

I though I had a ground wire connected to the last intake bolt. it has one of those funny washerswith teeth and I had it marked like that on a diagram that i drew. Does it have to go to that spot on the intake? or can it go to the back of the head or something? if i had to remove that intake bolt to attach the ground at a later date, would that warp the intake or something, since it wouldn't be re-torqued in sequence?

iansane

iTrader: (1)

I think you're good on both points. My ground strap goes to the head. As far as those manifold bolts go you should be fine too. When I swapped to the HSR I bolted the intake down and continued putting everything back on and forgot about the coil bracket. Had to pull those rear two off a few hours later when I realized my mistake. Retorqued them to spec and haven't had a leak at all. I've been driving the car daily for over a year now.

Justin 87 GTA

iTrader: (3)

cool, i mounted the braket, so i guess i'll just ground elsewhere. wish i could attach a pic,...but i don't know how to make them smaller

iansane

iTrader: (1)

Start Menu > Programs > Accesories > MSPaint...then open file, save as whatever you want will probably shrink it down.

Cooper

iirc the ground wire goes to the back of the head from the factory, not sure about mounting it to the intake (steel bolt + aluminum intake + electricty = corrosion) it may or may not be an issue.

Jade Grey

iTrader: (1)

I did the same thing when installing my Accel coil. Went the parts store to buy some proper length 6mm-thread bolts and washers and also a magnetic pickup tool. With great luck, the stock bolt was sitting on the back ledge of the block past the intake lip!

It takes some skill to put those bolts back because there's not a lot of space and you can't see where you are threading. I always "dental floss" those fasteners now, so if dropped they are not lost. I had to remove the coil again recently when I replaced my heater hoses.

Does anyone know why aftermarket coils do not have paint on the core plates? I painted my because the rust was bothering me.

Justin 87 GTA

iTrader: (3)

what do you mean about the "dental floss"?

Jade Grey

iTrader: (1)

Tie dental or sewing floss to the bolt. Tie other end to somehting under the hood. Start the bolt into the threads. Remove floss. Finish tightening bolt.

GravyGut

My local parts stores dont carry a coil with the correct mounting bracket on them. Do I need to go to a dealer for one? Or do I need to do what HALFINCHWRENCH said above? "I had to remove the bracket and drill out the rivits holding the origional coil."

Jade Grey

iTrader: (1)

Re-use your stock brackets. The rivets are soft and easy to drill out if you take it slowly. Just match up rivet diameter with drill bit diameter. You will need to purchase some machine screws, washers, and nuts to secure the new ignition coil to the old bracket. Most aftermarket "performance" coils already include that hardware.

Dizturbed One

I just put an Accel coil on my car (literally, I just came in about 5 minutes ago) and it wasn't the intake bolts that held the bracket down. the bracket had two ears that extended down to a couple bosses that were drilled out for it in the exhaust manifold.

its a 92 3.1 though

Tony89

My '89 TPI has its coil bracket held down by the rear two intake bolts. I really can't think of a worse place to put it either. Adjusting timing involves removing one coil bolt, rotating it slightly, making sure that the egr vacuum switch bracket doesn't rotate otherwise the bolt holes in it won't line up properly. Then, you have to mess around with the distributor hold down bolt, yadda yadda yadda. There's gotta be at least one better way........and I'd bet that plenty of people here have found one.

iansane

iTrader: (1)

What prevents you from just using a dizzy wrench and loosening the bolt, turn the dizzy for correct time and tighten with dizzy wrench?

Tony89

I should've been way more clear about this point, sorry for the confusion. It's just that the coil, and the EGR vacuum switch are both in the arc that the dizzy wrench cuts across when loosening and tightening the hold-down bolt. However, non-TPI's may very well be different, I'm just not sure. On my car, you cannot even see the bolt without rotating the coil slightly, and pushing lightly on the vacuum switch.

iansane

iTrader: (1)

I remember before I swapped to the HSR, the tpi manifold I could just use a dizzy wrench to turn the bolt. Although I only got about 1/32 of a turn in, it was enough to break free and then retighten when needed. Once I got the wrench in the right spot. At least I thought so. It's been awhile since I looked at the old TPI manifold.

Tony89

That's pretty much my story, too. My intake is the Edelbrock TPI intake, but the design is pretty much the same in general terms as the stock one. 1/32 of an inch is a pretty accurate estimate of the clearance you have in turning that bolt. The actual coil bracket I leave intact, but I go to the trouble of rotating the coil a little. It takes longer, but I got pretty quick at it. The last time I did it, I upgraded to the MSD stock replacement coil I had sitting around so I suppose it wasn't a total waste.