Does HEI require a minimum of 12v to the coil?

[Hoosierman]

As per the title. I did the conversion, charged up my battery to full. At rest it has 13v, under load while cranking it'll go as low as 11.5v. I do have spark (weak) and at both the coil and the module, I have roughly the same voltage while cranking (11.5v).

Thanks.

 

[SenorNoob]

11.5 while cranking sounds fine to me. I've seen other vehicles dip to 8.5 while starting and still fire. Granted you hear the slower starter.

 

[Hoosierman]

11.5 while cranking sounds fine to me. I've seen other vehicles dip to 8.5 while starting and still fire. Granted you hear the slower starter.

Grounds perhaps then? I had this issue with my '88 Ranger recently and that was a failing PIP.

 

[SenorNoob]

Maybe? Weak spark at that voltage implies bad coil to me, but I's sure a bad ground could cause it too. Is there any way you can test voltage directly across the coil terminals? Or resistance check the ground pin of coil to battery terminal.

 

[Hoosierman]

Gotta love it...

 

[Hoosierman]

Okay, folks. I tested resistance at the pickup coil connector, and it goes 1 or open-circuit. When cranking, each pin while receive about .04v ac steady. Is my pickup coil toast? It was a brand new Cardone distributor from Rock Auto, by the way, not that brand new means much of anything anymore ....