What coil for Prestolite electronic distributor?

[pschauss]

I got half way across the bay this morning when my port engine quit on me. (It was the starboard engine last time, about a month ago.) By the time Seatow got me back into my slip, I was able to restart the engine so I am suspecting a problem with the coil or the electronic ignition module. The sticker on the distributor says "Prestolite IDU 7801BS". The coil says "Delco Remy" and has a number on the side which looks like "1061". I googled it, but cannot find anything on that part number.

Do I need a ballasted or unballasted coil?

I'm getting my money's worth out of my Seatow membership. The guy who towed me knew exactly where my slip was.

[scot]

I had coil problems a few years back. Standard coils tend to "soak" over long output cycles. Mine would run fine, then not idle or restart easily.. let it cool down a while and all was well. I went to a high performance coil (MSD Baster) and the problems went away.

On the ballast, do you have a ballast somewhere in the ignition wiring, or is one built into the distributor?

Good luck

[Rawleigh]

I used one of those yellow super coils on my Chryslers

[pschauss]

On my port engine, the voltage at the + terminal of the coil is about five volts with the ignition on and engine off. On my starboard engine- different distributor - it is about twelve volts. My starboard engine has a ballasted coil. Based on the measurements I took it looks like I need an unballasted coil on my port engine.

[Joseph Fikentscher]

Does this help?

http://www.fourforty.com/techstuff/ignition.html