6 volt ground and mallory best coil....tech so watch it drop

[zibo]

1st - I got a mallory BEST coil, from the 50's, made for a 6volt POSITIVE ground system, and the coil has a + and - plainly on it. the + stud has a small coily wire going around this ceramic top, to another covered stud.

1-If I want to hook this up to a negative ground 6volt system,
should I switch the wires so the - goes to the distributor?
(+pos should go to dist in the diagramed +ground system)

2-what is the difference, benefits or reasons, for a POSITIVE or NEGATIVE ground 6 volt setup?

thanks alot!!

travis aka zibo

[286merc]

Yep, just reverse the wires, remove that safety wire short.

Positive ground was thought to minimize battery terminal corrosion. Seems that none could agree on a standard until 12V came along and then everyone went negative.

BTW, if you ever get stuck for a 6V coil, use any 12V Mopar up into the late 80's. They are actually a 6V unit and use a resistor in 12V vehicles; strange company!

[zibo]

thanks 286merc- coming from you, that is all the info I needed. I am using a BOSCH vw coil right now and it works great?!
what is that safety wire for?
did you just wake up it's 5 a.m. out there?

thanks alot!!
tp aka zibo

[286merc]

Got up early to go deep sea fishing with a bunch of rodder friends, that was 4AM my time! Weather and fishing were both great but Im beat; early to bed tonite.

They used to short the input so static electricity couldnt build up a charge and zap you. Or maybe it was cuz the insulation inside wasnt as good as it is today and a big static charge would puncture the windings. Ive heard both answers.
Funny, I dont see that done any more.