Suddenly lost spark, on two cars!

[CHL2T]

After trying to take the Challenger on a quick cruise through the neighborhood, it died out of the blue. Coasted it home and found no spark.

Here is where it gets a little sketchy/ confusing, At the end of last summer, while working on the Polara, I bought a new electronic distributer and module, wired it up and the car fired up perfectly and ran with no issues.
After driving it around the yard, it suddenly loses spark. I dinked with it for a while and found the coil is bad, no problem, I'll just stash it for a winter project, so into stash mode it goes.

Fast forward to yesterday, the challenger does the same thing, after all the same electronic ignition upgrades, new distributer, cap, rotor, module, plugs and wires. After dinking with it, I find a bad coil in it too

Now for the big question.....will having the wiring wrong blow the coil?
Would the cars even run with wiring wrong?
Are the upgrades the reason the (old) coils are blowing?
I wired them both up the same way, using the original diagrams that came with a conversion kit I bought for the Charger and using wiring diagrams from the service manuals.

Any input would be greatly appreciated, as I don't want to spend a buncha money on coils only to have them blow up too 

Thanks

[422STROKER]

You have a ballast resistor in the circuit?

Tom

[GoodysGotaCuda]

You have a ballast resistor in the circuit?

Tom

x2 and what brand of coil are you using? Cheap-ass autozone? Napa? MSD? Etc. Huge difference in electronics between autozone and MSD. I've had several "lifetime" warranty autozone voltage regulators last less than a week. Got my money back and paid good money, for less warranty, that i didn't have to use..

[72rtchallenger]

You have a ballast resistor in the circuit?

Tom

could be ballast if you have one ,,and get an msd blaster coil

[dodj]

How about a diagram of how you wired them.

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Do you happen to live near  "AREA  51"....??.............other than that   

[72rtchallenger]

here are wiring diagrams that may help 
http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=24

[Bullitt-]

Coils TEST Bad ?

[CHL2T]

Yes to the ballast resistor, no to the cheap ass coils, they are all used from any different number of cars/ engines over the years, come to think of it, I dont think I've ever bought a new coil!

When I checked the resistance on the coil it was off the hook, telling me what I had already suspected

On a side note, I have had a msd blaster in the Charger for at least 19 yrs and whenever I've had any coil issues, I grab that one to check and it works every time. I am hesitant to do so however, cuz I doan want to blow it up too!

I will though since I know It's gonna work.
Here is a diagram of how I have them hooked in
Thanks for the input

[CHL2T]

here are wiring diagrams that may help 
http://www.mymopar.com/index.php?pid=24

Excellent link! favorited

[72rtchallenger]

if the ballast  is bad it will allow 12v or more to go straight to the coil which will burn up the coil

[MEK-Dangerfield]

if the ballast  is bad it will allow 12v or more to go straight to the coil which will burn up the coil

To be honest, I have never seen a ballast resistor short. They usually crack and the resistance goes up, and in most cases to totally open providing nothing to the coil.

[CHL2T]

I always figured that if the bone went bad, that the car will not run unless the key is in the start position, as I had that happen long ago on a 73 Dodge van, never in any of the others though.

I'll check the bones as well

[72rtchallenger]

this may help and make sure your ecu is grounded good
 

[72rtchallenger]

To be honest, I have never seen a ballast resistor short. They usually crack and the resistance goes up, and in most cases to totally open providing nothing to the coil.

i did have one once that caused me this problem as it let straight 12v run to the coil and my ecu,,fried both components,,but your right usually  it just want start