Mystery part

[GTSilver944]

There's a mystery part on my 1970 2800CS. It has an on/off switch and two wires. One grounding to the valve cover and another attaching to the coil. Any ideas what this is?

 

[Stevehose]

anti theft kill switch

 

[Wladek]

Maybe someone made quick test switch for coil, or cut-off switch as anti-theft.

 

[GTSilver944]

Ah, so is it just a ground with a switch in the middle?

 

[Stevehose]

Yep. Another mystery - a Lucas coil - you live dangerously

 

[GTSilver944]

So, I think I may be younger than the majority of E9 owners on this forum. But - when I was first working on the car about 10 years ago, I had some help from a BMW/Porsche enthusiast who lived down the street. He was a former aircraft mechanic. He was in his seventies (he has since passed away) but was still spry and incredibly sharp. I distinctly remember him telling me this:

"You know the reason the English drink warm beer, right? It's because of Lucas electric. Can't keep a fridge running..."

A Bosch coil is on the way

 

[dang]

Yep. Another mystery - a Lucas coil - you live dangerously

Maybe the kill switch worked in reverse. They turned off power to the coil so it wouldn't catch the car on fire.

 

[HB Chris]

Grounding the coil will defeat the ignition but I would have interrupted the power wire instead, why send power to a ground even if only while cranking?

 

[GTSilver944]

Looks like it was an extra wire spliced into the distributor side of the coil. It's getting removed, regardless. Not keen on creating a purposeful short circuit.

I've been slowly going through the Hack Mechanic's electric book. Quite a good read...