[W126 Coupe] SEC Starting Failure After a Massive Downpour

[a figment of the imagination]

Hi everyone:

I was going to rebuild my ignition module,
component-by-component, but, after calling around, I
found a Bosch ignition module for $145 at Autozone
that
comes with a life-time warranty!!!!!!!!!!!!   ;) 

This completely beat out any deal I could find.  Our
local dealer was asking $825 for the ignition module
and switching unit.  O'Reilly's was asking $292 with a
one year warranty.  The next more affordable option
was the salvage price (in SoCal) of $125 plus one year
warranty.    Obviously, once the price is fair, who
really wants to buy "used", when it comes to an
ignition module, eh?

So, in the end, the culprit was "NO SPARK!"   However,
it was not just the OpAmp in my ignition module that
was bad, as my coil also went bad.  Right now, I using
an '85 380SE salvaged coil (same shape, windings?) and
am noticing some timing problems. This salvaged coil
(I got for free), is actually getting extremely hot
and is probably "on its way out", but just good enough
to get me back on the road.  Today, I'm buying a new
coil and will be hopefully done with the aftermath of
the Friday the 13th massive downpour.  

So, my remaining stupid question is can I get away
with NOT doing a timing job after replacing my
ignition module + coil.  (I remember doing it in the
past, but "Yikes, the horror!")  My car right now 
(sans new coil) is giving a "pitter, putter"
repetitive
noise on top of the normal smooth engine hum (which it
had before these replaced parts).  It sounds like
missed timing, but my coil wire could be pushing up
and down slightly, changing the connectivity at the
coil terminal.

In other words, the inductive force from the coil to
the coil wire may be creating a "stereo-speaker" like
effect of pulling and pushing the wire.  I noticed on
the used coil that the suction/grip of the coil wire
is loose than on my original tightly sealed coil +
wire.  

Do coils generally get really hot?  I didn't think
they did.  I know if they get extremely hot, the
inductive force is supposed to disengage the coil wire
off the coil.  This is why the coil wire isn't screwed
onto the coil and "pops off".

Thanks, everyone!

-figged out on my SEC that finally starts again!  Woo
Hoo! :))

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