Igniters?Guessing you mean ignition coils.Internal shorts can melt them.So can leaving the ignition switched on but not running can have the same effect.Coils are just that,multiple coils of wire,left switched on the current can turn them into miniature electric bar heaters,especially if the points are closed/shorted.Junk them and buy some shiney new ones,But if your restoration is a long one without the engine running,dont wire them up till you'r ready to fire it up.Definatley check renew the points and condensors.Unless my memory is gone and you have cdi ignition,but the same applies,leaving coils with current on is a bad idea.
caine
August 2008