What causes an ignition coil to fry instantly? (94 Civic EX D16Z6 & 97 Civic DX D16Y7)?

They will fry in a couple seconds if the spark has nowhere to go (join the club - we have jackets), or if there if otherwise enough gap in the spark wiring to make the voltage at the coil too high. Since you had everything connected I wonder if the rotor in the distributor is not lining up with the towers when the ignition fires. That should be simple enough to check. With the ignition off, use a socket to turn the crankshaft counterclockwise (most engines turn clockwise but that era Honda turns counterclockwise) until the timing marks line up, then see where the rotor sits relative to the cap. It should be pointed either to the #1 tower or the #4 tower - in your case it is especially important it is pointed right at *any* tower. Be sure the rotor is seated, too. Honda distributor rotors tend to wedge on in the wrong position if given a chance.

check your burnt coils resistance,both primary and secondary and compare em with new.in my way of thinking, the only thing that can burn those out like that is either 2 much primary ignition voltage,or a burnt ballast resistor/used to lower the primary ignitions voltage.most automotive coils can take 14 volts for an extended period of time,am i missing something here.hmm grounding it wont do it, hooking it up backwards wont do it,are you positive it is a burnt coil and not something else.

i got an electric schematic in the shop, maybe ill scan and send later today.

D16z6 Distributor Wiring Diagram