Brooklyn Beer

electrical issues always kick my ass

I am thinking the old coil was bad because it was old. Have to check for spark on the new one. The old one looks almost original to the car. Everything else on it was or is. The winter artic snap we had for 3 days did some weird things to some of the other cars in the unheated barns. This is the last one to get running for the Spring. My 31 Plymouth had all 4 wheel cylinder blow out from condensation I figure. Had one battery that was new 6 month ago in the fall not take any charge. Had a coil in my 65 Fury split. The best out of the bunch though was my 31 Franklin. Great car. Full choke and 3 cranks and a cough. Half choke and it fired right up and idled down perfectly after sitting 4 months. Started using a different gas treatment. Star Tron enzyme fuel treatment. Once carbs got primed everything down to the weedeater fired right up.

Tied up with yard work right now. Checked old coil and it runs down to zero from 3. Swapping probes back and forth gets same result. Still not getting any spark on the high voltage side of new NOS coil and will dig out an extra plug wire and try that with a sparkplug next. Have to get the other cars out of the garage first to blow out the fall winter first. but need to clean up all connections first.

OK, on the old coil checking resistance with OHM set at 20 which is lowest setting it starts at 3 and counts down to one. Checking high voltage outlet it is reading a 3. I will pull the new one out in the morning and do a comparison. Maybe I am reading / setting the multimeter wrong but can't read the microscopic directions that came with it.. Setting it on 200 on the ohm scale reads the same as 20.

Thanks. The job was made easy as when I pulled the wire out of the cap the end came off so I just ensured a good connection into the coil and stripped some of the bare end off to wire. Reache through the vent window and cranked while dabbing area's across the head. Only ONCE did I get anything and that was at first crank and even then just a dull orange one time shot (Did it in the dark) Think I will toss the old coil back in and see what happens there. Remembering back it did this to me one other time when I changed plugs and wires and then went away just by cleaning points and rotor and cap. The ground wire in the distributor did look almost broke today when I changed it and fell apart after removing. This after I changed the coil. So perhaps my NOS coil is junk and the old one wasn't. Think a resistance test on it while I have it out would be good. Just have to remember how to use OHM side of things. It should be 1.5 correct?

NOS coil is not an Autolite but an AmpCo and it doesn't have the screw in connector. Used the bolt on the thermostat housing as my ground. Working by myself here and have not checked the high voltage line into cap as you have stated. Only checking with a plug in light between cap and plugs. Let me see if I can rig up something to crank over and check coil output

Factory NOS coil power connects to the rear of coil. That has 6 volts. 6 volts leaving coil. Let me go check quick. Points closed near zero. Open above 6. We can try the checks sure. Just to be clear. You want me to check the ground inside the distributor. Checked again. 6 volts into distributor. Points closed and checking at points ground is zero. Points open and checking ground is zero. Power is there probe slipped off screw and got some minor little sparking.

Can't seem to find a new set of points for my 1939 Chrysler Royal. Odd things happen over the winter. Drove it, parked it in December. Bringing her out of hibernation this week wouldn't fire over. Power in and out of coil at 6 volts. 6 volts into distributor and too points. No arc when manually opening points. Traded out a spare condensor and replaced the ground wire that looked crappy. Still no arc across the points. Cleaned again and nothing. Not even a cough. Can't find points I know I have here unless someone can tell me they are the same from a 46 Dodge. If not, a lead on a nice set would be most welcomed. Everything is listed as Imperial.

Is the car converted to 12 volt ? Is so they most likely disengaged the feature that is on 6 volt cars that disengages power if the switch hangs up (I forget what the device / circuit is that does this if your switch on the carb hangs up to stop that from happening) I just bypassed the carb switch and ran a separate bump switch to the starter. No longer use the pedal to start. Since my car was converted to 12 volt I also installed a high torque mini starter. That little ball bearing gets gummed up in the switch that disengages the contacts. Car starts and the increased vacuum pulls the little ball bearing out of contact. Or something to that effect. I do have a new old stock carb switch that I never installed if your needing one. I decided the headache was easier fixed with just installing a bump switch to engage the starter.

Curious to where this goes at auction with the stim money in play

Longest production for the year (non limo) ?

whew. I am guessing my 31 is not going down in price LOL

Guy around the corner from me has one up on blocks I spotted this fall when the leaves were down. All 4 tires have been off now for 4 months. Left him a note in his mail box to text me about for sale ? His response that afternoon is that he is doing the brakes. Today I drove past and still the same. nothing changed. Left another note asking if he needs help getting the rear drums off. Waiting for an answer. Most "new" owners don't know about the tappered axles and just think they are stuck.

Imagine that dash at night.

What is the car market looking like? Anything stand out ?

I have a 39 Chrysler with OD I have been working on and it is a very comfortable ride at 55 MPH. Well it was till the coil took a crap. Waiting on a new one. The early OD on these cars is pretty interesting. Mechanical drop to OD but electrical kick down to take it out.

Yeah Ben I don't know if I am buying that forecast either. Long ways off. 10-12 saturday morning is what they are saying. The wind is going to be up though for sure.

Having a nice and sunny 70 degree day here in North Texas. Tomorrow and tuesday will be a couple degree's warmer even. Got everyone started up and out for a bit. Wednesday the bottom falls out leading into friday morning of around 12 degree's. Needless to say antifreeze check were on order all the way around. This will be the first time the temps have gotten this low in about 5 years. Going to stick around for a bit too but moderating at least into the 40's by next Tuesday.

I would avoid the suicidal rear doors. They could become unhinged and take you with them.

Hence why I moved to TX after growing up on Long Island after leaving the military. Don't miss the snow at all.

The grill medallion what is that ? White stuff looks scarey. Right now in N- Texas is all about the battle of the dust.

Could not ask for a better 4 day weekend so far. Upper 60's and low 70's with plenty of sunshine. Every day has been a day to just go no place in particular at a slow pace in the 49 Roadmaster.

Little early or late. Traditional "load up the friends and head off to potluck Thanksgivings" at the ale house. Friends were in town from Denver so the old 49 Buick was loaded up and can really fit 6 in comfort ! Funny the reaction from people who have never had a nice 20 mile drive in an old car. Weather was really nice this year. 75 and perfect.

Never give up, EVER

Yesterday was the near perfect fall day for North TX. 78 degree's just enough breeze to start the leaves falling after a good week of great color. And the pups got to enjoy the ride to the park.