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My '56 will drive for a few miles and then die. I replace the condensor and it starts right back up again but then will soon repeat. I replaced the coil and the battery voltage is fine. Thoughts as what to look for?
What voltage is coming from the ballast resistor? My guess is that you have too much voltage going to your coil. You do have a ballast resistor, correct? What condenser are you using? Are your points wearing evenly or is metal being transferred from one to the other?
Have a nice day
Steve
The latest condenser is from Rock Auto - Std Motor Products unit specific for the car. The previous was similar sourced from NAPA. Each new one has had a new bracket for mounting. I have a resistor on it and I'll check the voltage tonight. I have a spare resistor in the trunk if needed. Can these loose resistance? The points look OK, although I probably don't have 40 miles on it this year because the last two times I have driven it, its died on me. I'm becoming less of a fan of distributors at the back of the engine, that or I need to be 6' 10"
Try an AL-111. Maybe not exactly what the book calls for but seems to work well.
Have a nice day
Steve
I checked the voltage at idle, 11.9 in 10.3 out of the resister
There's the problem!
New ballast is in order. Maybe 8-9V when you first switch it on dropping to about 6V.
Good Luck
Steve
I had a new one so I installed it, same reading. It maybe goes down to 10.1. What controls the voltage to drop from start to running?
What's the ohms on your resistor? I believe your resistor should match the resistance of your coil.
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
In my 1955 Motors Manual it shows 4 different types of resistance for the "new" 12 volt systems.
This ASSUMES the original special 6V coil to be used on the "New" 12 volt systems. The voltage to the coil is reduced by one of the 4 methods below.
1. One is high resistance primary winding.
2. Bypass Circuit with big block resistor.
3. Big block resistor.
4. Internal resistor in the coil.
You need to make sure that whatever parts you are using that they are all part of the same "system"
Best, James
I finally got my VOM back from my kids and the external resistor is 1.5 ohms. The coil on the car didn't change but I did a different coil, and it still promptly killed a condensor.
What's the voltage going to the coil? It should be no more than 9V and should drop to 6V as it gets hot. Put a new ballast resistor on there. Only a couple bucks at the parts store! MoPaRs use ballast resistors, not internal resistor coils like VW.
Which side of your points is eroding? Put an AL-111 condenser on along with the new ballast.
Good Luck
Steve
