| 682bear | -- 02-27-2024 @ 12:48 PM |
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This is an addition to my other thread 'Engine Running Rich'. I ended that thread by saying that I had sent my carburetor to Charlie for a rebuild. I got it back a couple of weeks ago, and finally found time to reinstall it today. The car runs much better... but still not good... I started pulling the spark plugs and testing the compression on all cylinders.... the compression is the same between all cylinders... no dead cylinders. However, I did discover that the back plug on the drivers side doesn't look like it has ever fired... A quick check proves it... it isn't firing at all... The distributor is a rebuilt diving helmet from Third Gen Automotive with less than three hours run time. The condenser was replaced at the same time. I'm guessing that I have a plug wire issue... Any information or advice on checking the wires would be appreciated... the issue would almost have to be where the wire connects to the distributor cap...? How would I go about testing that? How difficult is it to replace the wires? Thanks...! -Dave
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| 682bear | -- 02-27-2024 @ 12:49 PM |
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Sorry, I should have mentioned it is a 1940 Fordor with a 59A engine... -Dave
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| carcrazy | -- 02-27-2024 @ 4:09 PM |
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Inserting the #8 spark plug wire back into the distributor requires that you first remove the left hand (driver's side) distributor cap assembly from the distributor. Next remove the O-Ring that retains the outer cap to the inner cap so you can separate the two caps. The inner cap has four female terminals inside it. You want to insert the longest wire on the left side of the engine (black with yellow tracer) into the terminal hole marked with numbers 8 and 2. Make sure the wire is fully engaged into that terminal before joining the two caps back together and reinstalling the O-Ring. Note that there is a gasket that fits between the two caps. Place the cap assembly back on the distributor and retain it with the retainer bail (wire).
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| kubes40 | -- 02-27-2024 @ 4:33 PM |
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I might suggest you remove the tube and wires with the caps intact. Test for continuity between the terminal and the end of the wire. If the continuity is not good, then go ahead and tear that assembly apart and make darn certain each and every wire is firmly seated in the terminal plate. Carcrazy has offered good advice and from what you are sharing, the wire or the seating of the wire or the terminal plate are at fault. Mike "Kube" Kubarth
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| 682bear | -- 02-28-2024 @ 11:04 AM |
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Ok, I removed the driver side assembly intact per Kube and laid it out on the bench... I've shined the contacts on the inner cap up and cleaned the oxidation out of the spark plug clips on the wires. Using a digital multimeter, I'm getting 1.4 ohms on wire #8, 0.3 ohms on wire #7, 0.4 ohms on #6, and #5 is showing no continuity. On further inspection, I've realized that someone has replaced the connector on #5 (picture below)... the wire is protruding from the insulation inside the connector, but is not long enough to touch the connector. I'm assuming that, when installed onto the spark plug, the copper wire was held against the end of the plug. I carefully seperated the two halves of the cap... all four wires are still in position and are held tightly... I didn't try to remove them, I just pulled on each one enough to determine that it wasn't loose. I've read that these wires are supposed to be color coded with a tracer... as mentioned by Carcrazy... but these wires are all solid black and the plastic (or rubber) insulation on them has hardened enough to make them difficult to deal with. I think it's probably time to look at new wires... I would guess that they need to be a small diameter in order to work them through the steel tube they are routed in... 7mm maybe? Where is the best place to buy these to be sure of getting the correct diameter? Thanks- Dave
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| carcrazy | -- 02-28-2024 @ 2:54 PM |
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Many of the vendors report these wires as being "out of stock. One source that currently has them in stock is Dennis Carpenter. You can access his website under the Vendors section of this website. The part number for this wire set is 78-12259.
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