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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 1939 Deluxe - Today Hooked Up Charger Backwards

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Discussion Topic: 1939 Deluxe - Today Hooked Up Charger Backwards -- page: 1 2

Statewurker

07-07-2025 @ 4:27 PM

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New to me today , just titled, brought home yesterday. All original factory everything , clock on glove box , extremely clean! Hasn’t run since 2021 and had problems then. My friend aged up and is now in the Lords hands. His last couple years he didn’t give me much to talk about when we visited we just sat around listening to me talk. Today I tried to charge the battery that is of 2020 and I just realized I hooked it up backwards. I saw the ground cable to the firewall( yes I know now it’s a positive ground ) and just out of normal practice hooked it up backwards for almost 10 minutes. I had a volt meter on looking for any signs of life when I touched the ground clamp and it was warm. I disconnected and figured I would just get a new battery ( 6vdc). Now I know what I know , how much damage have I done. May I have fried the generator, clock, points condenser …… ? Any help from you experts would be greatly appreciated as I’m a COMPLETE NEWBY to this awesome flathead. All my past experience is with SBC and BBC’s. Bit my friend wanted me to have his horror as he called it, so me and the family will get this running and remember him on our Sunday cruzes.

This message was edited by Statewurker on 7-7-25 @ 4:33 PM

07-07-2025 @ 4:35 PM

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That's a nice car! I don't think you hurt anything by trying to charge the battery backwards. Were you able to get a charge into the battery when you hooked it up correctly to the charger?

Statewurker

07-07-2025 @ 5:26 PM

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No sir. Nothing at all. Going after a new battery tomorrow and finger crossing I’m in the clear.hoping the clock isn’t burnt up.

1939 Ford Deluxe, all original , 85 hp , new to me 7/2025.
NEWBY!!!

pauls39coupe

07-07-2025 @ 6:07 PM

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The clock is a wind-up. Power wire to it is for the light.

Statewurker

07-07-2025 @ 6:26 PM

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Wow. Hadn’t looked into that just yet. Thank you. Since you’re in the helping answering mood, I’m looking for good info on this car. Owners manual , diagrams, parts breakdowns etc… websites, and other forums. Do you have anything to share. Saw the Ford Reference Manual on Amazon and was curious.

1939 Ford Deluxe, all original , 85 hp , new to me 7/2025.
NEWBY!!!

carcrazy

07-07-2025 @ 11:41 PM

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The Owners Manual is also referred to as a Reference Book. C&G has them in stock.

https://cgfordparts.com/owners-manual-39-passenger-deluxe-v-22.html

This message was edited by carcrazy on 7-7-25 @ 11:46 PM

42oink

07-08-2025 @ 8:17 AM

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Hi Statewurker, I like everything about your car! Just want to welcome you and give a bit of advice, for what it's worth. Our first plan when we get a "new" car is to jump in and fix everything. DON'T. It looks like your friend enjoyed it as it is and you should too. The patina is great, a four door is fun, and you should get used to all its quirks and enjoy the stuff out of it. And sk questions. Again, welcome. 42OINK

TomO

07-08-2025 @ 9:10 AM

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I really like your 39 Deluxe. It is nice to see a car in such nice original condition. The Early Ford V-8 Club has a special class for original cars called Rouge Class. It would be nice if you could bring your car to a National Meet and display it in the Rouge Class.

I doubt that you did any damage to the car's electrical system. Most of it disconnected from the battery when the ignition switch is off and most of the system is not polarity sensitive. The one thing you may have done is to repolarize the generator. If you get it started with the new battery and the battery gauge does not go in the green when you run the engine at about 1,000 rpms, try polarizing the generator.

To polarize the generator, momentarily connect a wire from the field position on the voltage regulator to the Battery terminal, with the engine off. to check if it worked, connect you meter to the battery terminal of the regulator and increase the rpms to about 1,000 and read the meter, it should show about 7.4 volts. If it doesn't work, post a new topic on generator charging for more help.

Tom

trjford8

07-08-2025 @ 9:32 AM

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Very nice 39. Check the "on-line store" in the left menu of this site and look at the V-8 club books. The club has a great 38-39 Ford book that will help you a lot and answer many of your questions..

This message was edited by trjford8 on 7-8-25 @ 9:33 AM

Statewurker

07-08-2025 @ 10:28 AM

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Thank you all for the comments and point in the right direction. Manuals are on order. Shopping for a battery now.

42OINK, thank you. Just trying to get it running first. The battery is of 2020 so it was DEAD!!! Not much i want to do to it other than take the rear passenger door panel out and see why the window doesn't roll all the way down, make sure the lights all work inside and out , new tires , and condition the leather. Thats about all on the the agenda. Drive , Drive ,Drive it!!!

TomO, I will look into the Nationals sounds like something the wife and I would enjoy.

Again, thank you everyone. I will for sure come here when I need some help and advise ....

1939 Ford Deluxe, all original , 85 hp , new to me 7/2025.
NEWBY!!!

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