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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Mercury Discussion / 1941 - Condenser

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Discussion Topic: 1941 - Condenser

Kpyto71

07-29-2026 @ 9:56 AM

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Posts: 32
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Okay... I've been searching and I haven't been able to figure it out on my own, so I'll ask here and beg forgiveness for the probably dumb question.

I am having a starting issue with my 1941 Convertible. I have had some starting issues since we owned the car, mostly due to when it has been running (I've posted about my hot start issues prior). I ended up replacing the coil and the resistor... but the change came with the resistor. I replaced the coil (purchased from Dennis Carpenter), the car started cold no issues, and seemed to perform better. After having some more issues starting after sitting a while, I replaced the resistor (purchased from Dennis Carpenter also), and it was a big improvement. Car ran fantastic. Several weeks went by, and I went to start the car... nothing. This is where my limited knowledge comes into play... and I need some help.

I have read that perhaps I have a condenser issue. So, my first question... is it mounted on the outside of the distributor housing? My distributor is the 11A "helmet" style - and my car is all as-built - 6 volt system. When I look on Dennis Carpenter's site, what I see as a picture of the condenser for my '41 does not look like what I have on my engine. If it's mounted on the outside of the distributor housing, then mine is barrel shaped, maybe 1.25" long and about 1/2" - 3/4" in diameter, and has a wire coming off of it. The one pictured on Dennis Carpenter has no wire, but a metal piece.

Second dumb question... what's the easiest way to check my spark before I go to replace the condenser.

Sorry for the silly questions, but I'm new to this... I don't have a problem learning, and I guess asking the dumb questions is how I'll do it. I appreciate the help.... I have a car show coming up at the end of August and I'd like to be able to get to it.

Thanks in advance.
C.

TomO

07-29-2026 @ 7:06 PM

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There are no dumb questions.

The easiest way to check spark is to grab a spark plug wire with a pair of insulated pliers and hold the wire near a head nut. You can also use a screwdriver that fits inside the plug wire end to hold the wire near a head nut.

The condenser that Denis Carpenter sells is the correct configuration. The condenser mounts on the sid of the coil and the metal piece fits on the top distributor bolt.

Your symptoms sound like a bad coil or condenser, but could also be the points. If the condenser does not fix your problem, send the distributor with the coil and condenser to Skip Haney to have him check it out.

Skip's website security certificate expired so here is his contact information 941-505-9085, 941-639-0920, skiphaneyfl@aol.com

If that doesn't work for you, I live about 50 miles from you and may be able to help you out. I don't drive out of my neighborhood, so you would have to come up here.

Tom

carcrazy

07-29-2026 @ 8:04 PM

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The correct Ignition Condenser for a 1941 Ford looks like this one.

https://cgfordparts.com/products/distributor-condenser-37-41-pass-pu-39-41-merc-v8-78-12300?_pos=1&_sid=3bec176fd&_ss=r&_fid=a19a724f0

Kpyto71

08-04-2026 @ 7:52 AM

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New condenser ordered.. should be here this week. The one on my '41 does not look like the replacement... not sure if it was the correct one or not, but replacing it with the correct one will at least be a step in the right direction.

Question... if I left the ignition switch in the "on" position for an extended period of time (overnight)... what issues might that bring? Impact on the condenser? I'd like to get to the bottom of the car just not wanting to start at all. We had it running earlier this year, and even better with the replacement of the coil (I still have the one that was on the car), and the resistor, the car seemed great. Then.. after sitting a few weeks (no, not with the ignition switch on), I haven't been able to get it to fire. Anyway...

When the condenser arrives, I'll replace it, check for spark, and have a look at the existing plugs. I don't know when they were last changed. Thanks as always for the help, and I'll report back soon.

TomO

08-05-2026 @ 12:51 PM

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If you left the ignition switch on over night, it is likely that you destroyed the coil. Leaving the switch on allows current to flow and heat the coil. The coil is designed for intermittent current flow, The points are closed and current flows about 7% of the time that the engine is running.

If the coil that you took off was a Ford coil, it can be rebuilt by Skip Haney and will last many years if you turn off the ignition switch when the engine is not running. The reproduction coils that Dennis Carpenter cannot be rebuilt.

Post a photo of your distributor or enable PM in your profile and I can give you some direction in replacing your parts.

Tom

Kpyto71

08-06-2026 @ 9:45 AM

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Hi Tom,

Thanks for the info... not the best news... I had just replaced the old coil with one from Dennis Carpenter... I did keep the old one however. I talked to Skip yesterday... Great guy to talk to and I'll be pulling off the distributor this weekend, and shipping him that and the old (I believe) original coil to him to have both rebuilt.

How can I test my Dennis Carpenter coil to see if it's shot? If it is, then my short-term problem is getting the car running in time for the Geneva Concourse d'Elegance show at the end of this month. Might require me purchasing another coil while I wait for Skip to rebuild mine. At least I'd have another spare.

So... to try and fix my issues... rebuild the old coil and existing distributor, gap and install new plugs (already purchased), maybe buy a second coil (?), use a spare distributor, install the new condenser. When the coil and distributor come back from Skip, I'll put those on the car and have a spare distributor and coil on hand.

Thanks again for the information on the coil. I think I'm going to make checklist to go through for starting and stopping/storing the car... that way I don't run into the issue of leaving the ignition on anymore. *ugh* I'll enable PM on my profile, and I'll see about getting a picture of my current set up to you (or post here). Thanks again!

C.

Kens 36

08-06-2026 @ 9:57 AM

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C,

Is your coil mounted on the top of the distributor? I have a spare for a '42, but it mounts externally. I live around 35 miles from you.

Ken

Kpyto71

08-07-2026 @ 9:22 AM

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Hi All,

My caps and coil are brown - see attached pictures. You can also see here that my condenser is definitely different than what I've been shown to be the correct looking one. Sure, the one that I have might work, but I'm going back to an original looking one.

For the moment I think I have everything I need either coming, or here... temporary substitute distributor, secondary coil, and a new condenser. This weekend I'll pull the existing three off the car, put the replacements on (I might have questions about the distributor replacement), and ship off my old coil and distributor to Skip for rebuilding. Fingers crossed that by mid-week next week Mae is up and running again.

Thanks, and I really appreciate the help!

40 Coupe

08-15-2026 @ 7:03 AM

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Your caps and coil appear to be black in your posted photos. I can see the improper condenser mounting of a later year condenser. For years finding good long lasting and proper mounting condensers has been a problem. Someone may have used a more dependable later condenser and found a way to mount it on your existing ignition.
By 41 most of the Carbon black was used in the war effort and Ford caps and coils were a brown to pale red color.
If your sending a coil to Skip for rebuild he also works on distributors and water pumps. He can rebuild and time distributors and supply a good condenser.

Kpyto71

08-15-2026 @ 9:10 AM

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Hi All... An Update!

So... when we purchased there were a lot of unknowns. The biggest issue was the "no hot start" issue... at temp, turning the car off meant having to wait 20 minutes before firing her back up again. At the start I replaced the coil that was on the car with one from Dennis Carpenter - I kept the old one. I still had a labored start, and still had the hot start issue. After looking a bit, I found that I had a loose battery cable connection at the starter solenoid. I took that apart, cleaned everything, put it back together, and also replaced the resistor under the dash. Amazing difference in turnover, and she fired up pretty good. Drove it once after that - was super happy with the performance, and the next time I tried to start it... nothing doing. While trying to get it to start, I inadvertently left the ignition on. As you all know, not good. Now what. Not knowing what I had done until taking to a fellow member, I ordered a new condenser from Dennis Carpenter.

We are going to be in a car show in Geneva, IL at the end of the month, and with about a month to go, I was not realizing that leaving my ignition on overnight likely lead to more issues. So, I contacted Skip Haney and let him know that I'd like to get my original coil and my distributor rebuilt... and off to Florida they went. The problem was timing. Not sure if I'd get them back before the show (and for me to leave enough time for any other issues), I looked to Dennis Carpenter for another coil, and to Third Gen Automotive for a second distributor. I got the distributor first, followed a day or two later with the new condenser. I connected everything... still no spark.

Along about that time I got a call from Skip telling me that my "original" coil was an older Dennis Carpenter one that he could do nothing with, but as luck would have it, he had an older one that he'd rebuilt that he could sell me (and would kindly toss the old Dennis Carpenter into his bucket o' trash. In the meantime, I ordered another coil from Dennis Carpenter - fastest I could get.

Yesterday the coil came, so back into the engine compartment I went - now, I have a new rebuilt distributor, a new coil, a new condenser (the proper one), and a new resistor. And with that, I check... and had spark. Took a bit to get fuel up into the carb, but after a bit... Mae (we named her that) fired up... and ran great. Took her for a drive for a while to get the temp up, brought her back home, turned her off, let her sit for a minute, then turned her back over.... no problem. Turned it off, then quickly back on and... vroom! No issues at all.

To say that I was happy would be an understatement. Okay, I've replaced a lot so it's not surprising, but still... I was super happy with the progress. That being said, when the distributor and coil come back from Skip, that's what I'll end up putting on the car, and the Dennis Carpenter coil as well as the Thrid Gen Automotive distributor will be part of my spare stock. I did get a set of plugs (Champion H10C's) and I think I swap out what is in the car now just so I have all new.

The original owner (from April 30, 1941 - 1979), put nearly 198,000 miles on the car... after that it was in collections and accumulated just about 2,000 miles in total... Last year we drove Mae 800 miles, always leaving home and coming right back home due to the hot start issue... Now, we'll be able to confidently continue on with adding more miles to her. I don't know what was done after the car was sold in 1979, but I have extensive documentation from about 1952 (99k miles) - 1979 (197k miles), but I do know that it was in a few collections, and for sure the car was restored... and is curently in as close to "as sold" as it could be.

Happy to be the next caretakes, and happy to be able to start the car at will.

Thanks for this club, a few others, and some great people with much more knowledge than me... but I'm learning!

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