The Ford Barn

mcgarrett · 03-04-2026, 09:29 PM

Perhaps this was mentioned somewhere above and I missed it, but the VW Beetle 6 volt can coils are readily available and will work depending on your setup or application needs.

https://socalautoparts.com/product/c...ludes-bracket/

petehoovie · 03-04-2026, 09:59 PM

See > https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...6283&cat=41853

6 VOLT COIL
Part # A-12000 | Model Year 28-34

This is the replacement type 6-volt coil. You must use the coil bracket with this coil. Used on all years of Model A's and Model T''s that are running a distributor.

$18.95 EA

COIL BRACKET
Part # A-12000-CB | Model Year 28-34
Bracket to mount the 1928-34 ignition coil.
When running a distributor on your T, you need to use a modern style 6 volt coil. This is the bracket to hold the coil to the firewall or wherever you want to mount the coil.

$8.95 EA

torpedo · 03-05-2026, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

"Shoebox" Fords and their ilk do not have ballast resistors of any kind and are definitely 6 volt vehicles.

Apologies to OP. this fact escaped me. My statement about resistor was related to earlier models.

hueyhoolihan · 03-05-2026, 06:16 PM

the "coil conversion kit" installation was a disaster! the instructions included did not show the parts in the kit. and the contents of the kit did not contain some of the parts listed in the installation instructions. however...

i did get it installed and made do with the missing parts, but the real problem was that once installed i wasn't getting any spark. and in order to tweak the "pigtail" (actually recommended in the instructions and which may have been the problem) a spring-loaded carbon tip....well...sprung into the distributor body, and so the distributor needed to be removed. ...and at this point i simply moved on to plan B.

which was to attempt, yet again, to install my Stromberg E-Fire electronic distributor. and this time it worked! not too surprised, as i had removed my ballast resistor just the other day, which, i think, was causing the problem on my five or six previous attempts.

anyway the "diver's helmet" distributor is now history, as well as its coil and condenser and its sparkplug wires. and in it's place is the E-Fire distributor and canister coil. and i'm now hopeful that the root cause of all these shenanigans, the massive misfiring as the engine approached operating temperature, has been solved.

which leaves me with well...a bunch of stuff i don't need, don't have the motivation to sell, too cheap to throw away, and will be inherited by someone in the not too distant future, that too, doesn't need it, but is motivated and not too cheap to throw away!

to wit...two "diver's helmet distributors"; the one that came with the car and had new points installed in it, and a second rebuilt one bought on ebay which may or may not have a set of fried points in it. and three coils. the one that came with the car which may be defective, and another recent purchase that may be defective too due to my "testing" the other day, and a third which has never been used, but may be defective too. annnnd two condensers, one of which may be defective and one that is new. and then there's the recently purchased "coil conversion kit" that didn't work out. and finally a set of new sparkplug wires in the original flathead organizing cylinders complete with new "diver's helmet" style distributor caps. oh..and two fuel pumps, one that came with the car that i think i may have rendered inoperable when attempting a rebuild, and another brand new aftermarket one that just didn't quite fit. and the 8v, 40lb golf cart battery that the previous owner thought was the solution to a starting problem along with its partner in crime a tweaked voltage regulator that now passes too much voltage to be used with a 6v battery and too little for a 12v. and a 12v starter that was, i think, also part of the 8v battery/ignition/charging fiasco. quite a collection. i'm thinking about creating a "wall of shame" in the basement. ...a trophy room of sorts.

oldbugger · 03-05-2026, 09:40 PM

If you don't do it twice [or more] it's not right, so I've been told by a very smart friend.

1oldtimer · 03-07-2026, 05:14 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I buy my coils off of eBay, used or NOS USA made coils (12v and 6V bother internal or external resisted). New coil failures are high and the Coils Bubba used to sell are gone (Annover coils I believe).

03-04-2026, 09:29 PM	#21
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Corsicana, Texas Posts: 1,551	Re: 6v canister style coils. do they exist? Perhaps this was mentioned somewhere above and I missed it, but the VW Beetle 6 volt can coils are readily available and will work depending on your setup or application needs. https://socalautoparts.com/product/c...ludes-bracket/

03-04-2026, 09:59 PM	#22
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 11,644	Re: 6v canister style coils. do they exist? See > https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/p...6283&cat=41853 6 VOLT COIL Part # A-12000 \| Model Year 28-34 This is the replacement type 6-volt coil. You must use the coil bracket with this coil. Used on all years of Model A's and Model T''s that are running a distributor. $18.95 EA COIL BRACKET Part # A-12000-CB \| Model Year 28-34 Bracket to mount the 1928-34 ignition coil. When running a distributor on your T, you need to use a modern style 6 volt coil. This is the bracket to hold the coil to the firewall or wherever you want to mount the coil. $8.95 EA __________________

03-05-2026, 06:16 PM	#24
hueyhoolihan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: central coast california Posts: 594	Re: 6v canister style coils. do they exist? the "coil conversion kit" installation was a disaster! the instructions included did not show the parts in the kit. and the contents of the kit did not contain some of the parts listed in the installation instructions. however... i did get it installed and made do with the missing parts, but the real problem was that once installed i wasn't getting any spark. and in order to tweak the "pigtail" (actually recommended in the instructions and which may have been the problem) a spring-loaded carbon tip....well...sprung into the distributor body, and so the distributor needed to be removed. ...and at this point i simply moved on to plan B. which was to attempt, yet again, to install my Stromberg E-Fire electronic distributor. and this time it worked! not too surprised, as i had removed my ballast resistor just the other day, which, i think, was causing the problem on my five or six previous attempts. anyway the "diver's helmet" distributor is now history, as well as its coil and condenser and its sparkplug wires. and in it's place is the E-Fire distributor and canister coil. and i'm now hopeful that the root cause of all these shenanigans, the massive misfiring as the engine approached operating temperature, has been solved. which leaves me with well...a bunch of stuff i don't need, don't have the motivation to sell, too cheap to throw away, and will be inherited by someone in the not too distant future, that too, doesn't need it, but is motivated and not too cheap to throw away! to wit...two "diver's helmet distributors"; the one that came with the car and had new points installed in it, and a second rebuilt one bought on ebay which may or may not have a set of fried points in it. and three coils. the one that came with the car which may be defective, and another recent purchase that may be defective too due to my "testing" the other day, and a third which has never been used, but may be defective too. annnnd two condensers, one of which may be defective and one that is new. and then there's the recently purchased "coil conversion kit" that didn't work out. and finally a set of new sparkplug wires in the original flathead organizing cylinders complete with new "diver's helmet" style distributor caps. oh..and two fuel pumps, one that came with the car that i think i may have rendered inoperable when attempting a rebuild, and another brand new aftermarket one that just didn't quite fit. and the 8v, 40lb golf cart battery that the previous owner thought was the solution to a starting problem along with its partner in crime a tweaked voltage regulator that now passes too much voltage to be used with a 6v battery and too little for a 12v. and a 12v starter that was, i think, also part of the 8v battery/ignition/charging fiasco. quite a collection. i'm thinking about creating a "wall of shame" in the basement. ...a trophy room of sorts. Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 03-06-2026 at 12:42 AM.

03-05-2026, 09:40 PM	#25
oldbugger Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Holland Mi Posts: 761	Re: 6v canister style coils. do they exist? If you don't do it twice [or more] it's not right, so I've been told by a very smart friend.

03-07-2026, 05:14 PM	#26
1oldtimer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Orange County, Ca. Posts: 700	Re: 6v canister style coils. do they exist? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I buy my coils off of eBay, used or NOS USA made coils (12v and 6V bother internal or external resisted). New coil failures are high and the Coils Bubba used to sell are gone (Annover coils I believe).