Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-03-2017, 08:13 AM   #21
woodiewagon46
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Long Island,NY
Posts: 1,551
Default Re: Ignition condenser

If you can get a copy of the Sept/Oct 2014 issue of the V-8 Times there is an article on condensers for V-8 Fords. Really interesting reading on a little known piece.
woodiewagon46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2017, 03:42 PM   #22
Paul Bennett
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 628
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Condensers mate with coils for max point life.

Condensers must have adequate voltage rating else they demise early.
Paul Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 04-03-2017, 09:15 PM   #23
Ian NZ
Senior Member
 
Ian NZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Taranaki, New Zealand
Posts: 921
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION View Post
Man this discussion never quits.
The 35 Ford spec mfds is .36 mfd per the Ford service book. The IH200 and the FA54 is .25 which is slightly lower than spec .....
However the spec for the 42-48 Crab is .25mfds......
This difference is seen running on a distributor machine, i keep a .36 with leads and clips hanging there, see some arc on the primary points jumper the test .36 in the circuit and it will go away..........interesting ...
What condenser would you run on a 1941 Ford V8 distributor which has the 11A shaft which is exactly the same specs as the 42 - 48 crab distributor would it be .25 mfd as recommend by the Ford service book therefor you could run a IH200 condenser.
Ian NZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2017, 10:21 AM   #24
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,367
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Condenser (automotive capacitor) quality has been on a steady decline since the last manufacturer quit using them. There may come a time when we have to fabricate a little can that can be reused and roll our own with some proper foil and mylar film. The key is knowing what size the foil and mylar film have to be to get the right capacitive reactance.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2017, 01:10 PM   #25
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by rotorwrench View Post
Condenser (automotive capacitor) quality has been on a steady decline since the last manufacturer quit using them. There may come a time when we have to fabricate a little can that can be reused and roll our own with some proper foil and mylar film. The key is knowing what size the foil and mylar film have to be to get the right capacitive reactance.
I thought some folks were already doing that.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2017, 04:03 PM   #26
FlatheadTed
Senior Member
 
FlatheadTed's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Auckland
Posts: 4,691
Send a message via AIM to FlatheadTed
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
I use two condensers ,One brand I have been running 25 Years ,you could Buy up old stock ,There's probly a radio capacitor that would do it ,Ted
__________________
http://www.flatheadted.com


Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,
FlatheadTed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2017, 04:46 PM   #27
Rudolph
Senior Member
 
Rudolph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: North island Newzealand.
Posts: 272
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by JSeery View Post
I thought some folks were already doing that.

You can use a potato and just jam a cople wires into it to get you home
Rudolph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2017, 06:17 PM   #28
Brian
Senior Member
 
Brian's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Masterton, New Zealand
Posts: 3,816
Default Re: Ignition condenser

What sort of potato, what size, peeled/unpeeled, cooked or raw, if cooked; what method, boiled, roasted, fried-[nah- I guess you don't want fried, original condensers do that!], what polarity do you stick the wires. [This is supposed to be humour] Come on man, I answered your original question.
__________________
Unfortunately, two half wits don't make a whole wit!
Brian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2017, 06:19 PM   #29
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,367
Default Re: Ignition condenser

I think the ones being made to mimic the big brass Mallory condensers are using the guts out of another condenser. At least that way you could make sure the wire input lead is properly attached to the foil. The big Vertex mag condensers are hand made as far as I know but they ain't cheap either. I think I would check a TCM/Bendix 200 or 1200 series Magneto condenser to see what the capacity rating is but those things are getting expensive too. At least I know they work!
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2017, 04:45 AM   #30
Rudolph
Senior Member
 
Rudolph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: North island Newzealand.
Posts: 272
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian View Post
What sort of potato, what size, peeled/unpeeled, cooked or raw, if cooked; what method, boiled, roasted, fried-[nah- I guess you don't want fried, original condensers do that!], what polarity do you stick the wires. [This is supposed to be humour] Come on man, I answered your original question.

I will go with the skyline condenser, I will grab one this week.

But you can use a potato

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-n...potato-5193266
Rudolph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2017, 05:48 PM   #31
Ian NZ
Senior Member
 
Ian NZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Taranaki, New Zealand
Posts: 921
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by woodiewagon46 View Post
If you can get a copy of the Sept/Oct 2014 issue of the V-8 Times there is an article on condensers for V-8 Fords. Really interesting reading on a little known piece.
That article in the Ford V8 Times magazine was very interesting by Frank Scheidt. It seems that if you use a 26 mfd condensor it will work on most Ford V8,s and it depends on what type of coil you run too which effects the build up on the distributor points. I do not think most V8 owners are very worried about how long the points will last on the distributor as they are not doing big mileage anyway and the V8 distributors are hard to get at too dismantle and check on the points. It seems as if you fit a good quality condenser and most of them are about 26mfd or more you are ok.
I have enclosed a chart from the write up in the V8 Times.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Ford V8 Condensors.jpg (59.5 KB, 109 views)
Ian NZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2017, 03:15 AM   #32
Rudolph
Senior Member
 
Rudolph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: North island Newzealand.
Posts: 272
Default Re: Ignition condenser

I measured my coils primary circuit and its 1.3 ohms dose that sound ok to use with the skyline .22 MF condenser?

Edit: just found this https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...6859&showall=1

I guess its close enough

Last edited by Rudolph; 04-06-2017 at 03:26 AM.
Rudolph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2017, 05:18 PM   #33
Rudolph
Senior Member
 
Rudolph's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: North island Newzealand.
Posts: 272
Default Re: Ignition condenser

Quote:
Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION View Post
Man this discussion never quits.
The 35 Ford spec mfds is .36 mfd per the Ford service book. The IH200 and the FA54 is .25 which is slightly lower than spec .....
However the spec for the 42-48 Crab is .25mfds......
This difference is seen running on a distributor machine, i keep a .36 with leads and clips hanging there, see some arc on the primary points jumper the test .36 in the circuit and it will go away..........interesting ...

Are you using a 6 or 12v coil?
Rudolph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-08-2017, 09:34 AM   #34
fordy_nine
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Springboro. Ohio
Posts: 212
Default Re: Ignition condenser

The inductance of the coil, the frequency (dwell and RPM dependent) and probably the plug gap are variables in determining the capacitance or capacitive reactance required for best point life and performance. If you are going by manufacturer's specifications, remember all these components have a 10% or 20% tolerance rating........Bob L
fordy_nine is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:56 AM.