The Ford Barn

drolston · 08-08-2023, 05:00 PM

I have been helping a non-Barn friend with his '39 fire engine. Got it running but died when hot. It was the helmet coil, oozing tar. He would like to keep an original style coil and asked about the Dennis Carpenter reproduction 78-12024-A.

This is a parade vehicle, so it just needs to start and run reliably for a few hours each year. I said the Dennis Carpenter coil should work fine. But my advice was based on no actual experience with those coils.

Do we have a general thumbs up on the Carpenter unit, or should he do the coil conversion thing?

Kube · 08-08-2023, 05:16 PM

I vote for "option C", not listed. Get an authentic Ford script coil and have George Haney rebuild it.
The repop coils are good sometimes. To me, sometimes is not good enough.

I think the conversion looks like crap and is completely unnecessary.

TJ · 08-08-2023, 06:58 PM

Was there a resistor in line to the coil? That needs to be checked before putting on another coil.

tubman · 08-08-2023, 07:13 PM

Listen to "Kube". He has more experience with this stuff than anyone else I am aware of.

alanwoodieman · 08-08-2023, 07:31 PM

vote for Skip's coils--I use them all the time, even 12 volt conversions that he does. Save your money -do not purchase a DC coil. I keep coils in stock to fix other guy's rides.

drolston · 08-08-2023, 09:12 PM

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I will advise him to send his original coil to Skip for a rebuild. Worth the extra thirty bucks.

JM 35 Sedan · 08-09-2023, 05:18 AM

Definitely go with Skip Haney. He has rebuilt many coils for me over the years and recently he did four '33 to '36 coils for me. Two of these four were for Lawrie, our Fordbarn member and good friend from Australia, which he carried back home with him after attending the Early Ford V-8 Club's GNM in Dearborn, Michigan this June. When Skip rebuilds these coils they function very well and look beautiful!

marko39 · 08-09-2023, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kube

I vote for "option C", not listed. Get an authentic Ford script coil and have George Haney rebuild it.
The repop coils are good sometimes. To me, sometimes is not good enough.

I think the conversion looks like crap and is completely unnecessary.

The carpenter coil i got off ebay was made in china and lasted 15 mins. at least it was good for target practice. I agree the conversions look like crap. sent an old coil to skip and all is good.

deuce_roadster · 08-09-2023, 08:52 AM

I am another vote for send the oozer to Skip Haney, it will come back looking like new and working better then new.

35fordtn · 08-09-2023, 12:47 PM

We are a carpenter dealer and I will not carry their coils.They are junk

JM 35 Sedan · 08-09-2023, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35fordtn

We are a carpenter dealer and I will not carry their coils.They are junk

Michael, I've heard about this for at least 3 or 4 years now, and based on the number of complaints I've read here, and on other websites, I totally believe they are junk. I've gotta wonder if you and some of the other Early Ford Parts businesses have complained to the folks presently running Dennis Carpenter's business?.

Seth Swoboda · 08-09-2023, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kube

I vote for "option C", not listed. Get an authentic Ford script coil and have George Haney rebuild it.
The repop coils are good sometimes. To me, sometimes is not good enough.

I think the conversion looks like crap and is completely unnecessary.

I'll second this advice.

philipswanson · 08-14-2023, 10:42 AM

I just went to Autozone and bought a 6 volt coil. Standard over the counter part. Works fine. No resistor needed.

08-08-2023, 05:00 PM	#1
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 I have been helping a non-Barn friend with his '39 fire engine. Got it running but died when hot. It was the helmet coil, oozing tar. He would like to keep an original style coil and asked about the Dennis Carpenter reproduction 78-12024-A. This is a parade vehicle, so it just needs to start and run reliably for a few hours each year. I said the Dennis Carpenter coil should work fine. But my advice was based on no actual experience with those coils. Do we have a general thumbs up on the Carpenter unit, or should he do the coil conversion thing?

08-08-2023, 05:16 PM	#2
Kube Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 9,012	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 I vote for "option C", not listed. Get an authentic Ford script coil and have George Haney rebuild it. The repop coils are good sometimes. To me, sometimes is not good enough. I think the conversion looks like crap and is completely unnecessary. __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

08-08-2023, 06:58 PM	#3
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,037	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 Was there a resistor in line to the coil? That needs to be checked before putting on another coil.

08-08-2023, 07:13 PM	#4
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,320	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 Listen to "Kube". He has more experience with this stuff than anyone else I am aware of.

08-08-2023, 07:31 PM	#5
alanwoodieman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: upstate SC Posts: 2,965	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 vote for Skip's coils--I use them all the time, even 12 volt conversions that he does. Save your money -do not purchase a DC coil. I keep coils in stock to fix other guy's rides.

08-08-2023, 09:12 PM	#6
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I will advise him to send his original coil to Skip for a rebuild. Worth the extra thirty bucks.

08-09-2023, 05:18 AM	#7
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,859	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 Definitely go with Skip Haney. He has rebuilt many coils for me over the years and recently he did four '33 to '36 coils for me. Two of these four were for Lawrie, our Fordbarn member and good friend from Australia, which he carried back home with him after attending the Early Ford V-8 Club's GNM in Dearborn, Michigan this June. When Skip rebuilds these coils they function very well and look beautiful! __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein* Last edited by JM 35 Sedan; 08-09-2023 at 11:06 AM.

08-09-2023, 08:52 AM	#9
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 I am another vote for send the oozer to Skip Haney, it will come back looking like new and working better then new.

08-09-2023, 12:47 PM	#10
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 We are a carpenter dealer and I will not carry their coils.They are junk

08-14-2023, 10:42 AM	#13
philipswanson Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bonita, CA Posts: 1,374	Re: Dennis Carpenter coil for 37 - 41 I just went to Autozone and bought a 6 volt coil. Standard over the counter part. Works fine. No resistor needed.