The Ford Barn

Bruce_MO · 07-08-2018, 12:02 PM

My ‘32 Victoria has been acting up and I finally decided to tackle it. When cold, it will start up and run fine. But if I shut it off and immediately try to restart it ( within just a couple seconds), it gets no spark. I first replaced the condenser and there was no change. So then I changed the coil with a NOS one I had. Started up and ran fine, but after just a couple minutes, I shut it off for an immediate restart and it won’t start. It cranks really fast and it never smells flooded. I’m suspecting the resistor. What voltage should I have at the coil when cranking? Thanks in advance for some suggestions.

G.M. · 07-09-2018, 09:13 AM

ALL old Ford coils fail when hot, even NOS ones. You need 3.5 plus volts to
the coil cranking for the coil to fire. Send you coil to Skip Haney in Florida
to rebuild it and the hot coil problem is no more. Also send a couple of
condensers and skip will hot test them free. [email protected] G.M.

koates · 07-09-2018, 09:23 PM

Also test for power getting through your ignition switch. The contact plate wears a groove in its surface and makes a bad connection with the moving contact. These become very worn after 80 plus years of use and are a common problem often overlooked. Regards, Kevin.

Terry,OH · 07-10-2018, 08:23 AM

Battery's can act up in funny ways. If you charge it up and take it to a local auto parts store have the CCA tested. If the CCA and the ignition switch are OK then change the resistor and retest. Make sure wire connections are clean and snug.

Seth Swoboda · 07-10-2018, 08:39 AM

Hello Bruce, I sent you a Private Message. Does your '32 have the tall coil?

GSCOV · 07-13-2018, 04:17 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Here's one for everybody in Ford Land. Have had 2 1932 Ford Coupes give me problems. All said and done.... everybody assumes the nuts are tight enough on the wires to the ignition switch back. Tightened both and added mini lock washers and whala! No more spark problem. They both would run and then not run depending on if the wire was making good contact. These ignition wires I believe are used thru1948 ? My 2 cents

tubman · 07-14-2018, 12:26 PM

I had the same problem on my '36 3-window; a good cleaning and tightening of the nuts on the switch cleared up some perplexing problems. Glad your problem is solved!

31Abone · 07-16-2018, 01:11 AM

New coils from suppliers are asian junk ,find an old 50's one it should work..I bot a new coil from well known big house co. and it worked at idle but at speed it did not ,big headache until I figured it out ....sc

Tinker · 07-16-2018, 01:19 AM

3-4 volts at coil. I run about 3 not so much 4.

... bump up to the top for pictures of the motor. like to see a 32 with the right intake and other. Nice to share. Ive had a few early 33-35 motors and 1 with a 32 intake motor.

you can, if you like rebuild the coil with skip. Not to sound like a broken record, but it works.

07-08-2018, 12:02 PM	#1
Bruce_MO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 433	‘32 ignition problem? My ‘32 Victoria has been acting up and I finally decided to tackle it. When cold, it will start up and run fine. But if I shut it off and immediately try to restart it ( within just a couple seconds), it gets no spark. I first replaced the condenser and there was no change. So then I changed the coil with a NOS one I had. Started up and ran fine, but after just a couple minutes, I shut it off for an immediate restart and it won’t start. It cranks really fast and it never smells flooded. I’m suspecting the resistor. What voltage should I have at the coil when cranking? Thanks in advance for some suggestions.

07-09-2018, 09:13 AM	#2
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: ‘32 ignition problem? ALL old Ford coils fail when hot, even NOS ones. You need 3.5 plus volts to the coil cranking for the coil to fire. Send you coil to Skip Haney in Florida to rebuild it and the hot coil problem is no more. Also send a couple of condensers and skip will hot test them free. [email protected] G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

07-09-2018, 09:23 PM	#3
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,079	Re: ‘32 ignition problem? Also test for power getting through your ignition switch. The contact plate wears a groove in its surface and makes a bad connection with the moving contact. These become very worn after 80 plus years of use and are a common problem often overlooked. Regards, Kevin.

07-10-2018, 08:23 AM	#4
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,751	Re: ‘32 ignition problem? Battery's can act up in funny ways. If you charge it up and take it to a local auto parts store have the CCA tested. If the CCA and the ignition switch are OK then change the resistor and retest. Make sure wire connections are clean and snug.

07-10-2018, 08:39 AM	#5
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 3,795	Re: ‘32 ignition problem? Hello Bruce, I sent you a Private Message. Does your '32 have the tall coil?

07-13-2018, 04:17 PM	#6
GSCOV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Connecticut Posts: 960	Re: ‘32 ignition problem? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Here's one for everybody in Ford Land. Have had 2 1932 Ford Coupes give me problems. All said and done.... everybody assumes the nuts are tight enough on the wires to the ignition switch back. Tightened both and added mini lock washers and whala! No more spark problem. They both would run and then not run depending on if the wire was making good contact. These ignition wires I believe are used thru1948 ? My 2 cents

07-14-2018, 12:26 PM	#7
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,319	Re: ‘32 ignition problem? I had the same problem on my '36 3-window; a good cleaning and tightening of the nuts on the switch cleared up some perplexing problems. Glad your problem is solved!

07-16-2018, 01:11 AM	#8
31Abone Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Big pine Ca 93513 Posts: 797	Re: ‘32 ignition problem? New coils from suppliers are asian junk ,find an old 50's one it should work..I bot a new coil from well known big house co. and it worked at idle but at speed it did not ,big headache until I figured it out ....sc

07-16-2018, 01:19 AM	#9
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: ‘32 ignition problem? 3-4 volts at coil. I run about 3 not so much 4. ... bump up to the top for pictures of the motor. like to see a 32 with the right intake and other. Nice to share. Ive had a few early 33-35 motors and 1 with a 32 intake motor. you can, if you like rebuild the coil with skip. Not to sound like a broken record, but it works. Last edited by Tinker; 07-16-2018 at 01:59 AM.