My successful troubleshooting after stalling on the way home yesterday

[SDJason]

Being a lazy Friday, I decided to drive the Model A to work yesterday (a leisurely 25 miles or so along coastal San Diego).

On the way back, the engine died just a few miles from home.

My first thought was that I had overheated it (again - I did that once before by running too lean), but that wasn't the case this time - the motometer was barely registering anything (unlike the previous time), no steam, and opening the radiator cap showed nothing out of the ordinary.

So - thinking back on what I remember reading on various Model A websites and the fordbarn, I thought I'd check for spark - pulled the distributor wire off, held it near a nut on the head, and manually pushed in the starter rod.

No spark! Thankfully, (also due to reading fordbarn and/or various Model A websites) I had a spare coil and distributor wire in my toolbag. Swapping them in worked like a charm, and I was on my way.

Examining the old coil & wire today, it looks like the coil side connectors are well-corroded (I assume they should be a shiny brass color normally). So - I guess corroded brass doesn't conduct electricity very well? Also - anyone have an idea/guess as to how old this coil is? Thanks!

[ctlikon0712]

I read somewhere that brass oxide or corrosion is still a conductor, unlike other forms of oxide. That is why brass terminal dist. caps are a better choice. Aluminum oxide is baaaaadddddd! No answer on the coil.

[Richard Wilson]

Any time you break down and you are trouble shooting just remember spark, fuel, and compression.

[Benson]

If the coil has an address on it in the format "Chicago, Ill. "(with out a Zip code" and or the state abbreviations are more than 2 digits and followed by period)---it is most likely prior to 1963.

Quote drom Wiki :
In

1963

, the Post Office Department implemented the five-digit ZIP

Code
, which was placed after the state in the last line of an address. To provide room for the ZIP Code, the Department issued two-letter abbreviations for all states and territories. Publication 59,

Abbreviations for Use with ZIP Code

, issued by the Department in October 1963, told why.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/When_did_t...#ixzz1tNa5KV84

Also if the phone number is in the format OL9-5643 or GY7-5643 then same time period as I remember.

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by Richard Wilson

Any time you break down and you are trouble shooting just remember spark, fuel, and compression.

And timing and point gap.

[Richard Wilson]

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Originally Posted by 700rpm

And timing and point gap.

Think spark.

[1930artdeco]

The MOTORCRAFT coil says Made in USA so it is probably from the 80's I am guessing. They started moving things to Mexico around then.

Mike