The Ford Barn

40cpe · 04-11-2017, 07:42 PM

My '55 came to me with a loadamatic distributor. I ordered a Cardone reman mechanical advance distributor for a '59 from Autozone. Awesome service, free, fast shipping. I put it in and it ran great. For a while. Today I was testing my power steering shim job and on the way back home the car started missing and jerking badly. It died as I rolled into my drive. I got it in the shop and replaced the coil with a known good one, no help. I had an old flathead distributor and used the condenser from it to replace the one in the distributor and it fired right up. It has been well known on the flathead forum that many condensers are no good now. What brand have you guys been using that are generally serviceable for our Y blocks?
Thanks,
Gene

mikhett · 04-12-2017, 07:03 PM

Try E bay,CL etc.The new ones are just Chinese junk.I found old OEM Ford ignition parts on eBay and used one in my 292.Let me see if I have one.

Kahuna · 04-13-2017, 12:54 AM

Gene
As I recall, your new 55 is 12 volts?
If so, and my mind may be failing,
Get a Pertronix kit & forget about condensors.
Best
Jim

JeffB2 · 04-13-2017, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Gene
As I recall, your new 55 is 12 volts?
If so, and my mind may be failing,
Get a Pertronix kit & forget about condensors.
Best
Jim

I have seen a lot of guys that loved the Pertronix that they have had for years,but in the last few years Pertronix and companies like MSD have turned to off shore production and now failures are becoming more common. The Accel unit for the 1957 and later distributors have been pretty reliable. But I agree if you stay with points look for OEM Ford condensers and maybe grab a few spares.

bobss396 · 04-13-2017, 07:54 AM

Standard Ignition's Blue Streak line of parts has always been good for me. No idea where they make them now. Borg Warner used to make good ignition parts.

40cpe · 04-13-2017, 01:00 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I found a Standard condenser on line, it's on the way.
Thanks

Hot Rod Reverend · 04-13-2017, 01:06 PM

I can testify to the reliability of the ACCEL 2020 pointless ignition units if that helps at all.

Milt K from Pa · 04-13-2017, 02:07 PM

Bubba's distributor repair on this forum will sell you a capacitor which will probably outlive your distributor. Bought one for my '53 and my '34. You must get a little inventive to install in a stock '34 distributor as Bubba's caps have axial leads.
Good luck.

Milt K from Pa

40cpe · 04-13-2017, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hot Rod Reverend

I can testify to the reliability of the ACCEL 2020 pointless ignition units if that helps at all.

Thanks for the personal reference. I've been a pertronix fan for years, although I understand some have their issues with them. I think I'm going to stay with the points for the short term.

alandomer · 05-03-2017, 04:49 AM

I have a Standard condenser also that I bought last year. So far, I have no complaints.

willowbilly3 · 05-03-2017, 07:40 AM

A lot of us have went to electronic just because there isn't a good reliable parts store source for points and condensers. I also recommend finding new old stock Ford stuff. Another issue I have is the rubbing blocks on the points seem to need a run in time and re-adjustment. It's not unusual for the points to go closed in 200-500 miles.

dmsfrr · 05-03-2017, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willowbilly3

..... Another issue I have is the rubbing blocks on the points seem to need a run in time and re-adjustment. It's not unusual for the points to go closed in 200-500 miles.

Back-in-the-day, IIRC... new points used to come with a small packet of special grease in the box, to put a tiny dab on the lobes, for the rubbing block of the points.
With the lube, the rubbing block can last a long time.
Not sure what it was, or a good substitute??? I need to round up some.

.

50fordcoupeman · 05-03-2017, 11:25 AM

I too went with a Pertronix unit for my 302. So far no problems but only 2 years running it. It was recommended to me by members of Portland OR Tbird club. It is really hard to know which way to jump with the junk being made off-shore.

willowbilly3 · 05-04-2017, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmsfrr

Back-in-the-day, IIRC... new points used to come with a small packet of special grease in the box, to put a tiny dab on the lobes, for the rubbing block of the points.
With the lube, the rubbing block can last a long time.
Not sure what it was, or a good substitute??? I need to round up some.

.

I bought a tube at the parts store last year. Kind of expensive and enough to last all of us a lifetime,lol. Like the size of a tube of toothpaste. But I still say modern rubbing blocks are sub-standard.
I always know when it's time to reset the points. You get a little pop or two when you let off the gas.

bfdinardo · 08-13-2018, 02:55 PM

I also purchased a new (remanufactured) 1957 distributor (Cardone 2808) from O'Reilly for my 56 fairlane with the new Holley carb and the car ran great for about an hour then started to misfire and sputter. Thanks to HRR, put in an Accel 2020 points eliminator kit and car runs great now. I can only attribute this to a failing condenser as points gap was still within spec after only 30 minutes of use. Terrible quality and I'll be permanently going to the Accel kit in the next few weeks.

5851a · 08-13-2018, 06:44 PM

Kind of OT but when I went to Cali in 81 I threw a set of points and condenser in my glove compartment that I bought from Ford. Is the condenser any good?

Daves55Sedan · 08-13-2018, 07:58 PM

Seems to me I read somewhere that you can test a condenser but not sure I remember the details right. First, you remove the condenser, then touch the wire terminal to the case ground of the condenser to discharge the load. Then take a volt/ohmmeter and set the range to the highest available setting. Touch probes to condenser case and the wire terminal. The meter should jump to highest setting then fall back to zero. If it does not do that, the condenser is bad. AGAIN, I am not sure if I remember this right. Try googling condenser test and see what you get.

scicala · 08-13-2018, 08:44 PM

I wish I had all of the old condensers I threw away when tuning up cars when I was young.

Sal

streetdreams · 08-14-2018, 05:25 AM

"Back-in-the-day, IIRC... new points used to come with a small packet of special grease in the box, to put a tiny dab on the lobes, for the rubbing block of the points.
With the lube, the rubbing block can last a long time."

Been using the same small tube of lube for about 40 years now.

KULTULZ · 08-14-2018, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetdreams

Been using the same small tube of lube for about 40 years now.

HAH!

I can beat that...

I have been using the same tube of KY for forty-seven years ...

04-11-2017, 07:42 PM	#1
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Who makes a good condenser? My '55 came to me with a loadamatic distributor. I ordered a Cardone reman mechanical advance distributor for a '59 from Autozone. Awesome service, free, fast shipping. I put it in and it ran great. For a while. Today I was testing my power steering shim job and on the way back home the car started missing and jerking badly. It died as I rolled into my drive. I got it in the shop and replaced the coil with a known good one, no help. I had an old flathead distributor and used the condenser from it to replace the one in the distributor and it fired right up. It has been well known on the flathead forum that many condensers are no good now. What brand have you guys been using that are generally serviceable for our Y blocks? Thanks, Gene

04-12-2017, 07:03 PM	#2
mikhett Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jackson N.J Posts: 206	Re: Who makes a good condenser? Try E bay,CL etc.The new ones are just Chinese junk.I found old OEM Ford ignition parts on eBay and used one in my 292.Let me see if I have one.

04-13-2017, 12:54 AM	#3
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: Who makes a good condenser? Gene As I recall, your new 55 is 12 volts? If so, and my mind may be failing, Get a Pertronix kit & forget about condensors. Best Jim

04-13-2017, 07:54 AM	#5
bobss396 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 721	Re: Who makes a good condenser? Standard Ignition's Blue Streak line of parts has always been good for me. No idea where they make them now. Borg Warner used to make good ignition parts.

04-13-2017, 01:00 PM	#6
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: Who makes a good condenser? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I found a Standard condenser on line, it's on the way. Thanks

04-13-2017, 01:06 PM	#7
Hot Rod Reverend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lancaster, CA Posts: 916	Re: Who makes a good condenser? I can testify to the reliability of the ACCEL 2020 pointless ignition units if that helps at all. __________________ Lancaster, California Visit hotrodreverend.com to view hundreds of pictures and videos of the build of the 1955 Ford Club Sedan!

04-13-2017, 02:07 PM	#8
Milt K from Pa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pittsburgh Pa. Area Posts: 272	Re: Who makes a good condenser? Bubba's distributor repair on this forum will sell you a capacitor which will probably outlive your distributor. Bought one for my '53 and my '34. You must get a little inventive to install in a stock '34 distributor as Bubba's caps have axial leads. Good luck. Milt K from Pa

05-03-2017, 04:49 AM	#10
alandomer Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 44	Re: Who makes a good condenser? I have a Standard condenser also that I bought last year. So far, I have no complaints.

05-03-2017, 07:40 AM	#11
willowbilly3 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Black Hills, SD Posts: 577	Re: Who makes a good condenser? A lot of us have went to electronic just because there isn't a good reliable parts store source for points and condensers. I also recommend finding new old stock Ford stuff. Another issue I have is the rubbing blocks on the points seem to need a run in time and re-adjustment. It's not unusual for the points to go closed in 200-500 miles.

05-03-2017, 11:25 AM	#13
50fordcoupeman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: LaGrande Oregon Posts: 865	Re: Who makes a good condenser? I too went with a Pertronix unit for my 302. So far no problems but only 2 years running it. It was recommended to me by members of Portland OR Tbird club. It is really hard to know which way to jump with the junk being made off-shore.

08-13-2018, 02:55 PM	#15
bfdinardo Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 64	Re: Who makes a good condenser? I also purchased a new (remanufactured) 1957 distributor (Cardone 2808) from O'Reilly for my 56 fairlane with the new Holley carb and the car ran great for about an hour then started to misfire and sputter. Thanks to HRR, put in an Accel 2020 points eliminator kit and car runs great now. I can only attribute this to a failing condenser as points gap was still within spec after only 30 minutes of use. Terrible quality and I'll be permanently going to the Accel kit in the next few weeks.

08-13-2018, 06:44 PM	#16
5851a Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: NE Iowa Posts: 1,664	Re: Who makes a good condenser? Kind of OT but when I went to Cali in 81 I threw a set of points and condenser in my glove compartment that I bought from Ford. Is the condenser any good?

08-13-2018, 07:58 PM	#17
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: Who makes a good condenser? Seems to me I read somewhere that you can test a condenser but not sure I remember the details right. First, you remove the condenser, then touch the wire terminal to the case ground of the condenser to discharge the load. Then take a volt/ohmmeter and set the range to the highest available setting. Touch probes to condenser case and the wire terminal. The meter should jump to highest setting then fall back to zero. If it does not do that, the condenser is bad. AGAIN, I am not sure if I remember this right. Try googling condenser test and see what you get.

08-13-2018, 08:44 PM	#18
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,698	Re: Who makes a good condenser? I wish I had all of the old condensers I threw away when tuning up cars when I was young. Sal

08-14-2018, 05:25 AM	#19
streetdreams Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Howell, Michigan, USA, The Peoples Slightly Overspent Demodependancy of Michigan Posts: 638	Re: Who makes a good condenser? "Back-in-the-day, IIRC... new points used to come with a small packet of special grease in the box, to put a tiny dab on the lobes, for the rubbing block of the points. With the lube, the rubbing block can last a long time." Been using the same small tube of lube for about 40 years now.