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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Tuning my 1937

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Tuning my 1937 -- page: 1 2 3 4 5     mzahorik 06-09-2017 @ 9:28 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 I have a 1937 ForDor. It has a 59A replacement engine (maybe 1946?)and would like to improve it's performance. The complaint is, it is hard starting and pops thru the carburetor while starting and on acceleration. The spark plugs are black with a light covering of soot and looks oily. Here's what I've done so far. 1. New battery 2. New gasoline 3. Compression test cyl 1 = 70# cyl 2 = 78# cyl 3 = 74# cyl 4 = 76# cyl 5 = 70# cyl 6 = 80# cyl 7 = 80# cyl 8 = 88# 4. Fuel pump pressure >2# at idle 5. Spark quality seem poor. The spark on a gapped plug in open air looks weak and when using a test plug, the one where the spark needs to jump about 3/8" the ignition will not spark at all. Therefore I think my problem is with the ignition. Never having removed the distributor or doing any ignition work, also knowing it have not been touched for years, how should I approach this? I believe that the distributor needs to be removed. Thanks Mike carcrazy 06-09-2017 @ 1:00 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1652 Joined: Oct 2009 If the distributor hasn't been serviced in a long time, it is a good idea to remove it from the engine and take it to someone to have it completely rebuilt and setup on a distributor machine. MG 06-09-2017 @ 1:40 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1254 Joined: Nov 2009 Simple things first....Replace the condenser.... JayChicago 06-09-2017 @ 7:55 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 480 Joined: Jan 2016 I agree. Sounds like you have spark, but weak spark. A bad condenser will give you weak spark, and changing the condenser is a simple/cheap first step. sarahcecelia 06-10-2017 @ 9:09 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1182 Joined: Mar 2013 Your compression is low should be a little over 100lbs. with only about 5-10 pounds variance between cylinders.make sure that you get about 3-5 compression strokes when doing it on each cylinder, and the engine should be warm when doing it. mzahorik 06-11-2017 @ 10:26 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 Don't know of anyone with a distributor machine, so I'll try it myself. How hard can it be? Second, I do not have a replacement condenser, but I do have some replacement cap's for my Model T coils. I tried the V8 capacitor in a Model T coil and it seems to work fine. Then I tried the Model T cap on the V8 engine and it worked the same as with the original condenser. There is nothing I can do about the compression. What I was looking for was a bad valve, but these readings do not indicate that. So I think the distributor needs attention. But it is so dam hot out these past few days that I hate to be working in it. Once I get the '39 out of the garage maybe I put the '37 in there and start on the distributor. I can replace the points and condenser and give it a good cleaning and attempt to set the contacts. The spark plug wires were replaced recently and still seem OK. Keep you up to date as I work, thanks Mike len47merc 06-11-2017 @ 12:29 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1165 Joined: Oct 2013 Find someone with a distributor machine. As good as you think you are - and you may actually be - the 'machine' will surprise you with the improved performance you WILL notice over setting it up manually with feeler gauges on your bench. Once you've tasted the machine you'll never go back. Allen, Sun, etc., etc. Absolutely worth the cost of admission. Steve mzahorik 06-11-2017 @ 12:47 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 I'll try, but I don't know anyone with a distributor machine. Where can I look for one? I have the distributor off and the first item I noticed is that the tab that turns the shaft has been brazed, as if it broke off at some time, odd. Next I tested the coil. It seems OK, but not the best I've seen. The coil will not jump my test spark plug that have a large gap, maybe it is too much for this coil. But it will jump a 5/16" gap rather nicely, but become poor at 3/8". The points are rather poor, so, I suppose I'll get some new points and a new condenser, just to be safe. Thanks Mike mzahorik 06-11-2017 @ 3:46 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 209 Joined: Nov 2009 Well..... just got our power back. Had a power outage, no AC no lights in the garage, so we went out for a meal. My next question is where is a good vendor for these ignition parts I need. I looked at Bob Drake, but did not find much. I would like some quality stuff, not Mac's. thanks Mike TomO 06-11-2017 @ 6:28 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7250 Joined: Oct 2009 I would not try to replace the points without a distributor machine. The spacing of the points is all that controls the timing of the spark. I also don't think that the points are causing your weak spark. I don't know how you are testing the spark, but I suggest that you do it when the engine is idling by pulling one plug wire and holding it near a head nut. It should be a blue spark, about 1/2" long. Most auto supply stores should be able to get you a condenser, but I think that your problem is most likely the coil. Skip Haney rebuilds the original type coil. He also will replace the points and adjust them on his distributor machine http://www.fordcollector.com/ Tom

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