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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 34 ford Distributor

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Posted By Discussion Topic: 34 ford Distributor -- page: 1 2     gregthor 10-26-2010 @ 9:07 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 8 Joined: Sep 2010 Alan, I don’t think I will switch to 12 V; it seems you guys have a lot of good ideas to try before I go to that extreme. A ground cable to the starter is one idea to try. We replaced the battery cables with really thick ones, but there was a braded cable that didn’t look to good that we didn’t replace yet. Also, I think the motor is really tight. It only has about 15 miles on it. I think if we can fix the cooling problems, we can put some miles on the car and it might loosen up a bit and be able to start with the 6 V (now to start it we need to jump it right at the starter with 12V). Besides totally having fun working on this car another reason that it was so fun is that my Dad’s first car was a 34 ford. See attached picture of my Dad & his 34 taken in 1945 on Ohio Street in Detroit Mi. The picture didn’t scan well but in the photo I can see the rubber weather strip on the door is falling down and a crack in the front fender (my Dad said that was common). Also by looking at the tires, they must not have had Armor All back then. Talking about this car always puts a smile on my Dad's face. He said the clutch slipped and his buddy could beat him with a Whizzer bike. I have added a 34 ford to my bucket list. It was really fun to drive. The shifter has a long throw compared to the Hurst shifters in my GTO but I like how you have to have a “feel” to get the shifts right. It makes you feel ”one with the machine” when it goes smoothly! Greg ford38v8 10-25-2010 @ 7:55 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 2766 Joined: Oct 2009 Greg, that's a honey of a little coupe! We'd all sell our sisters to get our hands on that beauty! Please don't go 12 volt. Too much to convert to do it right, and so little to do to make the 6 volts work for you. If it's a modern radio or disc player you want, you can get a converter for those thingys pretty cheap. My opinion on a radio in an old Ford is that it should hum like the original. I want to hear the flat motor anyway, not tunes! So glad it added some nostalgia to the wedding! Alan gregthor 10-25-2010 @ 9:27 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 8 Joined: Sep 2010 I guess only one picture went through. Here is the other one. Greg gregthor 10-25-2010 @ 9:19 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 8 Joined: Sep 2010 Update! The car made it in the wedding and it a hit at the wedding. Many memories of Grandpa and his love of cars from people that were at the wedding. We returned the car last Friday night and I took these pictures just before we returned it. In the spring we will probably get the car back to fix the cooling problem, add a ground stap to the starter or maybe go to 12 volts. I am now getting my monhtly magazine from the club so I can learn more about these cars in the mean time. I know you all know what a 34 3 window looks like but I wanted to attach a picture anyways, I hope it came through. Anyways THANKS again for all your help getting this car on the road, I could not have done it without you guys!! Greg gregthor 10-02-2010 @ 4:01 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 8 Joined: Sep 2010 Hello from Aschaffenburg, Germany!! Good News, the latest news from Michigan Friday night is that the 34 Ford is running and will be in the wedding today (but with a follow pit crew car). We called Skip but the distributor would not make it there & back in time.(thanks for the suggestion Supereal) My son Carl suggested to call his friends Dad who is a mechanic that has a 32 ford & he had some knowlede & a distributor machine. A special Thanks to all of you for your help!! In the end I think it was a combination of ignition issues & a clogged muffler (so Thank you Ford38V8 for the idea to check the muffler). I was fooled into thinking that a coffee can full of carbon & mouse stuffing was all of the plugged muffler but apparently there was more. Now that the car is running, the water pump is leaking really bad & I think the radiator is shot also, it is ok when you drive but water overflows with you park it. It has a big fancy radiator cap without a gasket. The owner said leave it for now. He really wants it in the wedding. (This was grandpas car and they really would like to see it in the wedding) I am not sure if the owner wants the car back as is or if he wants us to keep going to make it a dependable driver. The engine is still tight from the rebuild 25 years ago & needs 12volts to start it. Thanks again guys!!!!! Greg ps I will ask my kids to help me send photos when I am back in the states TomO 09-27-2010 @ 10:52 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7256 Joined: Oct 2009 The point gap and timing may be incorrect. Try Yesteryear Ford Parts in Livonia, MI for a rebuilt distributor. Dave is very helpful and may be able to give you more information pver the phone. http://yesteryearfordparts.com/ Tom supereal 09-27-2010 @ 10:47 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 With that low cylinder, I'd suspect valve problems. Do a dry/wet compression test to confirm that. Most of these older engines contain gobs of sludge in the valve chamber. Have fun in Germany! ford38v8 09-26-2010 @ 9:34 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 2766 Joined: Oct 2009 Greg, Two ideas for you: Your exhaust pipe is clogged. On your carb and pump rebuilds, you may not have a correct float level, or your pump may have slop in the rocker arm as most kits these days don't supply a new arm. The fix is a new arm, not a slug cap on the pushrod. OK, that was 3 ideas. Alan gregthor 09-26-2010 @ 3:51 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 8 Joined: Sep 2010 Well Thanks a bunch guys!!!, I am heading to Germany on business an might be off line for a few days. The 34 idles but doesn't develop power, I think we will miss the wedding... We did our best but now the water pump is leaking.... I think the distributor needs to go to Skip before it will run correct. The compression test was 7 cylinders 90psi and one cylinder 60 psi. We did rebuild the carb & fuel pump also and replaced the gas tank & gas lines. If it is getting fuel and air then it boils down to spark...distributor..!! I am still having fun with this car though. I think the distributor is not set right. Thanks again, Greg supereal 09-26-2010 @ 3:14 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Dan: Perhaps that should be "what I THOUGHT I knew then">

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