Attached is a photo of a Motorcraft condenser found with some parts. It has a patent date of 7/93 on the box.
Any way to tell if it's a short proof type? A conden.pdf
Any way to tell if it's a short proof type? A conden.pdf
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It's the internal design of the A&L condensers that enables them able to withstand the manifold heat. An aluminum distributor would be much more gentler on the heat extremes that are subjected to the condenser. Being that the A is cast iron this compounds the problem. The A&L condenser is made with a modern polyester film insulator which is designed to withstand the extreme heat conditions found on the Model A. I would say all the condensers out there old and new are just the run of the mill style with A&L's being the exception. So with that being said I would not be using it. Some of this info was derived from Vince's Ford Garage site3~ Tudor's & 1~ Coupe
Henry Ford said,
"It's all nuts and bolts"
"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
Mitch's Auto Service ctr -
FWIW:
Planned reproduction parts failure became popular in our last century.
Later manufactured Model A condensers and coils could fail during a trip to the local post office, especially if later foreign made.
If anyone has a few old vintage shabby looking original U. S. manufactured condensers and coils provided by Ford in the 1930's, or sees any advertised on Ebay, don't be surprised if they all still work.
Vintage mechanics years ago knew never to discarded Ford's old original condensers & coils because they were known for almost eternal reliability ...... 60 years ago I had an old fishing box full of them .... after trying same 60 years ago, they all worked.
Fishing box also had some 41 caliber bullets mixed to fit the pistol which came with my fishing box.
Possibly others had similar experiences ...... but, with vintage coils and condensers, that is.
A & L today are really a true blessing for all of us Model A owners.Comment
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H.L. you're so correct. Today we scored and found an old Bosch tar filled 12 volt coil that measures 3 ohms across the primary, and 16k at the secondary from a wrecker. $5, after checking 6 that were no good. !! It can be used with terminals up or down like the Ford originals.
Last edited by plyfor; 02-05-2018, 10:58 PM.Comment
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FWIW:
I agree with reply no. 2 in that the car parts market was totally flooded both early on in the 1930's, and also later, with cheap Model A condensers, points, valves, etc., of poor quality and not all were made by Ford.
Following Model A advice from the old precision vintage mechanics I knew 60 years ago, much later and only twelve (12) years ago, for my original Model B distributor installed on my Model A, I bought an original old Ford Model B condenser and an original old Ford set of Model B ignition points on Ebay which the seller said were never used, and came out of an attic of an old Ford Dealership.
After 12 years they still appear new and I know I will never live long enough to wear either of them out.
Knowledgeable vintage mechanics years ago knew Ford, (years ago), tried to earnestly provide only the best parts for his Fords.
Cheaper after market parts back then from Western Auto, Montgomery Ward, Sears Roebuck, etc., were always questionable and their advising and brain washing owners to change to cheap points, condensers, and coils for every tune-up were always their slick sales gimmick to sell parts.
I also was taught 60 years ago to clean points "only" with a "points file" which only removes the mold and mildew look-alike coating on ignition points .... not metal ...... and never use steel mill files, fingernail emery boards and sand paper which removes metal.
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Generally speaking, the Motorcraft boxed condensers are probably the most unreliable in actual fact. Not necessarily because of their internals, but because of the terrible job the Ford supplier did to solder the tab on the end of the can.Originally posted by plyfor View Post
Good condensers usually have the tab spot welded and/or robustly soldered, but the Motorcraft have a very minimal and weak solder job only.
It is not uncommon to have the tab break off during installation, or separate during use, thus creating a very well hidden failure for you to find on your side of the road easter egg hunt!
This happened to me twice with Motorcraft Model A condensers in the 1980s, and I have seen several more fractured.Comment
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Does anyone know if those distributor heat shields work to keep condensers from burning out? I have had to replace 2 in less than 300 miles. I have the modern set up with the condenser mounted on the top plate.05-21-2019, 01:37 PM -
I have about 25 or so condensers that I have kept over the years from varrious distributors.
Most, probably all, are no good and are about to be dumped.
However my interest is...which ones are bonified original 1928-1931 condensers.
The RG's gives us some clues as to what to look for...mainly with the late 1931 condensers where a small Ford script was added to...11-29-2019, 02:55 PM -
I finally figured out that my condenser was bad yesterday, the car would start missing and backfire after it warmed up. I checked everything else before the condenser because I got it at NAPA and probably didn't put but a couple hundred miles on it running off road around the farm. I thought that they were making better ones now but apparently not everyone is making them. How do you tell the difference?...02-27-2020, 10:09 AM -
A couple months ago I completely rebuilt a distributor and installed in it my CCPU. I built it using original upper and lower plates, a new silicone, high strand count wire, original Ford script points and a new burnout-proof condenser. It runs perfectly and am very happy with it.
That being said, pictured below is the distributor I removed. It has a nurex upper and wireless lower plate....06-03-2022, 11:14 AM -
I had a problem that caused me to have several blown condensers. while trying to solve reason for condenser failure,I located a 70"S style condenser side by side with ignition coil on firewall. after 1500 Kilometers I have zero issues with condenser, and points are clean . so if a person had a suspected condenser failure a condenser mounted in this position will get you home. cause of my condenser...07-02-2019, 06:39 AM -
It came with the car, had a nice Ford logo and is as dead as a door nail. I guess that 20 years of sitting around doing nothing did it in. It would probably do the same to me, but I have too much to do for sitting around. I think I have another one somewhere. . .You do not have permission to view this gallery.
This gallery has 1 photos.01-04-2020, 09:39 AM -
I recently picked this up. According to the judging standards, coils with the SX in a circle logo were supplied to Ford by the Essex company in 1931. I cannot tell if this is an original coil or not. It’s very similar in construction to two original slant-pole SP coils I have.
thanks - Jim
...01-15-2021, 05:48 PM -
The title says it all pretty much. Has anyone done this before? I did a search on here but it didn't turn up very much. I have a couple original coils that are probably well past their useful lifespans. I'm wondering if I can pop one open, melt out the tar or whatever potting compound Ford used and then stuff it with the guts from a new coil, and then put the end back on without (and this is probably...08-15-2022, 02:36 PM -
I've been reading that oil filled coils don't like running upside down. Aside from buying a more expensive style coil, has anyone ever mounted their oil coil facing tower up (in the same location), and running a longer distributor wire. And do the stock + and - wires still reach the coil without modifications? Our '29 is an everyday driver and not a points car. Thanks....08-20-2021, 05:30 PM -
But related to a great number of cars out there!
Working on a later car ('59) with an obvious 12V neg ground system, I had a situation where the car started right up as always. I ran it for a few minutes, then shut it off to go get the dog for a road trip.
It refused to restart. It would crank but not fire.
It had just run and there was a half tank of clean gas. Long story made short,...03-10-2019, 06:00 PM
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