1947 ford wont start

[flathead1947]

Hello, this is my first post so I hope I am in the right place. I have a 47 ford sedan with a 59 ab motor. I did the volt conversion and i can not get it to start. It started for a little bit but ran very bad. I changed plugs and now nothing. I changed the condensor to 12 volt and changed coil. still nothing. Also I tried to install a ballast resistor inline between ignition switch and coil + terminal When I crank it would try to start but when you let go of the starter button would die like resistor was no good. I thinkk it is a ECH11 from napa but I would have to check. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am getting very frustated at this point Thank you

[Ross F-1]

Work thru the system, checking where you have voltage and where you don't. Did the engine run well before you converted it? If it sat for a long time in between, the points could be bad, the fuel pump, gas, etc. Find out if it is getting gas, maybe sprinkle a little down the carb while cranking.

[flathead1947]

thank you for the reply ross. I have voltage to coil + and out coil - to distributor. The engine ran great before conversion and sat about a year before completing. Before starting I drained fuel and replace with fresh gas and cleaned carb I can look down throat and see it shoot gas but not even trying to start. Coil new and condensor new no fire at plugs or coil. also tried starting fluid still no go

[flatjack]

Try running a wire directly from the battery to the coil and see if it will run. Don't want to run for any length of time that way, but this eliminates lots of components.

[JWL]

Did you replace the solenoid? It sounds like the ignition circuit might only be receiving voltage while the engine is cranking? Try cranking and checking spark at the plug wires to ground. If there is a good spark at the plug wires I would remove the plugs, clean with spray type carb cleaner, dry them, intall and start engine.

[Blown49]

If you converted to 12 V negative ground you need to reverse the wires on your coil. Wire from coil to distributor should be same polarity as battery ground.

Jim

[flathead1947]

Yes, I did replace solenoid. ran wire fron "I" terminal on solenoid to coil + and got it to start but ran very bad. checked spark plugs found they were fouled out replaced plugs now nothing checked for fire at plugs and at coil with screwdriver to head stud and found no fire. Also tried to install pro comp electronic distributor and control box but never could ge it to fire up with that so went back to points. I saw some posts on here and guys were running points after conversion with ok luck. I am very put out with this thing right now. Should have stayed 6 volt but wanted more reliability

[whizzerbug]

ok i think you have solinoid wired wrong ,i have a 46 ford pu same engine 59ab,i changed mine over to 12 v ,i have no wire running to coil from the solinoid, one wire from the starter button to the solinoid,one wire from the ign switch( the one marked coil) to the resistor to the + side of coil -neg side goes to distrib...try that

[flathead1947]

Whizzerbug- Did you run yours 12 volt negative? I replaced the 6 volt solenoid with what they said was a insulated base 12V replacement solenoid but starter button doesn't work any longer. Also before I ran wire from solenoid to coil it did nothing after it ran but poorly. This what i have. One wire from ignition to resistor under dash with lighting circuit breaker to coil positive, coil negative to distributor. I have battery voltage at coil + and battery voltage at distributor terminal from coil. Now not even attempting to fire. I have replace coil, condensor and all plugs and wires. Thanks for your help.

[whizzerbug]

yes its all neg ground now,the 12v soleniod i got at autozone, ,i just bought one for a ford 1977 ford as i know there 12v and mount the same,your new solenoid may not be grounded ,i think my ign wire comes directly from the ign switch to the coil resistor and no too any lighting resistor,if you have a volt meter check to see if your getting 12-13 volts going into the coil resistor,should be less comeing out of the resistor,hang in there you will figure it out sooner or later,im very happy with the 12 volts ,im running a 12v single wire gm altenator and getting over 14v at idle,i had starting problems with the 6v system and now i just touch the button and off it goes.let us know how your doin...al

[flathead1947]

Thanks to everyone for their help and answers. I decided to give the electronic ignition distributor and control box one more try and it worked car fired right up. It runs like a brand new vehicle. It has never ran this good!! Hoping to be on the road in 2 weeks or less!! thanks again guys!