1934 Ford Trouble Starting

34 fordor owner

34 fordor owner

Senior Member
Tried starting my 1934 Ford for the first time since renewing spark plug wires, spark plugs, and distributor. Every time it turned over it became closer to starting. It would sputter and sound like it wanted to start but would stop and the starter would still be engaged. Checked spark and there is spark to the plugs. And compression is good. Any ideas?
 
I recently sent my distributor to Charlie Schwendler for repair. When I got it back, I installed it on my '34 roadster and it fired right up. The car idles and accelerates nicely.
 
Check to be sure the wires from the plugs are going to to their matching numbers on inner distributor caps. - 1 to 1, 2 to 2, 3 to 3 etc.
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Remove each wire set ,going by Petes diagram his view from the front Left ist is #one ,get a bulb or test light fix each HT wire in turn to a battery X or Neg run another wire from the Battery to a bulb touching the termanol on the cap appropriate to that # , it should light up ,check each one ,each cap will have two sets of numbers .Left set ,1234 ,corresponding to that spark plug ,
 
Not sure if your reading posts from others but I would start as Pete suggest in posting #4 above. It is very easy to get plug wires out of place!
 
Terry said:
Not sure if your reading posts from others but I would start as Pete suggest in posting #4 above. It is very easy to get plug wires out of place!
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When putting the inner caps in distributor do they need to follow the picture in post #4? For example when looking at the right side of plate does #1 slot need to go in the top left corner? Or does this not matter?
 
Forget that diagram as it can be confusing. Go by the actual plug lead numbers that are moulded into the bakelite caps. and you will be good to go. Regards, Kevin.
 
34 fordor owner said:
When putting the inner caps in distributor do they need to follow the picture in post #4? For example when looking at the right side of plate does #1 slot need to go in the top left corner? Or does this not matter?
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The inner cap has a tang that aligns with a notch in the distributor housing, this will line the caps up correctly for you then follow the numbers on the cap for the side of engine you are working on.
 
34 fordor owner said:
Tried starting my 1934 Ford for the first time since renewing spark plug wires, spark plugs, and distributor.
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Just thinking about your situation.

It would be easy to 'ohm out' each wire, yes? Is a possible weak plug wire something you want to continue to fight or check off the list?

My mentor tried to teach me the wire to tip connector that goes into the cap should be meticuliously prepared. You need a good wire tip (solid core), and a solder joint to the clip that snaps into the inner cap, and no dull corrosion, just shiny bright bare metal with a "real" solder joint.

Wrestling the wires into the looms presents the possibility for poor connections or opens in the actual plug wires regardless of how good your ends are.
 
On a 3 bolt Coil type (1934 ) # one is at the rear bottom corner (7,30 ) from there its clock wise three (10-30 )two & four ,that as if you sitting in drivers seat ,The tang is at the rear,if fitting new wires I always scrape the corner of inside the cap using a bearing scraper ,
 
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Thank you to everyone for the help I plan on doing the things y’all have suggested for me this weekend. Another thing I was thinking is the carburetor has not been rebuilt and I do not know of the last time it was rebuilt if even ever. Could this play some sort of role in the car not starting? I know it will have to be rebuilt sooner or later because it is not taking in fuel from the fuel pump.
 
Sorry ,The timing I gave is incorrect , its one three two four as Pete's Diagram clock wise ,from 10-30 number one .a 37 terminal cab in a 34 3 bolt gives a mis read .
 
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