Ignition condenser

Rudolph

Rudolph

Senior Member
Hello I have a 1938 24 stud motor I adapted a crab style distributor to a wile back, I was wondering what mf should the condenser be and what make and model would I ask for when buying it?

I had a pile of used genuine condensers but all of them were bad, just popping and banging from the motor,

I fitted a unknown one and the car has run fine now for 2 years with no points deterioration but its too rusty to see any stamping, if only I knew the MF rating.
 
Fords original condenser for the 42-48 V8 has a part number of 1GA-12300-B and is listed as 0.25-0.32 Microfarads. Jim Lindner at Bubbas Hot Rod Shop sells a magneto condenser that is rated at 0.35 mf & 600V. If you have a NAPA parts store down under they can order one for your distributor.
The 37-41 condenser is 0.33-0.36 mf. the big difference being the physical mounting not the electrical rating. You will not get the 38 condenser to mount to your distributor. The electrical difference in rating is very small, it will not effect how the car runs or how long the points last.
 
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Rudolph said:
Hello I have a 1938 24 stud motor I adapted a crab style distributor to a wile back, I was wondering what mf should the condenser be and what make and model would I ask for when buying it?

I had a pile of used genuine condensers but all of them were bad, just popping and banging from the motor,

I fitted a unknown one and the car has run fine now for 2 years with no points deterioration but its too rusty to see any stamping, if only I knew the MF rating.
Click to expand...

I use a IH 200 from Napa. Skip has recommended this for almost 20
years with no reported point pitting or failures. G.M.
 
for the record, GM, sorry, i know you ment well, but the nappa IH 200 is the ballast resistor recommended by skip, and the condenser is FA54, as Bubba says. i'm not so smart, but i just went over it with skip recently. best wishes, skip....also!
 
Rudi, Go to Supercheap autos and buy a condensor for a nissan Skyline. Sweet az....Trust me, Brian
 
cas3 said:
for the record, GM, sorry, i know you ment well, but the nappa IH 200 is the ballast resistor recommended by skip, and the condenser is FA54, as Bubba says. i'm not so smart, but i just went over it with skip recently. best wishes, skip....also!
Click to expand...

Sorry IH-200 is the condenser. You better call Skip again to
refresh your conversation. He uses the stock Ford resistors for
6 volts we don't tike the little after market replacements. For
12 volt conversions with Skips coil the large white 1959 Ford
resistor. G.M.
 
Has anybody tried the Speedway Motors Vertex 912100 Condensers.
I would like to know the m.f.d of these condensers.
 
Brian said:
Rudi, Go to Supercheap autos and buy a condensor for a nissan Skyline. Sweet az....Trust me, Brian
Click to expand...

Rudi ,Bryans suggestion is good for a Kiwi looking for a condensor.

The part number for the Bosch is GH208-C. To mount it on the crab type dizzy you may have to grind a "gnats ****" off the edge to clear the cap and bend it up slightly on the mounting tab. I've had no issues with mine after finding a number of NOS ones "bad".

GB
 
The Vertex condenser from Bubba or Pat Mason at MRI in PA is the bullet proof method. Pat says they are still made in Arizona. Lot of money, but for peace of mind ?
 
I just ordered (2) ECH FA54 @ $8.10 ea. and (1) ECH IH200 @ $12.33 at napaonline.com

Probably less than 5 minutes after placing this order my local NAPA store called to let me know that the IH200 was there in stock, but the FA54's had to come in from their central warehouse, but all would be available for pick up at my local store on Monday.
Great service I think.
Will be trying both of these condensors on my 35 fordor driver to see how well they work.
I also checked into the Vertex 912100 condensor, but at ~ $30.00-37.00 and no info given on mfd rating, decided to hold off on testing that one :).
 
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JM 35 Sedan said:
I just ordered (2) ECH FA54 @ $8.10 ea. and (1) ECH IH200 @ $12.33 at napaonline.com

Probably less than 5 minutes after placing this order my local NAPA store called to let me know that the IH200 was there in stock, but the FA54's had to come in from their central warehouse, but all would be available for pick up at my local store on Monday.
Great service I think.
Will be trying both of these condensors on my 35 fordor driver to see how well they work.
I also checked into the Vertex 912100 condensor, but at ~ $30.00-37.00 and no info given on mfd, decided to hold off on testing that one :).
Click to expand...

Man this discussion never quits.
The 35 Ford spec mfds is .36 mfd per the Ford service book. The IH200 and the FA54 is .25 which is slightly lower than spec .....
However the spec for the 42-48 Crab is .25mfds......
This difference is seen running on a distributor machine, i keep a .36 with leads and clips hanging there, see some arc on the primary points jumper the test .36 in the circuit and it will go away..........interesting ...:eek:
 
I wonder if what ignition coil I use will have any effect on the condenser capacity?

My ignition coil is from an early 80s Volvo with transistorized ignition, so did the primary ignition cable.
 
I'm not familiar with what the Volvo coil specifications are.

I found one reference to a Volvo 6v coil with 0.6 ohms of primary resistance, that's about the correct range for primary resistance!
 
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April 2017 bad condenser month! Another one yesterday. Thats four in one year?? And then one of my trucks a 1950 F6 ain't had a tune up for 25 yrs never touched it whats
up with that?? Guess them 59As eat condensers for lunch... Put so many I just left the
origional disconnected that and put my condenser on the coil bracket to the point side
of the coil so Its easy to change. Many trucks and buses had the condenser on the coil
it does the same thing......
 
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