Pikes Peak, Again

Here is the underhood air flow for the 1939 Ford, not sure how it compares to 47. See 3rd paragraph from Ford V-8 Album, I couldn't find any air flow information under 1947 Ford section, hope this helps.
 

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Here is the underhood air flow for the 1939 Ford, not sure how it compares to 47. See 3rd paragraph from Ford V-8 Album, I couldn't find any air flow information under 1947 Ford section, hope this helps.

Thanks. That appears to be the same air flow as the '47.
 
Your symptoms lead me to believe you may have a bad ballast resistor on the coil.

It's looking more like you're probably right.
Today I took what was supposed to be a simple easy "Three Hour Tour" up over guardsman pass at 9,737 feet. Everything went well up to the pass, over the top, and down the other side until I was headed home. Then the power loss, stumbling, stuttering engine hit me again so bad I had to pull off. To determine whether it was fuel or spark I hooked up my timing light with the sensor around the high tension wire coming out of the coil and put it on my cowl to shine through the windshield while I drove to watch what happened to the spark when the problem came. Sure enough, when the problem hit the spark was affected. So, I then ran a jumper from the battery to the coil, bypassing all circuits to there including the coil resistor that is on the coil itself. Worked fine. So, then I just put the jumper across the resistor to bypass it. Still worked fine, which seemed to be pointing to that resistor. So, then I took the jumper off to see if the problem came back. It didn't. That's the problem with those darned intermittent problems. You can't even try to figure them out until you're on the road and they hit you by surprise. Then, when you try different diagnostic tests and it looks like you've solve it because the problem went away you don't really know because the problem may have gone away without doing anything.

Anyway, I've ordered a new coil resistor in the original style from C&G and will put that on and hope it fixes it.

Thanks TJ for the tip.
 
Since you are using a Stromberg 97 Carb., which is very touchy about any air flow restriction, I think I would have taken the air cleaner off and seen if maybe by lifting the hood you were forcing more air into the Carb. Restricting air flow is like useing your choke thereby causing a richer mixture, not good at high altitude.
 
Since you are using a Stromberg 97 Carb., which is very touchy about any air flow restriction, I think I would have taken the air cleaner off and seen if maybe by lifting the hood you were forcing more air into the Carb. Restricting air flow is like useing your choke thereby causing a richer mixture, not good at high altitude.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check that too.
 
I was looking at a 1948 Lincoln v12 yesterday, I noticed the fenders were louver on both sides it had maybe 2 sets on each side about 8 inches long pointed to the back maybe this means something.
 
The Pike's Peak summit is a great place to bleed brakes, if your pedal gets a bit soft on the way up. Don't ask me how I know that. :)
 
Loved your trip. You always have great pictures. I don't think I'd have the nerve to do that drive though.
 
Pursuant to recent inquiries, I repost this Pike's Peak trip I took 10 years ago. I've done two more since, the most recent just a couple of months ago. Just didn't take any new pictures or videos since it was a re-run.

Enjoy.
 
Thanks for taking the time to do these great travel portfolios. I always enjoy them, having done several trips to the west in some of these very areas. I'm 80 now and as my wife is not in the greatest condition, we probably won't get to do these kinds of trips again, unless with my sons and their families.

Al Hook
 
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