Re: 1938 Super 8 1605 - adventures with a newbie

Posted by TxGoat On 2023/8/18 9:15:49

If the car behaves the same after working on the distributor, it suggests that the problem is not in the distributor.

The plug wires can look like new and still give trouble, especially if they are of the radio suppression type, or if they are bundled together or routed through a metal harness.

(*If you are uing a 12 volt coil, a condenser for a 12 volt application is probably needed. The coil primary in a 12 volt coil is significantly different from that in a 6 volt coil, and should probably have a condenser of a different value to prevent arcing at the points and early point failure.


The fact that the distributor work had no apparent effect on the car's performance, and the fact that it sputters and quits running when any SUSTAINED demand for power is put on the engine, suggests a fuel delivery problem.

A gas tank that has been coated inside may have the fuel pickup pipe partially obstructed.


Any tiny air leak anywhere on the suction side of the fuel system can cause problems like you are having.

Excess exhaust heat reaching the fuel line can cause similar problems.

Any non-stock type filter on the suction side of the fuel system may cause problems, and they very often do.

**When you take the car out and it begins to run bad and then dies, exactly what do you have to do to get it running again?

When you do get it running again, does it run fairly well until you take it out on the road?**