Re: The Duchess Project: 1940 Super 8 Convertible Sedan

Posted by HH56 On 2019/6/7 9:45:58

On the no start issue, it could be the button but I believe we have established your starter circuit wiring is not exactly stock 1940 so can't say for sure if the starter safety circuit commonly used with the 356 engine and Autolite solenoids is in place and could be contributing to the issue. In a stock loom and 40 setup there would be an extra set of contacts in the regulator which provide the ground for the starter switch to pass along to the solenoid. If those contacts were not making a good connection there would be no ground to the solenoid so it could not pull in. If that part of the circuit is bypassed then the problem would be elsewhere. Do you have a 4th terminal on the regulator labeled T and is there a wire connected to it? If so the safety circuit may be connected and acting up.

On the basics pertaining only to the Autolite solenoids, they actually have a relay inside the solenoid enclosure to connect the power and do the work of starting to bring in the solenoid. The solenoid has two coils and the heavy pull in coil which does the major work also needs a good solid current path thru the starter motor in order to have a ground to energize and bring the plunger in to start the process.

If the safety circuit is OK and relay is getting a signal but relay is not making good contact thru its points that could cause a problem because there would be no power to the solenoid coils at all. If the relay is working but brushes in the starter motor have some kind of intermittent issue, that could prevent the pull in coil from energizing and even if the solenoid hold coil is getting power, it is not strong enough to pull in the plunger by itself.