Thank you gentlemen,

I continue to learn here and appreciate all of your insight. I'll look into a 00 battery cable.

Andy

One more thing,

Howard, you mentioned early on in this thread that it takes a lot of current to turn over a large hot engine.

Why is that the case? The engine definitely starts easier when cold, but when hot it's obviously more difficult.

Andy

Fixed!

Howard, it was the wire connecting the ground screw from the generator. Apparently not a good connection. After disassembly, cleaning the surfaces and reassembly I got my voltmeter to increase with the engine speed. Plus the idiot light on the dash went out for maybe the first time ever.

Thank you all, I learned something.

Andy

Thanks Fellas,

So upon review the generator has been polorized.

The car idling I have 6.16v. When idle is increased I see no change in the volt meter readings.

With a jumper wire I connect the FLD terminal at the regulator to a ground while the idle is running fast. I still see no change in voltage at the battery. That points to the generator or generator wiring as the problem correct?

Being the generator bench tested well. I assume I start replacing wires connected to and from the generator? Does that sound correct?

Thanks again
Andy

Hello folks,

I have questions about the electrical in my Pacific.

I have a 1954 Pacific. We tore a lot of it apart and reassembled it to get it back on the road. Ive been driving it for a few months locally. The problem is the battery seems to drain as I drive and I only get it to crank and start 4 or 5 times before needing to charge the battery.

Using a Volt meter the battery averages at about 6.25v When running the Generator doesn't charge the battery past 6.3x volts if at all.

I had the regulator replaced and checked as well as the generator. The generator on a bench being tested will output over 7 volts. The starter has been rebuilt. The battery is a two year old 6v Optima, also tested and confirmed to be good.

During June I'd drive the car, bring it home and place a battery charger on it so it'd be ready for the next trip. That worked fine.

Recently I realized that if I tried to start it after driving and it would drain enough to not turn over. But if left sit the battery seems to "recharge" after a few hours once the engine is cold and it would start up fairly easy.

I'm not good with electrical so specific instructions are helpful. I'm also thinking to place a 6v fuel pump on the system to help starting, I'm not sure if vapor lock is happening but it's difficult to start when hot and after some reading that seems like it could help just at startup. I understand this is a rabbit trail to my main question.

Any insight is appreciated.
Andy

Hello Fellas,

It's been a few weeks and I thought Id bring you up to speed. The generator and regulator were removed and tested by a local auto electric guy. It seems the generator was working fine but the regulator was "all over the place" in his words. I replaced it with new.

Upon putting the car back and before I removed and evaluated the transmission governor, I was able to take it for a drive. The trans has not locked up since and Ive put about 50 miles on it with shifting that seemed to improve as time went by. Especially at low speeds, now the trans would downshift as needed and accelerate up shifting itself back into high as it should.

Im going to continue to put some miles on it and see how everything reacts. Thanks fellas!

Hell Fellas, Im back from the garage.

In response to Owen Dynetos instructions to analyze the charging system.
- When the engine was off the battery read 6.38v.
- When idling with the lights on It dropped to 6.11.
- With increased engine speed and the lights on there was no increase in voltage.
- Using a Jump cable to connect the F terminal of the generator to the Ground wire I saw zero increase in voltage, thus my problem seems to be with the Generator. So Im making some calls to see if theres anyone locally comfortable with rebuilding what I have. Delco-Remy 1102778

Im also looking to pull the transmission governor per Ross's suggestion as soon as time allows. Thanks to all who posted. I'll keep you updated.

Ross, The engine stops almost instantly much like the clutch on a stick shift.

This is great information fellas.

I do have Easamatic power brakes and a Carter WCFB. Im assuming the electric is Delco Remy. I know the starter is.

I'll review this list in the garage and check back with what I find.

Automatic transmission