The Ford Barn

jchochole · 04-23-2025, 11:31 AM

I have a '34 M40 that ran about 5 months ago (for prev owner) but now has no spark. Starter turns and distributor looks clean and newer, but wanted to ask if anyone has tried to add the 6v coil kit to an external coil.

The car has sapped most of my funds thus far and can't really afford to get a full dizzy rebuild at this point. My goal is to get it running by any means to be able to move the car around.

Thanks,
Jim

So, I have a yellow 6v hot wire from the ignition but when I connect to the brown dizzy wire the voltage drops to 1.4. Not sure why.

petehoovie · 04-23-2025, 11:37 AM

Is there a EFV8 Club Regional group close to you? Members there would be a great resource for you...

jchochole · 04-23-2025, 11:45 AM

I reached out.

Kens 36 · 04-23-2025, 01:51 PM

Just sent a response from RG#8 a few minutes ago. We will try to help him.

Ken

cas3 · 04-23-2025, 02:32 PM

Clean the points

petehoovie · 04-23-2025, 03:24 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jchochole

I have a '34 M40 that ran about 5 months ago (for prev owner) but now has no spark. Starter turns and distributor looks clean and newer, but wanted to ask if anyone has tried to add the 6v coil kit to an external coil.

The car has sapped most of my funds thus far and can't really afford to get a full dizzy rebuild at this point. My goal is to get it running by any means to be able to move the car around.

Thanks,
Jim

So, I have a yellow 6v hot wire from the ignition but when I connect to the brown dizzy wire the voltage drops to 1.4. Not sure why.

Terry,OH · 04-24-2025, 06:44 AM

There is a ignition resistor mounted to the inside firewall above the steering column. The resistor drops the voltage to the ignition coil. Usually to about 4V at the coil terminal but you can only read this voltage drop when the distributor points are closed and ignition switch is ON. When the ignition is ON and the distributor points are open you should have battery voltage on the coil terminal. There are several reasons the voltage is low. Bad battery, Poor wire and cable connections, dirty or pitted ignition switch, bad coil, bad condenser, bad resistor.

04-23-2025, 11:37 AM	#2
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 10,143	Re: 1934 Ford M40 No Spark Is there a EFV8 Club Regional group close to you? Members there would be a great resource for you...

04-23-2025, 11:45 AM	#3
jchochole Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oswego, IL Posts: 413	Re: 1934 Ford M40 No Spark I reached out. __________________ "Whether you think you can, or think you can't- you're right." H. Ford

04-23-2025, 01:51 PM	#4
Kens 36 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 501	Re: 1934 Ford M40 No Spark Just sent a response from RG#8 a few minutes ago. We will try to help him. Ken __________________ https://www.nirgv8.org

04-23-2025, 02:32 PM	#5
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,297	Re: 1934 Ford M40 No Spark Clean the points

04-24-2025, 06:44 AM	#7
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,186	Re: 1934 Ford M40 No Spark There is a ignition resistor mounted to the inside firewall above the steering column. The resistor drops the voltage to the ignition coil. Usually to about 4V at the coil terminal but you can only read this voltage drop when the distributor points are closed and ignition switch is ON. When the ignition is ON and the distributor points are open you should have battery voltage on the coil terminal. There are several reasons the voltage is low. Bad battery, Poor wire and cable connections, dirty or pitted ignition switch, bad coil, bad condenser, bad resistor.