The Ford Barn

Bubsyouruncle · 06-08-2022, 05:48 PM

Have to admit that with the advent of electronic ignition and fuel injection I don't worry about my car starting under any meteorologic condition. They don't fail. I do think that I am reading about more engine fires than i used to. High pressure system failures?

Is anyone building ignition systems and/or fuel injection for 59A? Ignition would be easy. Fuel-not so much.

19Fordy · 06-08-2022, 08:12 PM

"They don't fail." is a misnomer.

tubman · 06-08-2022, 08:30 PM

A couple of guys on here, "Ken Henry" and "Kilohertz", have done a bunch of work on fuel injection. Check out their threads, especially this one : https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...fuel+injection.

My take on this is that if you can figure it out yourself (like these guys did), you may be able to come up with something good, but there are no good "bolt on and go" solutions out there. It's even worse with aftermarket electronic ignitions. They have a habit of dying unexpectedly and leaving you stranded, while points will always allow you to "limp" home.

mfirth · 06-09-2022, 06:47 AM

How about usually limp home. Had an event where I lost "spark" to the point of limpimg. Had new parts in the trunk, installed them & it wouldn't run at all. Put the old condencer back in and got to the drive, but not the garage. Oh the fun ......

tubman · 06-09-2022, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfirth

How about usually limp home. Had an event where I lost "spark" to the point of limping. Had new parts in the trunk, installed them & it wouldn't run at all. Put the old condenser back in and got to the drive, but not the garage. Oh the fun ......

That's "home" in my book.

Fritz · 06-09-2022, 09:49 AM

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Lots of opinions on ignitions here. Some guys like the points. As for me, I was not able to limp all the way home with points, condenser, and/or coil failure as limping could not overcome a hill before I got to my street.

I have found the Pertronix in a otherwise stock crab distributor, even the 6v positive ground version, has been the most “off the shelf” reliable. I didn’t feel like going through the trial and error of finding points, condensers, and coils that would actually work and were of acceptable quality. My engines have been starting reliably for the last 10 years with electronic ignition.

Merc Cruzer · 06-09-2022, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

"They don't fail." is a misnomer.

As Polly, on Monty Python, famously once said "I'm not dead, I'm just resting"!

Ken Henry · 06-09-2022, 11:48 AM

As Tubman said it is a bit of a labor of love and can take a lot of fussing and fabricating to produce the desired end result. For someone wanting more plug and play EFI, adapting the Sniper 2GC EFI might be a good option and looks like it would cost less than what I have put into designing and modifying my custom setup over the years. I'm running Megasquirt and a Ford EDIS ignition module from a 90s V8, but with GM coil packs that take a more standard ignition cable. The throttle bodies are adapted Holley 94 carbs... Ken

A50ADBF4-CF79-4011-808B-F1C10978D607 by kenhenry_06268, on Flickr

4FF26C92-B156-4E82-8571-4B3DFEFFC5AB by kenhenry_06268, on Flickr

cadillac512 · 06-09-2022, 04:57 PM

Agreed, Ken....but your adaptation of mix and match OEM components is most impressive!

Terry

Ken Henry · 06-09-2022, 07:18 PM

Thanks Terry! With enough effort it runs as good as carbs LOL. Regarding reliability, this has been flawless for two years now (knock wood) but so was my stock carb and 6v loadamatic ignition. Only issues were boiling/evaporating fuel in the carb and one bad condenser… Fuel mpg is up 5-10%. Ken

06-08-2022, 05:48 PM	#1
Bubsyouruncle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Gurnee, Illinois Posts: 270	Flathead upgrade Have to admit that with the advent of electronic ignition and fuel injection I don't worry about my car starting under any meteorologic condition. They don't fail. I do think that I am reading about more engine fires than i used to. High pressure system failures? Is anyone building ignition systems and/or fuel injection for 59A? Ignition would be easy. Fuel-not so much.

06-08-2022, 08:12 PM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: Flathead upgrade "They don't fail." is a misnomer.

06-08-2022, 08:30 PM	#3
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,320	Re: Flathead upgrade A couple of guys on here, "Ken Henry" and "Kilohertz", have done a bunch of work on fuel injection. Check out their threads, especially this one : https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...fuel+injection. My take on this is that if you can figure it out yourself (like these guys did), you may be able to come up with something good, but there are no good "bolt on and go" solutions out there. It's even worse with aftermarket electronic ignitions. They have a habit of dying unexpectedly and leaving you stranded, while points will always allow you to "limp" home. Last edited by tubman; 06-09-2022 at 11:53 AM.

06-09-2022, 06:47 AM	#4
mfirth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: ohio Posts: 986	Re: Flathead upgrade How about usually limp home. Had an event where I lost "spark" to the point of limpimg. Had new parts in the trunk, installed them & it wouldn't run at all. Put the old condencer back in and got to the drive, but not the garage. Oh the fun ......

06-09-2022, 09:49 AM	#6
Fritz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: From Chicago. Now Nashville Posts: 207	Re: Flathead upgrade Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Lots of opinions on ignitions here. Some guys like the points. As for me, I was not able to limp all the way home with points, condenser, and/or coil failure as limping could not overcome a hill before I got to my street. I have found the Pertronix in a otherwise stock crab distributor, even the 6v positive ground version, has been the most “off the shelf” reliable. I didn’t feel like going through the trial and error of finding points, condensers, and coils that would actually work and were of acceptable quality. My engines have been starting reliably for the last 10 years with electronic ignition. __________________ Cars and metal rust away and are destroyed, but the Word of God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35). Last edited by Fritz; 06-09-2022 at 09:56 AM.

06-09-2022, 11:48 AM	#8
Ken Henry Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 266	Re: Flathead upgrade As Tubman said it is a bit of a labor of love and can take a lot of fussing and fabricating to produce the desired end result. For someone wanting more plug and play EFI, adapting the Sniper 2GC EFI might be a good option and looks like it would cost less than what I have put into designing and modifying my custom setup over the years. I'm running Megasquirt and a Ford EDIS ignition module from a 90s V8, but with GM coil packs that take a more standard ignition cable. The throttle bodies are adapted Holley 94 carbs... Ken A50ADBF4-CF79-4011-808B-F1C10978D607 by kenhenry_06268, on Flickr 4FF26C92-B156-4E82-8571-4B3DFEFFC5AB by kenhenry_06268, on Flickr

06-09-2022, 04:57 PM	#9
cadillac512 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Kansas Posts: 922	Re: Flathead upgrade Agreed, Ken....but your adaptation of mix and match OEM components is most impressive! Terry __________________ "It don't take but country smarts to solve the problem" (Smokey Yunick) '41 Merc Town Sedan / 260" 8CM engine '66 Fairlane four door / "warmed up" 302

06-09-2022, 07:18 PM	#10
Ken Henry Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 266	Re: Flathead upgrade Thanks Terry! With enough effort it runs as good as carbs LOL. Regarding reliability, this has been flawless for two years now (knock wood) but so was my stock carb and 6v loadamatic ignition. Only issues were boiling/evaporating fuel in the carb and one bad condenser… Fuel mpg is up 5-10%. Ken