Final update on “I think I stripped a timing gear”.

[Lawson Cox]

After checking for wiring, stuck valves, swapping out distributors, coils and condensers I had reached the end of my mechanical “expertise”.

I trailered my truck down to our local Ford Guru Harold “Putt” Smith (with the help of my good friend Jerry Grayson) and filled “Putt” in on everything I had done, and left the truck with him. We left the truck on Thursday afternoon. Putt worked his magic on it and I went down Tuesday afternoon to pick it up. I had a moment’s concern because it didn’t crank up on the first try like it usually does, but it did fire up and ran great. (I figured he had it running some before we got down there and I didn’t go through my usual routine to crank it when it is cold.)

It turned out the problem was a cracked distributor cap. I had checked the cap thoroughly, I thought, but with 82 year old eyes, in a shop that could use more light, I obviously missed it. The crack was between the coil wire and the #2 plug wire contacts, causing the spark to jump between the two and keeping it from cranking.

As luck would have it, the wife and I left “Putts” right about 4:00 - 4:15 and headed out in the 5:OO rush hour traffic, me in the lead. We had been going along at a good clip, 60-65 MPH in 95° weather. I was watching the temp gauge and it was getting up into high normal and it quit on me just about the time we got onto the last leg of our trip. A nice young fellow stopped and helped me push it over to the side of the road. I told him I would be fine when it cooled down a little bit. And that’s what happened. Having heard a lot of “myths” about vapor lock, I turned on my electric fuel pump and I got it cranked again and headed on down the road. The temp dropped quickly back to normal. (I am now a believer in “vapor lock”) This is the first time I have experienced it. We made it home without further incident

Thanks for all of the tips and suggestions offered by all of you barners who offered help. I am now a happy camper with more mechanical/electrical knowledge, learned the hard way.

Lawson

[Clem Clement]

Glad all is OK!

[40cpe]

I'm glad it wasn't serious. Missing that crack in the cap caused you much worry and probably cost you some sleep.

I recently bought a Streamlight LED pocket penlight. I keep it in my pocket when I'm in the shop. It is amazing what a little extra light in a dark place can do! And unlike a shop trouble light, it will focus the light just where you need it.

[Talkwrench]

Good to hear nothing serious Lawson.. Despite the hiccup with vapour lock your back on the road!

[36Bill]

Great news

[BILL WZOREK]

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It's True in life, Those darn Crack's will get you every time !!!!

[Vic Piano]

Lawson, Vapor Lock has become much more prevalent with the "corn gas". Here in the Tampa Bay area, where it goes from warm to HOT most of the year, the dreaded Vapor Lock had become a real nuisance, especially with the '39 CS, that is until I replaced the mechanical fuel pump with an electric unit. I did keep the OEM style fuel pump (modified by Marv to be a "pass through"), keeping the stock appearance under the hood, while eliminating the possibility of diaphragm failure and fuel finding its way into the crank case, as can be a problem when using both the OEM as a primary and an electric pump as the secondary. Despite the naysayer's denials, Vapor Lock is (and has always been, just check Ford service bulletins) a real demon, exacerbated by the alcohol content in what they are calling gasoline these days, and not just with Flathead Fords! I am impressed with the way the '39 CS has been performing with the modification, so much so that I'm planning on doing the same thing to the '39 LZ.

[jrhaelig]

Hey, Lawson -

Glad to hear you're running fine, now.

How do you get 60 MPH? My '39 3-speed pickup sounds pretty much tapped out at 45.

I am running original/old inner distributor caps and will be replacing them, but I don't know if that will give me the the extra 10 to 15 mph.

Good job by you, though!!

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by jrhaelig

Hey, Lawson -

Glad to hear you're running fine, now.

How do you get 60 MPH? My '39 3-speed pickup sounds pretty much tapped out at 45.

I am running original/old inner distributor caps and will be replacing them, but I don't know if that will give me the the extra 10 to 15 mph.

Good job by you, though!!

My truck has a 3:78 rear end out of a 40 Ford. That helps with highway speeds a lot.

[scooder]

Originally Posted by jrhaelig

Hey, Lawson -

Glad to hear you're running fine, now.

How do you get 60 MPH? My '39 3-speed pickup sounds pretty much tapped out at 45.

I am running original/old inner distributor caps and will be replacing them, but I don't know if that will give me the the extra 10 to 15 mph.

Good job by you, though!!

What size tyres you got on their? Any idea on the diff ratio? Your truck should do 60mph no problem. At 45mph I'd bet it's under 2500rpm. No were near tapped out.
Martin.

[Seth Swoboda]

I have had experience with a cracked distributor cap. Darn, why I didn't think of that? My dad had a 1989 F-250 that I washed. I cleaned the engine bay and moisture got on the cap. Cracked it. Didn't run well. Also had a friend with the same problem on a 35 pickup. Maybe you got the cap wet at some point while it was warm and it cracked? That is why I believe it is important to have the splash shield in place below the radiator and crank pully. It keeps water off of the distributor.

[37 Coupe]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

I have had experience with a cracked distributor cap. Darn, why I didn't think of that? My dad had a 1989 F-250 that I washed. I cleaned the engine bay and moisture got on the cap. Cracked it. Didn't run well. Also had a friend with the same problem on a 35 pickup. Maybe you got the cap wet at some point while it was warm and it cracked? That is why I believe it is important to have the splash shield in place below the radiator and crank pully. It keeps water off of the distributor.

You didn't think of it because the original post "stripped timing gear" took about everyones thinking to that,guess we all just figured he checked out the normal obvious stuff like the coil ,distributor condensor etc.

[AKCJ]

Thanks for posting. I didn't (but should have) thought of cracked dist cap.
Glad you got it going.

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by AKCJ

Thanks for posting. I didn't (but should have) thought of cracked dist cap.
Glad you got it going.

I can't claim the credit for getting it running. I got a buddy to fix it. Very reasonable price. It really has been a learning experience for me. Now, I will just have to live long enough to put the new knowledge to the test.

[ford38v8]

Don't start counting your rolls of TP now, Lawson.

[Brendan]

glad you got it ironed out!

[Reisterstown Ray]

Hi Lawson, The last thing I want in a car is an electrical problem. I take the vehicle to the local electrical guru. I would rather spend the $ then try to fix it myself. Ray

[Lawson Cox]

That is basically what I did to get it corrected.

[Mike in AZ]

good show, Lawson.....glad it was a simple fix and you're back drivin'.....have fun.....Mike