Function of external condenser
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From: willamette valley ore
Function of external condenser
What is the function of the external condenser(s)? I have just swapped out one 352 for another and other than the alternater to voltage regulator wiring harness, I did not change anything. I have no spark to the plugs but have about 6 to 8 volts to the pos. coil terminal. When I pulled the good engine out of the parts truck ( I'll call this truck A ) there was an external condenser grounded to the radiator support just below the voltage regulator and plugged into the wiring harness. I used this harness ( from the alternater to the voltage regulator ) along with the engine. The setup from truck B had an external condenser mounted on the voltage regulator and was plugged into the wiring harness and another one mounted on the front of the valve cover and connected to the neg. coil terminal. This is the only change that I made during the swap. And both engines were running before the swap. What is the function of the external condenser(s)? Truck B also had a wire coming through the firewall and was connected to the Neg coil terminal. Truck A did not have that wire. I do not know what that wire is for. Anyone care to tackle this? I am going to re install the condenser to the coil when I get home this evening and see what happens. Steve
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Near Nashille, TN
The condenser at the voltage regulator is for radio static supression. It should not affect starting of the truck.
I've never seen a condenser hooked directly to the negative side of the coil. Just a guess, but maybe it was added by the previous owner for (cb) radio supression. I'd leave it off. There should, however, be a condenser inside of the distributor connected to the points (which in effect is connected to the negative side of the coil)
The wire from the firewall on truck B was probably a tach wire... you don't need that.
You have the correct voltage at the pos side of coil. The neg. side of coil should go to the points (and condenser) which simply open and close to ground. If hooked up correctly, it sounds like either the points are not opening/closing, or the contacts are dirty, or the condenser is bad.
I've never seen a condenser hooked directly to the negative side of the coil. Just a guess, but maybe it was added by the previous owner for (cb) radio supression. I'd leave it off. There should, however, be a condenser inside of the distributor connected to the points (which in effect is connected to the negative side of the coil)
The wire from the firewall on truck B was probably a tach wire... you don't need that.
You have the correct voltage at the pos side of coil. The neg. side of coil should go to the points (and condenser) which simply open and close to ground. If hooked up correctly, it sounds like either the points are not opening/closing, or the contacts are dirty, or the condenser is bad.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
All 1960/73 cars/trucks have the following:
COLF12250A .. Resistor Wire-Ignition Coil (Motorcraft DY37)
61.49" long / Color coded PINK / 1.30-1.40 ohms resistance / #20 gauge wire.
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From: willamette valley ore
jmf66, thanks for enlightening me on the condenser use. I ignored the normal proceedure of cleaning the points because the engine had been running two months ago. Well, eveidently that was long enough to cause the points to corrode just enough to cause my no spark situation. After cleaning, gapping and timing, it started right up.
Dummy, the odd wire is white and I now suspect that jmf66 was correct in stating that it might have gone to a tach at some point. I disconnected it and nothing has failed.
And here's one that I shouldn't even mention but it might help someone else avoid the same trouble. I had a helper when I installed the engine and I should have double checked to make sure that the throw out bearing was still in place. It got knocked to the side and it made a bit of a racket when I started the engine. No blame to my helper. It took both of us to be in a hurry and forget to double check. So now I have the priviledge of removing the tranny and taking care of that little indescretion.
The good news is that nothing was ruined and I will be driving it soon. Steve
Dummy, the odd wire is white and I now suspect that jmf66 was correct in stating that it might have gone to a tach at some point. I disconnected it and nothing has failed.
And here's one that I shouldn't even mention but it might help someone else avoid the same trouble. I had a helper when I installed the engine and I should have double checked to make sure that the throw out bearing was still in place. It got knocked to the side and it made a bit of a racket when I started the engine. No blame to my helper. It took both of us to be in a hurry and forget to double check. So now I have the priviledge of removing the tranny and taking care of that little indescretion.
The good news is that nothing was ruined and I will be driving it soon. Steve
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