Another question from the new guy. I got to go look the car over real good yesterday that I'm hoping to get this weekend. The guy i'm buying it from hasn't had it very long. He said the last time he drove it, it ran fine for a while, then started acting like it was running out of fuel and died. He said it backfired a few times. He said after letting it sit for a bit it would start back up and run again then do the same thing after a bit. I can figure out whether it's a fuel or fire problem. Here's what my question is though. The car is a six volt system. it's a 55. Isn't that a positive ground system? I noticed that the battery is hooked up like a 12 volt one would be with the negative to the block and the positive to the start solenoid. I would think that if it were hooked up backwards it would blow a fuse or not even start. Is that correct?

I don't recall if the 55 was positive ground, I'll let some who knows for sure answer that. BUT if it is and you have it hooked up as a Neg ground it will cause problems because the ignition coil would be for a Positive ground system, reversing the coil polarity will cause it to run like crap. But it is possible they changed the coil.

It is positive ground. If you are sure it has a 6volt battery switch the cables. Make sure it hasn't been converted. That could be the cause of all of your problems. Would burn out the points and coil. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

'55's were positive ground.

I have a '55 and got mine the same way.  As long as everything else is working you won't have a problem AS LONG AS you switch the two wires on the coil.  I know mine had starting issues for the longest time until I figured that out.  There is no real problem running it as a negative ground if the coil wires are reversed.

And all the times I did run it it with reversed coil wires it never had the problem of dying you have.  Sounds like a fuel/carb problem to me.

Yes it is positive ground,fix that, but also check the fuel filter, sounds like it clogged 

Could be a bad coil or a bad condenser that is in the distributor.  Either could cut out if heated up and may work again when cooled down.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Thanks all for the input! I know for sure it's a 6 volt battery. Knowing what i've just read now, i'm pretty sure its hooked up backwards and the points have been burned up. I don't think it's a fuel problem because it backfired enough times to blow up the muffler. that tells me it's getting fuel but only occasional spark and lighting it off possibly. Tomorrow i'll check all these things though. Thanks again.

If you switch it around you may need to polarize the generator?

Having the battery hooked up backwards doesn't burn up the points.  In fact, I believe the spark is weaker.

I got the car to my house thursday. Today was the first chance I had to tinker. I replaced points and condensor. The old points didn't look terribly bad, but I changed them anyhow, they're cheap enough. I found the wire on the points was loose when I went to change them. The fuel pump was bad, so i changed it too. It's getting fuel good to the carb now. I charged the battery up and hooked it up positive ground. When i did, the voltage regulator started making noise. The car cranks and runs good, but when you turn it off and the battery is hooked up the voltage regulator is warm. Not hot, but warm to the touch. I know when you replace the regulator or the generator you have to polarize the regulator. Maybe having the  battery hooked up negative ground screwed something up there? I don't remember how to polarize it. Is it touch the BATT wire to the FIELD wire briefly?