Several weeks ago the 55 bird would not start.  No spark from the coil.  After a couple of day of poking around the distributor area, I had spark from the coil it started.  Again today.....no spark from the coil.   New coil installed, still no spark.  QUESTION....im assuming the ground for the distributor is the fact that the distributor is in the block and held with a clamp.  The battery positive is bolted to the block at the water pump.  Am I missing something regarding the grounding of the distributor?  I do have the coil positive post connected to the distributor and the coil negative goes to the "ignition" circuitry, since this a positive ground system.  This info. came from the CTCC and the ford electrical assembly manual.

Thanks, Charlie

No, but make sure the braided ground strap on the advance plate is present and tightened securely.

And also, that the distributor housing makes clean electrical contact with the mating boss on the block. Paint, or corrosion will interfere with happy electrons. Can try a bonding jumper with heavy wire from distributor body to ground for test purposes and see if that helps.

There have been several Posts regarding bad Condensors causing loss of Spark most made Offshore. You might try another Condensor preferably One made in North America.

  

I lost 2 condenser from China when I gave up and installed a Pertronics II. Haven't touched it 5 years. I check the plugs once a year and they still look great. Timing has never moved. I kept the stock ballast resister in the circuit  and bought their coil. Good Luck

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Look on the internet (ebay) for USA condensers.  They had a lot of older (USA) 12 volt ones for fords, maybe they have 6V ones


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

Depending on which Pertronix Coil You are using You may not need the Resistor. Low Resistance .6 Ohm Coil does not require Resistor. This is Information right from Pertronix. Do away with Resister and One less Component that may fail and leave You with no Start.

  

Having a good ground from the distributor "point plate" to the block is a necessity for reliable function of the electronic ignition in particular. I added the ground wire to mine specifically to avoid any future possible problem. It was a known cause of troubles with the Duraspark II ignition from the late 70's.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE A POORLY AND SLOPPILY MADE SET OF POINTS.  THE PIVOT STUD WAS WOBBLY CAUSING THE GAP TO CHANGE AND IT WAS ALSO SHORTING OUT WHERE THE INSULATOR SITS OVER THE PIVOT STUD.  GOT IT FROM A REPUTABLE CLASSIC PARTS SUPPLIER AS PART OF A DISTRIBUTOR TUNE UP KIT.  AN OLD LESSON WHEN I WAS A KID..."DONT MESS AROUND WITH CHEAP IGNITION PARTS....LOOKING FOR TROUBLE".