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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 620 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2020 Posts: 620 | I'm at my wits end. I just tested four new condensers for my 54-3100. I'm down to one, this is nuts! One our fellow bolters makes a capacitor for our old truck guys. I'm down to one, what am I going to do if it goes out on me on a road trip. doc
Last edited by Rusty Rod; 08/29/2021 3:24 PM.
Currently making 1954 3100 better than new and Genetics
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,374 Moderator - The Electrical Bay | | Moderator - The Electrical Bay Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,374 |
Another quality post.
Real Trucks Rattle
HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | There are plenty of "new old stock" condensers available on Ebay. Shop for "Delco Remy" (NOT "AC-Delco) Since about the only difference in most condensers is the length of the pigtail, don't limit your search to "Chevy six" items. Back when I was working for a living, feeding my family and paying rent fixing these old rust buckets, failed condensers were incredibly rare, even if they didn't get changed at every tune-up.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 | Which condensers are you testing? Please contact me via PM or by email (jon_goodman@yahoo.com)
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 | I don't know if I'd be too excited about NOS condensers. I've been told they don't age well in the box.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 | They don't Tiny. The original condensers were made using the foil wrap method. A dielectric gel or film was applied to foil which was cut in strips and then to length and then spun on a machine into a cylinder and this was inserted into an aluminum canister. The ends made the contacts, and that became the capacitor. The ones made by Delco-Remy and Standard were very accurate. The ones made in China are horrible.
The problem 40 to 60 years later is the dielectric gel/film dries out and this causes them to stop working. If they're stored in a hot place, they can be ruined in less than 10 years...and that not surprisingly is why everyone was told to replace them anytime you changed points. The distributor being a hot place by nature.
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | The Delco-Remy condensers from the 1960's and before used an actual piece of paper for an insulator between the foil layers which did not deteriorate nearly as badly as the gel coating that was used in later production. They lasted about three days past forever! About the only way to destroy one was to hit it with secondary voltage that would actually burn holes through the paper insulation.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,374 Moderator - The Electrical Bay | | Moderator - The Electrical Bay Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,374 | Moparguy, I moved your post to the original condenser thread. Thanks for the info.
Another quality post.
Real Trucks Rattle
HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
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