The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Ignition stuff...

Another dumb one coming....This 51 1/2 ton I just got has been sitting for five years before I got ahold of it, and it runs okay, but needs some TLC to get it started. I'm going to replace some of the ignition stuff, and it's been converted to 12V. I'm a bonehead with this stuff, and I've read every post relating to a conversion, but still gots questions. My understanding is that the coil has probably been swithed to a 12V unit, and I'm going to relace it, but in looking in the catalogs to buy a new coil, condensor, points and rotor, do I buy the stuff for the second series. Hope I'm making sense...in the catalog that seems to be the easiest to read, the 12V coil is listed as years 55-59. Easy there. The part I'm not getting is, do I then buy the other ignition parts for 55-59 also? I'm really new at this, and really inexperienced, so any advice would really be appreciated a bunch. Thank You!

Go to a petronix set-up it's worth every cent
NAPA will sell you a 12v coil with built-in resistor
A one wire alternator is a good thing too

Dan51,

If you go with Pertronix (a good piece of advice), check with them about the need for a ballast resistor (in the coil lead or in the coil) in your 12v application. They told me "no need" and it has been running fine for 4 years.

Tim

What engine does your '51 have? Original 216 or newer model 235? If it is original 216 then you would want to get points for '51 216 (points don't care whether they switch 6 or 12 volts). 12V coil from 55-59 is fine. Anything earlier than '55 would be a 6 volt coil.

Do you know how to identify the different engines?

PRW

Well, to answer Paul's question, sure I know it's a 216, the seller told me so! Really, though, from looking at the parts catalogs and the carb rebuild kit I just got(that's tonight's project-wish me luck), it appears to be a 216. Tha engine runs pretty well considering the condition of the gas tank-never seen anything that bad ever. Brown soupy sludge. It wouldn't even run after I towed it from Texas to Denver, but I replaced the fuel filter and I'm running it off a 5 gallon red tank until I decide what to do about the tank. I have to prime it by pouring an ounce of gas straight down the carb to get it started, but it runs well(uh, I think) once it's going. I'm going to look into the Petronix stuff, but for now I'd probably like to use the original type setup. I'd assume it has a 12 Volt coil, so I'll get another one of those, new points and condenser for my year, and rebuild the carb tonight. I think my wife is gonna sell tickets so they can laugh at me, this should be interesting. If you fellas can think of anything else, please let me know! Thanks!