We have a 1926 Nash Ajax that we purchased in 1958 while going to school in the UP of Michigan. It has been in many family weddings an graduations.
Now to my question, how do I properly size the condenser in the distributor for this car? It has a six volt system. I remember the original condenser was rectangular in shape but it has been lost through many location moves through the years.
Thanks. Joe
Get a condenser for a 54 chevrolet. It's likely to be available and should work fine.
This document might prove helpful.
http://www.collectorsautosupply.com/DELCO.PDF
It may take a while, but you can also zero in on the proper capacitance for the condenser by trial and error. Run with your best guess condenser, then after a reasonable amount of miles, examine the points and pick a condenser with a higher or lower capacitance based on the following guidelines:
Hope this helps.
Mark. A very nice piece of info. I never knew that about points. I have filed this for future use.
Glad you liked it. It doesn't say it, but the diagram probably assumes a negative ground electrical system. For positive ground, you would probably have to reverse the directions.
Ask Aaron Griffey !! He's an ol' Nash man.
Thanks everyone for the leads. Ted, I will try the 54 Chev condenser as you suggested, George I sent you an e-mail or two. Joe
If you can be more specific as to the engine and Model # I can probably look it up in a book. Generally speaking, tho, a six volt universal condenser will work. The only real difference in most of them is whether the lead is the right length, the mounting is correct and whether the car is running a ballast resistor or not. Probably not in 26. AL 102 is the universal Autolite number IIRC. Echlin NAPA should have them in stock.
Some of the 50's Chevys ran a ballast resistor, not being much of a Chevy guy I don't know which ones for sure but they were pretty common by then. You might want to access 1930's numbers if you can't find a listing for a 26 Nash and will cross reference. Or add a ballast resistor, which will make your points last much longer.
You may want to try: 20'schevyparts.com Gary Wallace sometimes has the early resistors. If not, try The Filling Station
ballast resistor is only for 12 volt systems. gives higher volts for better starting, and as it warms upthe resistance dropsit to 6-7 volts, wich is all any points can take with out burning up.
6 volt Ford V8 cars and trucks from '32 to '48 used a resistor that dropped the voltage to about 4 volts at the points.
The Ajax was a separate make, like Mercury or Lincoln. It was built by Nash.
When they didn't sell well Nash gave the owners new Nash badges to replace the Ajax badges.
Then the car became the Nash Light 6 for a couple of years, then the Standard 6. I have a '29 std. 6.
Then It became the Lafayette until about '41 or '42 when it was called the Nash 600 until '49 or '50 when it was called the Nash Airflyte and about that time they became Ramblers. All that I have mentioned were small flathead sixes.
The larger OHV cars were Ambassadors. Looked similar but had totally different drive lines, steering and suspensions.
So when you start your model T on six volts do you also switch condensers when you turn it over to mag and the coils start getting 20 or more volts???????
The right coil is more important than the right condenser.
Just get a condenser and fasten it someplace on or near the distributor or coil and run the wire to the side of the coil that goes to the points. extend the wire and change fittings on the end if you have to.
You may notice when Ford went to 12 volt the '56 cars used the same condenser as the 6 volt cars of '55.
Also Botsch (I know, it's Bosch) gives the same part number for a '66 VW beetle condenser (6 volt) as for a '67, which is 12 volt.
When you change a car from 6 volt to 12 volts the coil is changed, but not the points or condenser.
Thanks Aaron !! you da man .
I have a condenser tester, it's not about voltage but the MFD. (Micrfarads)
Echlin ignition part numbers. Condensers:
Ford: 6 VOLT
1945-48 FA54
1949-51 FA66
1952-55 FA76
1956-59 12 VOLT FA76
FORD RESISTANCE UNIT:
ALL 6 VOLT CARS AND TRUCKS:
1937-1948 ICR-40
12 VOLT 1956 ICR-10
12 VOLT 1957-59 ICR-11
FORD TRACTOR: ALL WITH SIDE MOUNT DISTRIBUTOR
RESISTANCE UNIT: 1950-58 6 VOLT SYSTEM ICR-40
Earlier Ford tractors with front mount distributor have a special resistor not supplied by Echlin.
INTERNATIONAL TRACTOR:
RESISTANCE UNIT:
1948-55 6 VOLT SYSTEM ALL IF EQUIPPED: ICR-22
ETC.
My 1952 Chevrolet truck, 6 volt, has a ballast resistor mounted on the firewall, somebody must have added it as there is no part number or listing for it in the Echlin parts book.
THE Echlin condenser part number for universal application is AL868. Any NAPA store should have one in stock or any other parts store should be able to cross reference it.
The problem with any generalization is that generally there are exceptions to the generalization, as is shown here by example. Many 6 volt systems use a ballast resistor to drop the voltage at the points to 2.5-3 volts to reduce point burning and pitting.
Most any Ford tractor mechanic working on 9N, 8N NAA, 600 & 800 series Fords - especially the 9N & 8N with the front mount distributors - knows that hard starting and rough running is often caused by the ballast resistor dropping the voltage too low. Replacement of it often cures the problem. It is mounted on the rear of the dash and is a special Ford unit, however it can be replaced by a similar unit from a 40's Ford car if the original style unit is not available.