Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

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BLB27
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Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by BLB27 » Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:16 pm

Do I need to replace the wood and hardware in my coil box?
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speedytinc
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by speedytinc » Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:37 pm

Wood looks good. Couldnt hurt to re-coat or oil. Whatever you do, do not replace the contacts with repops. They are way to soft & would be a step down in reliability.


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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by MichaelPawelek » Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:57 pm

That “Macs” cardboard box scares me! 😊


Moxie26
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by Moxie26 » Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:04 pm

Michael.. the timer wires.... I would take each wire off the terminal and replace so the wire comes off the bottom of the terminal so it does not short out on the coil box lid.


BobShirleyAtlantaTx
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by BobShirleyAtlantaTx » Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:46 pm

One problem you might in counter is corrosion between brass tab and bolt, preventing continuity. I’ve always removed, cleaned and solder the connections. Being careful not to get the tabs too hot.

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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by AndreFordT » Sat Nov 06, 2021 1:39 am

If it was mine I should do a complet overhaul with new wood.
Sometimes old wood had carbon traces around the hight tension bolt this could be the reason for ignition problems.

Here is what I did with one of mine.
The new wood has a few furniture wax coatings.
Contacts are original, cleaned and soldered to the new screws.
Sold it with rebuild coils, all the wiring, new timer and all the small parts needed to install the timer in replacement of the old Bosch distributor.

Andre
Belgium
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by Chris Barker » Sat Nov 06, 2021 4:37 am

It's only original once.

Looks good. I would keep it.


TXGOAT2
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:01 am

Carbon tracking, as noted above, could be an issue with old wood. I have seen situations where old wood has deteriorated around nails and screws wherevever moisture is, or has been, present. Cleaning the wood parts and soaking them in a sealant might prevent problems, but the wood would not be original after such treatment. Cleaning and sealing the area immediately surrounding the high tension terminals might be sufficient to prevent leakage.


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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by jab35 » Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:29 am

Replace with a John Regan plastic kit if you can find one, if not, ask Andre if he would supply the wood, best wood one I've ever seen. Save and reuse the original phosphor bronze spring contacts. jb


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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by Norman Kling » Sat Nov 06, 2021 10:59 am

Try it. If it works well, leave as is. However, if you get a misfire and it does not change by rotating the coils, you very likely have a problem in either the box, the wiring, or the timer. I replaced my wood with the plastic by Regan and it looks so much like wood that a glance would not even reveal the difference, but no more grounding out. I use the New Day timer on one of my cars and the Anderson on the other two. So far I have not had timer problems. I reuse the old contacts. Just clean them up and be sure you have a good clean connection with the bolts which make electrical contact.
Norm

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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by TRDxB2 » Sat Nov 06, 2021 11:24 am

BLB27 wrote:
Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:16 pm
Do I need to replace the wood and hardware in my coil box?
NO. The wood looks really good, no separation of the veneer from the solid. At a minimum I would clean the contacts in place (do not bend them). It is as well as the nuts. Be careful in loosing the nuts. The carriage bolt head fits into the square hole of the metal contact
IF you feel compelled to do an overhaul be aware of a few things.
-To remove the carriage bolts and contacts - wrench the nut closest to the back o f the box and remove the outside one and wire. If the remaining nut doesn't come off easily double nut the bolt and then wrench off the nut to break it loose. When replacing the bolt and nut don't over tighten this nut as it will squeeze the contact and possibly deform it.
-The bar on the back of the box is held in place with rivets - you'll need to Dremel grind the heads off - can replace with pop rivets or bolt/nuts
-Don't remove the bottom strip - just clean it. Removing it is just a lot of unnecessary work.
-Once apart clean the wood with a non-oily wood cleaner/restorer then seal with a product like Cabot Black Solid Exterior Wood and Sealer Model #BLACK-1614379. Its an Acrylic based staid.
-Pay attention to how things fit together before you take them apart
-What to buy The copper bolt & nut set (5005BS ), brace (5002STP), gasket (5004C), instead of the rivet set (5001RIVB) I'd use some stainless nuts and bolts, wood cleaner and stain.
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by DHort » Sat Nov 06, 2021 12:32 pm

Wood can crack, get wet, get carbon traces, and warp. Just better off to get John Regan's plastic replacement and it will last your lifetime. Unless you are putting it in the Stynoski competition.

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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by TRDxB2 » Sat Nov 06, 2021 2:00 pm

Yes wood can crack, warp and absorb moisture. But this original wood has lasted some 95 years without any signs of damage, cleaning and sealing it will definitely outlast "our" lifetimes and protect it from cracking, warping and absorbing moisture. The plastic replacement can get wet but not absorb moisture and deform from heat. Carbon tracking can occur on any surface like distributor caps, spark plug boots, and plastic.
There is no question that if the wood needs to be replaced the plastic repro is the better bang for the buck. But what's $60 for a repro when you weren't going for a Stynoski award anyway?
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by hah » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:40 pm

What type of wood is this box made of?


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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by jab35 » Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:27 pm

I don't know what wood is used currently but several yrs ago I bought a wood kit for my '26 and the wood looked like scraps of pallet wood. Very soft and light like cottonwood or willow, definitely not maple. And it was not plywood like the original. This was about the time John Regan began making the 'plastic' kits which I used instead. jb


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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by hah » Sun Nov 07, 2021 10:58 pm

The originals were plywood...go figure! Sounds like they were made of pallets...lol!

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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by AndreFordT » Mon Nov 08, 2021 2:10 am

Hi All,

The wood in my 1926 coilbox was bought at HISTOPARTS in the Netherlands. The wood in the 1914 box came from Snyders (first picture).
It is made, as somme said, from good quality plywood. In the past I bought the wood panels and a lot of other Model T parts from Snyders and they have also these good quality plywood panels. T-5000-W for 1915 to 1925 and T-5000-BW for the 1926-27 panels.
Before assembling the boxes I aply two coats of furniture wax on the panels, no clear coat or paint.

Just for information.
Andre
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by Allan » Tue Nov 09, 2021 4:51 am

In my experience with our Canadian sourced cars, the wood was not today's plywood. Rather it was a softwood core with a thick veneer either side. The core ran horizontally with the veneers on the vertical. Often the grooves machined on the interior side to accommodate the contacts cut clear through the inside veneer, and the veneer pieces in between the machined grooves became unglued.

When I returned my barn find buckboard to service, I used the original wood. The inner pieces of veneer were re-glued to the core. Outer layers were given the same treatment wherever they were buckled off the core. I put it back in the box with just a coat of Penetrol to seal it. It works well, and looks undisturbed, just as I wanted it to.

Allan from down under.


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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by NY John T » Wed Dec 08, 2021 11:55 am

Who supplies John Regan's plastic coil box parts?

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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by Steve Jelf » Wed Dec 08, 2021 12:32 pm

Who supplies John Regan's plastic coil box parts?

John's Fun Projects company was bought by the folks at Birdhaven. I've heard they've had trouble keeping his products in stock and have discontinued some, along with the website. I don't know the status of the coil box kit.

I do know that original bolts and contacts are superior to the notoriously inadequate repops, and that it's a good idea to solder the contacts to the bolt heads.

*Birdhaven Vintage Auto Supply, IA (515) 674-3949


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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by DanTreace » Wed Dec 08, 2021 1:07 pm

Replaced last year a so-called redone old wood panels in this coil box, some one cleaned and varnished it, so it looked good, but was cracked and I just don't trust old wood trying to prevent 10k volt outputs from my coils :shock:

So bought the former Fun Projects plastic replacements from Langs, Birdhaven is the builder of these, so yes, still avail. The plastic is a bit different with a nice grain finish, but the kit works perfectly. I just used different pop rivets in my install, as I had some nice s.s. ones in the drawer.


Can't beat the plastic, that will outlast wood! Won't crack, warp, swell, makes insertion/removal of the wood coil boxes easy with a slick surface, or cause any troubles in your T's ignitions system.

A good coil box is the home base or foundation for the trembler ignition.


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The contacts are the new more expensive bronze ribbon, and work like the originals, strong and springy.
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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by John kuehn » Wed Dec 08, 2021 1:47 pm

To me this particular coil box looks pretty good after almost 85 + years. It doesn’t like it hasn’t ever been wet.
But on a Model T the coil box is the heart of of the electrical system. It has to be in good shape for a T.
Checking it out with a good VOM you could see if it has good continuity or shorts and so on.

Before you check it out use air to blow it out really well.
It’s your choice what to do and if you do decide to rebuild it reuse all the original contacts and strips.


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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by NY John T » Wed Dec 08, 2021 3:20 pm

Glad to hear about who makes the rebuild kits. I will be reusing the original contacts. What about black paint? What brand/kind would anyone recommend? Or should I leave it unpainted? Looks like it's a brown finish.
John

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Re: Coil Box on 1927 Coupe

Post by John.Zibell » Thu Dec 09, 2021 11:18 am

Steve Jelf wrote:
Wed Dec 08, 2021 12:32 pm
Who supplies John Regan's plastic coil box parts?

John's Fun Projects company was bought by the folks at Birdhaven. I've heard they've had trouble keeping his products in stock and have discontinued some, along with the website. I don't know the status of the coil box kit.

I do know that original bolts and contacts are superior to the notoriously inadequate repops, and that it's a good idea to solder the contacts to the bolt heads.

*Birdhaven Vintage Auto Supply, IA (515) 674-3949



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Just checked the Birdhaven catalog. Shows as part numberT-5001-brk. As Steve said best to give them a call.
1926 Tudor

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