AndrewP

He ran when we first bought him November a year ago, but it was quickly sporadic. Per advice we changed over to a 12V system which strained my capabilities to their limit, however, it was eventually done and he started up about a month and a half ago. Ran fine for about twenty minutes, backed out of the garage; I shut him down and he's refused to start ever since. The starter works but the engine just won't catch. Along with the 12V conversion I've replaced the plugs and wires and the starter solenoid. I really don't know what to do next and as a history teacher supporting a family I want to avoid taking him to a garage, but at this point he's doing nobody any good (including himself) just sitting there. Any advice would be welcome, anybody who knows anybody in the north Georgia area (I'm in Gainesville) who'd want to take a look in exchange for a nice scotch would be fantastic too! Thanks all.

Tedd Thompson

Do you have power (12 volts) to the coil? then the distributor, then to the points on to the plug wires then to the plugs them self. See where the juice quits if in fact it's electrical. Do you have a ballast resistor installed now that it is converted? If not the points may have fried with a full 12 volts.

It is a simple system just a little more complex sense you added the 12 volt conversion. Where did you put the voltage step down for the gauges and lights?.With a little help you should be able to run down your issue your self and save a few bucks Were here to help...... Tedd

AndrewP

I'll give that a shot, thanks!

Charlie Jones

Very poor advice .
There is absolutely NO reason to change a collector car over to 12 volts .
Do you drive your car in below zero weather ?
As Tedd already mentioned , you have probably burned up the points or the ignition coil .

My advice ;
1. Get a 1942 Oldsmobile Shop Manual ( if you haven't already got one ) .
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=1942+olds mobile+shop+manual&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=10 &_odkw=1963+Oldsmobile
That way you will know what you are doing .
2. Get rid of all the 12 volt stuff , You don't need any of it .
3. Put all of the original 6 volt parts back on . Use new points , and check the coil carefully for "opens" and "shorts" per the Shop Manual .

Bfg

oldcutlass

Unless your a she...

oldcutlass

I would hook up a dwell meter and see if it reads correctly while cranking and then look for spark. That will at least give you a direction to go.

AndrewP

I'm not entirely convinced that this is really worth responding to, but since you chose to open up with it, here goes: I would generally prefer to think of the car a pinup-worthy 'she' appropriate to her era but the thing is, I have two young daughters and someday I hope to drive them to prom in this car. In order to help them enjoy drives in the car we decided that it being a 'he' would better facilitate that.

So, do you have a stupidly named dog I can criticize you for or are we done with this conversation?

Olds64

OHHH SNAPPP!

Really though, the advice given above is spot on. Hopefully it's something as simple as the points being burnt up from 12V. Get a multimeter and start doing some probing. Good luck.

Bfg

dbandgb

I agree with charlie Jones. No need to change over. Just have 00 battery cables and every connection and ground straps super clean. I ha a 37 straight eight and it turns ove like 12V

oldcutlass

Removing the 12v conversion is not something I would do. Once its done correctly its done. How is the trouble shooting going?

Charlie Jones

Obviously , the conversion WASN'T done correctly .
Hence my advice , go back to 6 volts .

oldcutlass

Or a coincidence.

Tedd Thompson

As mentioned in my first post if you didn't add a ballast resistor without a doubt your points are smoked. I'm just curious what you did about the rest of your electrics. If not addressed they will come back to haunt you. I don't care what you call your car some of mine are almost obsean to some people..... Tedd