We can put the condenser out of the distributor.

[Fernando Mendes]

When my Jeep is bad to start, the first aid to me is to change the condenser.To me it is the first step.Of course,when the battery is ok.
***Remember:the CONDENSER is the principle cause of the "NO or BAD SPARK".
We can forget the old condenser inside the distributor and put another new condenser attached to the coil bracket ,its wire may be fixed in negative(-) coil nut.

[Fernando Mendes]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PeDg53cL2E&NR=1

[dr deuce]

I have been putting mine outside for a while now.

[John V Cliche]

I have been putting mine outside for a while now.

Hey Doc were you tired of having to fish that little screw out of the dist. body ?


Cheers
506

[Fernando Mendes]

Yes,this is my problem.Tired to fish that little screw with my 56 years old.I think can't this procedure cause some damage.(?)

[dr deuce]

Hey Doc were you tired of having to fish that little screw out of the dist. body ?

As a matter of fact.... The older small diameter distributers are worse then the 50's ones which are larger.

[Fernando Mendes]

I ask to the doctor:If I put a new one out of the distributor,I have to withdraw the old inside the distributor?

[John V Cliche]

One little trick I use from my "hotrodding days" is.... just loosen the screw and slip the condensor out of the clamp , the simply slide the new one in and tighten ....no fishing needed

Hope this helps
John

[Fernando Mendes]

John,when we do not use glasses(before 40 years old) is very easy to do this work.But ,I have a great solution:When/If I need I use the magnifying glass.There are four kind of lenses.We have to get a big lamp too.

[dr deuce]

Only one (1) condenser either inside or out

[Fernando Mendes]

Thanks doctor.

[Fernando Mendes]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/98/imagem395.jpg/
Magnifying glass I use to this kind of works.

[Fernando Mendes]

An answer to a Pilothouse(1948-1953) Dodge forum member:
Guys
The condenser doesn't care whether it's inside or out of the distributor case. What does matter though is that for it to do it's job it MUST be mounted close to the points. It has two functions, one- to absorb the electricity when the points just open thereby protecting points and, two- to send that electricity back to the coil the very instant the magnetic field collapses and generate more spark.
In 40+ years of wrenching I've only had about a dozen condensers go bad, those were due to heat and vibration, a manufacturing error on the equipment. If you're popping so many condensers that you need to mount them out of the dist body you've got issues elsewhere, such as coil wired backwards, wrong coil, wrong MFD or capacity condenser for the system, bad grounds at the distributor and block to chassis, plug wire leakage and arcing back into the cap and internals etc.
Bryan