-63 1/2 wont start, carpainter dont like me anymore!

[Galaxie_sweden]

Well well well..... Got the car home to sweden from Texas a couple of months ago. Decided to do a new paint job on it, and took it apart (not frame off). The engine is a new 390 Ford engine, and was factory installed 1983. The only and one owner of the car drove only 5.000 miles with the new engine. Since then the car had been standing until they sold it to me. They did all new gaskets and seals from the rear main seal all the way to the valve cover gaskets replaced before selling it to me.

So, the engine runs great. And i have started it up several times, even drove it down to the painter. The engine always started upp fine and fast.

The painter called me today and was furious.... "Come down here now, your car wont start, how am i suposed to get it into the box now......" and so on....

He says that he can only hear a "click" from the battery area, probably the solenoid. If it clicks it must be working, right?

I have to go down there tomorrow and i really need some advise to what to look for and what to check. Please give me a few hints.

I guess there's no problemwith the engine it self, there must be something wrong with the suroundin equipment. Starter, relays, fuses or something.

Sincerely / Mikael Ronnberg in Sweden (who has bought the car of his dreams. Yes i am young but the 63 1/2 has always been in my dreams. Dad drives a show quality -56 Fairlane Victoria 2Dht so the interest has rubbed of on me)

[MBDiagMan]

If it is clicking, it is very likely that the battery is dead. If the lights were left on or if the car has not been driven at speed lately this is probably the issue.

Remember, unless this car has been retrofitted with an alternator, the generator does not charge at idle. It will only charge the battery when the car is at speed, that is about 40 Kilometers per hour or better.

I would try starting it with jumper cables and if it doesn't, then use a voltmeter to see if it is getting voltage on both sides of the starter relay that is mounted on the fender well. If it is getting voltage on both sides, check voltage at the big cable on the starter. If it is getting voltage there, then the problem is the starter or cables leading to the starter. Just follow the cable trail from the battery positive to the starter, while someone holds the ignition switch in the start position for each test.

Good luck,

[Galaxie_sweden]

I took of the taillights and the headlights before i drove it down to the painter, so even if they forgot to turn of the power switch (mounted directly after the battery) the only lights that could draw out the battery would be the interior dome lights. But i asked the painter and he said that every time they moved the car he turned of the battery switch. And also when i talked to him yeasturday they had charged the battery.

But i will go there and have a voltmeter with me and check all the things you pointed out.

Thanks.

I'll be back with the results...

[Galaxie_sweden]

Problem Found!

Its the starter that was in realy bad shape.

I seems the starter drive is worn out. The thing (im swedish) that turn the engine around does not rewind back. So probably it has keept on turning around along with the engine for a long time. This could explain the fast rattling sound i have been hearing. This caused one of the brushes ( we call them coals ) to pop out and then the starter couldnt get any power.

[MBDiagMan]

Good job! Are you able to find parts locally?

I know the sound that you are talking about. Those old Ford starter drives were different than most others of the era. Ford used that type starter for years and years and years, so it could be that you could find the part in Sweden.

[Galaxie_sweden]

Originally Posted by MBDiagMan

Good job! Are you able to find parts locally?

I know the sound that you are talking about. Those old Ford starter drives were different than most others of the era. Ford used that type starter for years and years and years, so it could be that you could find the part in Sweden.

There are few -63's and -64's here. Impala 63-65 has always been more popular here in sweden for a long time. Biggest are the 54-59 cars. There are an enormous amont of american classical cars here (considering the small amount of people)

But the galaxies are coming strong here now. I heard there were 25 something of them imported this winter, both 63 and 64. Most of them were convertibles.

Im one of the few with an 63½ fastback. They are so sought after in USA so bringing one here is hard (i know).

Anyhow. Im ordering all the parts from Carpenter, or Concours. I want to change everything i can in the starter.

[MBDiagMan]

Yes, the car warrants doing it right. My point was not very well made, but I was trying to point out that since that starter was used for many years, the replacement does not have to be from a 63 Galaxie. I expect that same starter was used throughout the FE engine series and probably even on some Y blocks. It also may very well have been used on many pieces of Industrial or Agricultural equipment.

It sounds like there's no worry though. You will get all the new parts and rebuild it correctly as it should be.

Good luck and keep us posted on how your car is coming along.