1956 trouble starting

[Black Lotus]

Sorry I didn't clarify that I turn the key and it cranks slowly to almost not wanting to at all.

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[Black Lotus]

Sorry I didn't clarify that I turn the key and it cranks slowly to almost not wanting to at all.

as well as it seems as though it might be oil coming out of the exhaust when the car is on or maybe condensation mixed with carbon buildup

 

[74 Harley]

Soot mixed with natural condensation. You're running too rich most of the time.

 

[Frankie the Fink]

Yup, greasy soot coming from the exhaust, often happens with older vintage cars...
My two four barrel Corvette was prone to do that.....

 

[Thunder rd]

Hello, I have a 1956 bird and have been having troubles starting it. It appears to try and start but it seems to not get enough power to and dies out. I have a new starter, battery and battery wires but the problem still persists, so I did some tests and it appears that I am getting a constant draw from the regulator on the bat terminal but its low and I keep my battery disconnected when not driven so I am lost at what could be the problem.

If you have put an alternator on youre car the draw would be a diode. Other wise some thing is on.

 

[74 Harley]

Where do you have the ground wire from the battery connected at?

 

[Black Lotus]

Where do you have the ground wire from the battery connected at?

the ground wire is connected to the fire wall through the break booster

 

[Black Lotus]

If you have put an alternator on you're car the draw would be a diode. Other wise some thing is on.

and that was what I was figuring it could be so I disconnected the clock and stereo but it still has the same problem

 

[74 Harley]

The ground needs to go directly to the engine block.

 

[Frankie the Fink]

The ground needs to go directly to the engine block.

Slow cranking is generally due to overheated components (like the starter motor) after a hot run or corrosion/bad connections/cables limiting full current flow. A complete rundown of the starting circuit is in order (including the main ground)....generally a bad alternator diode will cause a parasitic drain on the car but even if that is the case with the battery fully charged the starter should turn at full speed.

I'm not a Ford guy but does a '56 even have an alternator ? Unless the car was converted over to one.

 

[doug7740]

The battery ground on 1955/56 models is connected directly to the engine, but since the Thunderbird engine is mounted on rubber mounts it is necessary to install a ground wire from the engine to the firewall. This ground wire provides a ground path for attached engine electrical components. Without the proper grounding connection, it is possible that some electrical components will not operate at peak efficiency.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue

 

[Black Lotus]

Slow cranking is generally due to overheated components (like the starter motor) after a hot run or corrosion/bad connections/cables limiting full current flow. A complete rundown of the starting circuit is in order (including the main ground)....generally a bad alternator diode will cause a parasitic drain on the car but even if that is the case with the battery fully charged the starter should turn at full speed.

I'm not a Ford guy but does a '56 even have an alternator ? Unless the car was converted over to one.

no the car is still running a generator