Electrical Bugaboo!!

My buddy just installed a fresh flathead in his deuce roadster. It has a one-wire alternator inside a Ford generator case. Ignition is a dual point, not electronic. From first fire up strange electrical things are happening:

1) directional signals work with the ignition switch ON but motor OFF. They will not function with the motor running.

2) Depress brake pedal with all power OFF and brake lights illuminate. Start the motor, brake lights still on....... release brake pedal and re-apply and the brake lights will not come back on!!!!!!

3) Drove the car out of the garage and down the street. Two blocks down the road the engine starts to stumble, then quits and will not start.

Soemthing electrical is set up wrong. Could it be something with the one wire alternator?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

Strange stuff for sure. I would first suggest both the brake and turn signal issues are related. If you are running a 6 or 7 wire turn signal switch, double check that wiring and grounds.
Engine stumbling doesn't seem to me to be related but need more information.
Have you taken the time yet and checked to see if your getting fuel or spark? If you're blowing fuses related to your ignition then thats another avenue we need to go.

 

I ***ume you are wired 12v with negative ground and good ground straps to the frame & engine block. All ballast resistors should then be unnecessary. Some older ignition switches have a resistor that is not required. Could be that your ignition switch is wired wrong or defective. In my opinion the one wire alternators are not the best choice for older low idle speed engines.

 

Ballast resistor IS required for 12v point ignition.

I'd look at the grounds first, make sure that any part of the car that is used for grounding anything is electrically connected to the other parts. As mentioned, ground engine to frame, ground the firewall to the frame, and ground the body to the frame (the firewall and body are insulated from eachother by the welting between them). Use big fat ground cables for any ground paths that are included in the starter circuit.