Magnetos are SUPER groovy, INDEED!! The downfall is as mentioned already though... lack of advance (which really helps a car intended for the street) and they can be big bucks if you don't know where to look or are planning on a new one. I'll also agree with what was first stated by Tuck... don't run a fake one! They look cool and everything, but I have heard of more issues with them lately. Not all of them, but enough to keep me away. As a side note... if you cruise the swaps for a good rebuildable mag, you can test them out by having your least favorite friend hold the ends of the wires and then spin it. How far your friend jumps is how much you get to negotiate the price.
Hey Hamilton, I am going for one of those 2 x 4 models when you get them ready. Your prototype of a single 4 looked really sweet,,I assume the 2x4 model will be just as sweet? Tommy
With the OD at .69 reduction a 3.91 might be on the high side. 3.91 x 0.7 = 2.7 final ...and if you think back to the muscle car days, all of those 440 4-spd GTX, R/T, Chargers and RoadRunners had a 8.75. Only the 440-6 and Hemi 4-speed cars used the Dana 60. If for no other reason than easy gear changes the 8.75 is high on my favorites list, but they are also as tough as most cars will ever need. Gary .
Hi Gary, Thanks for the advice. I would rather stay with the 8 3/4 to be honest. What do you think about the rear ratio,,,maybe a 4.56? I would like to keep the final ratio about 3.23,,somewhere close. I don't know what 1st gear is in an O.D. tranny,,is it extra low? Tommy
The car in my Avatar has an 8-3/4 with 3.55 gears. Trust me, they are tough! It's been in that car with a variety of gears.
I've got an old Cirello "Frankenstein" in my vintage dirt car (avatar). It works great. I run only on the track so the lack of advance doesn't bother me. It starts right up on the starter every time. As a matter of fact, about a month ago, I was over to where I have it stored, and a friend asked me to fire it for him. I was extremely doubtful, as it was 40 outside and the car has no chokes, but I said i'd try. Turned on the electric fuel pump, gave it a couple of pumps, it tuned about 6 times gave it a couple of more pumps, and away she went. I couple of things; I had a great old electric Mallory tach that I wanted to keep. I ended up buying a gizmo that clamps on a plug wire and feeds the tach; it seems to work fine. Oh, BTW, I got it from J.C. Whitney of all places. Lastly, I have a minor heat condition,(arythmia) and my doctor says to stay away from it and let someone else set the timing.
Low spark at Cranking speeds ??? TR Waters A-833 trans adpter ??? I have an Early Vertex on my DeSoto with 12V to a 6V starter and it starts right up every time NO problem !! Ask SCOOTERMCRAD... He seen it I also have an A-833 O/D Trans mated to a '55 Dodge truck bell, The "ADAPTER" is simple Flat plate steel ... Why spend $$$$$$ on someones adapter when its Sooooo Easy to make one ? The Dodge truck Bell has all the T/O bearing linkage built right in for EASY clutch pedal hook up.
I think you will be really happy with the 2x4 version. On topic: I know a lot of people who run magentos. Keep it in good condition and it will run great.
Yep!!!! Rick's DeSoto is one bad mama jama and he drives the hell out of it! Here's a bit about the car and a video to prove it's worthiness of starting up with a magneto... http://scootermcrad.blogspot.com/2008/09/coolest-1930-sport-coupe-ever.html Enjoy!
My blown 392 hemi fires right up with it's Vertex mag....first time..every time. Oh, and by the way, my son and I visited Rick (DE SOTO) while out in California and yes, it fired right up and sounded badass as hell!!!! No one should really have trouble running a mag unless something is wrong with the mag. Al
Hey Scootemcrad, Man I am bummed out about your new avatar. The clip of Igor is the coolest,,,I laughed every time I saw it. Tommy
It's not the magneto's hot spark that does the job,it's the long duration of the spark as compared to a typical battery-coil ignition.It acts like a modern digital multi spark ignition box so to speak.And you should always use non resistor wires and plugs with a mag.Resistor stuff will cut off a good portion of the spark duration.
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