Just (tried) to install a Joe Hunt Mag in my 51 ford 8ba. The shaft seems to be about .250 inches longer than necessary and will not allow the Mag to "seat" on the mounting shoulder. Has anybody else experienced this? Short of returning the mag are there any other fixes available?
Does the shaft have that nub below the gear? Some aluminum covers have the hole for it, Cast iron ones are usually flush. TP
Does the shaft extend past the gear? If so you need the aluminum timing cover … commonly called merc cover. The cover is set up for that but check it out first some are not. Or you can trim off the shaft and use it in / with your ford cover.
Only suggestion I may add is a mag has a lot of resistance to turn the shaft and that gets greater at high rpm. A conventional igniton just rotates and has no other restrictions on the shaft Ie,oil pump. The added support prob is needed for the mag so the gear does not wipe itself out by deflecting from no lower support. I would find the right cover and leave the mag base alone.
If your front cover does not have the lower support, and IF the Mag has a stepped lower housing with an extended shaft, you can simply cut off the extension. Many aftermarket 8BA distributors have full stepped lower housings with extended shafts, so they can be ued with all late Ford/Merc/truck front covers.
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