getting a GM style vertex mag to work on an 8BA flathead

I know that the body and the drive gears are different, but I was wondering if any body has done this before? I'm a cheap machinest, and I see that used GM style mags sell used for $200 to $400, (alot less than a new vertex for a flathead) but besides looking at them, have never had one apart. I know the bases can be interchanged but after I buy a used one and pay to have it switched, I close to the cost of a new, correct one. Can an existing GM body be modified and fit with a ford drive gear? Anybody done this or have any ideas?Thanks

 

Vertex's are a press fit affair - I don't know any more than that on those. I have looked at modifying GM style bases - it seems to me that it'd be a piece of cake to make a "clamp on" style aapter to whatever you are adapting to.

OTOH several other mags have a bolt on base and separate drive shaft - which you could easily adapt to your flatty.

Just thinking out loud.....

 

I run one on our Bonneville truck with the flat head and my friend Ed Starr at Magtech made the lower drive unit.
I also make a flathead distributor using the chevy units as well.
Not really a major problem, speedy bill sells new lower drive gears and i would suggest using a merc cover with lower support as the mag is pretty tall and somewhat heavy.

 

Ed Starr at Mag tech did mine also, old Sprint car chevy mag, he did fantastic work, and is a great guy
Mag Tech Speedway Indiana, if you can't find his # pm me for it.

 

could you not just convert it like is shown in tex smiths book?

 

You use the term GM mag. What you want is a Chevrolet mag. Those are probably the cheap ones you are seeing. The Chevy housing can be turned down to match the flathead housing, shorten the shaft and use the flathead drive gear. Often they drill and tap the timing cover for a set screw to lock the timing in place. They do it all the time with HEI (ugly) and other Chevrolet dizzys. I've seen several Chevy early Mallory's converted to flathead. All you need is a lathe.

How well it will work on the street is another question. You can open a can of worms with the advance systems that I know nothing about. From reading on the flathead sites even Chevrolet dizzys need some tweeking in the advance area to work well on a flatty. I don't know how that would work with a mag designed for a different engine that winds a lot more RPMs.

 

Here is our version - but I don't think this is what you had in mind



In our case, the direction also had to be reversed...works great!!

 

Not to get off the subject but where did you get that fuel hose? It's not still available is it?

 

It is just standard Earls Super Stock red fuel hose...

 

Check with GMC BUBBA here on the HAMB. He did a conventional Chevy distributor to fit my late flathead and it works great.

 

Guys, Thanks for the input. I like their looks and simplicity, just not the pricetag. I figured I'd try to use a little elbow grease and save myself some money. Thanks again.