My dad and I bought a Magneto for our dragster and I just wanted to get a little bit of background information on it. The mag has a tag on it, which reads, "E.M. CO." and I'm not having any luck finding anything on that company. It was based in Sun Valley, CA. Also not sure of the value on this thing, so if anyone has an idea (or an offer) I'm all ears. Here are some pictures...any help is appreciated!
This is a Scintilla Vertex. The riveted tag with serial # etc. appears to be from some company which modified mags for specific applications much like Joe Hunt mfg. did. Could be a specialty prepped mag from a sprint car or boat or something, but that company that modified it is probably gone for decades. Tom S.
The brown cap is probably worth as much as the body of the mag. SBC mags are common, but the brown caps are getting rare.
That would be my guess too - maybe even for an airplane or fire engine. By the way the drive unit can be separated from the magneto and other drives for different engines can be substituted.
You can purchase parts for this magneto at this link.http://www.huntmagnetos.com/auto-pricelist_page2.php These magnetos sell for between 200 and 350 dollars on Ebay. General instructions CAUTION: CHECK MAGNETO DRIVE DIMENSIONS, IF GEAR DRIVEN CHECK NUMBER OF TEETH AND GEAR SIZE WITH ORIGINAL DISTRIBUTOR. THEY MUST CONFORM. 1. Check rotation of existing distributor. Magneto rotation must conform. 2. Numbers on Magneto cap indicate Magneto firing sequence. Engine firing order must be interpreted into Magneto firing order. 3. Set engine fly wheel mark at IGN. No. 1 cylinder compression stroke before removing original distributor. 4. Line up Magneto rotor with #1 electrode in Vertex cap. 5. Check alignment and position of gear or dog with the mating drive at the engine before pinning same to Vertex drive spindle. Determine that ignition cables will face the desired direction before accomplishing above step. 6. Make Magneto engine installation with alignment of rotor to #l electrode. 7. Proper timing can be determined by road check. Advance or retard must be accomplished by loosening the hold-down clamp and rotating the entire Vertex. DO NOT CHANGE BREAKER CAM POSITION OR MAKE ANY INTERNAL ALTERATIONS. 1. Do not operate the Magneto unless all spark plug ignition cables are properly attached to the spark plugs. 2. Magneto "p" terminal is for ground wire cut off only. DO NOT ATTACH A LIVE WIRE. 3. When replacing Magneto cap, make certain that high tension lead is properly inserted in the hole provided for it. Contact spring in this hole must make contact and be secure with the end of high tension lead. 4. Magneto contact breaker clearance is a loose .015" to a tight .016" 5. Spark plugs must be gapped .018" to .020" according to engine requirements. 6. Do not force or drive gear or dog on Magneto as internal damage can result. 7. Separate all high tension wires to prevent possible cross fire. Hope this helps.
Looks just like my Joe Hunt mag for a small/big block chevy. I have a old brown cap and a new blue one. I had sent mine to Cerilo for service and new coil
Great info on the mags, don't forget to add a dab of grease to the grease cup on the lower side. ou may want to take that mag to someone to check it out as the compan listed may have set it up for a pre-determined advance for a specific engine? Also a buddy at Vertex once taught me a trick to lock the rotor on #1 for eas installes into the engine. take the spring clip (normally installed by vertex) that locks the cap screws from turnng out and insert the open end into the small hole that is located on the bottom base. the hole is just big enough for the pin to slide into,gentley turn the shaft/rotor till you feel the pin drop into a recieving hole inside the mag. Once in the mag should not turn and you can drop it in the engine, remove the pin and put it back on the cap bolt. most people never now what the hole is for or even notice it, it's on all the old mags, not sure if the are still putting it on new vertex mag base's? Paul
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