Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical Magnetos On The Street.....

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Elcohaulic, Oct 22, 2018.

  1. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    I love tuning distributors and playing with timing curves. The plain old GM single point is my favorite. There a natural for running full advance with the built in start retard of the points.
    In 40 years I have never had a Magneto and I always wanted to try one.. Do these work well on the street? This is in a healthy, stock cammed 454, 100% street..

    Thanks...
     
  2. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,380

    Paul
    Editor

    I prefer them.
    Good hot reliable old school spark.
     
    Hollywood-East likes this.
  3. Hollywood-East
    Joined: Mar 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,993

    Hollywood-East
    Member

    X2 ∆
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2018
  4. It will depend on what Magneto you speak of
     

  5. dreracecar
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 3,476

    dreracecar
    Member
    from so-cal

    They sell a starting relay that works opposite so the ground lug opens when you turn the ign on
     
  6. drtrcrV-8
    Joined: Jan 6, 2013
    Posts: 1,707

    drtrcrV-8
    Member

    I ran the same Ronco-Vertex on a couple of different engines on the street without any magneto problems for almost 10yrs until I finally sold the car, & I would not hesitate to do it again.
     
  7. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    Probably the Vertex with 12 degrees advance.. Do they make them with more advance?
     
  8. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,380

    Paul
    Editor

    12 degrees is at the distributor,
    double that at the crank.
    For example;
    10 initial plus 12x2 equals 34 all in
     
    saltracer219 and Elcohaulic like this.
  9. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    Thanks Paul!! I was wondering about that..

    I was thinking about the mag today at work. There's just something so cool about them..
     
  10. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    So in order to shut them down you ground them out?
     
    Frankie47, Truck64 and Hollywood-East like this.
  11. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,380

    Paul
    Editor

  12. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    That's how Briggs & Stratton did it on the lawnmower.
     
    H380 and lothiandon1940 like this.
  13. drtrcrV-8
    Joined: Jan 6, 2013
    Posts: 1,707

    drtrcrV-8
    Member

    Side note: If the it's a high compression motor, you can spin the motor with the starter, & then flip the mag switch while the motor is spinning. That way the starter doesn't have to work so hard.
     
    Beanscoot likes this.
  14. Jack E/NJ
    Joined: Mar 5, 2011
    Posts: 836

    Jack E/NJ
    Member
    from NJ

    You can do that with a regular distributor setup too with momentary switch. Jack E/NJ
     
  15. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    Its a low compression motor and runs on 87-89.. It still has the stock starter that spins pretty fast compared to the mini starters..

    Would I be better off buying a new Vertex? Are they as good as the older mags? They aren't cheap.. haha
     
  16. Hollywood-East
    Joined: Mar 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,993

    Hollywood-East
    Member

    The only real problem buying used, is you won't know if it's locked, Or has advance, but a quick spin on a distributor machine will let you know, $200-300 used is realistic, I bought 10 over the years, an only had one that I'm sending out to magsrus
     
  17. Jack E/NJ
    Joined: Mar 5, 2011
    Posts: 836

    Jack E/NJ
    Member
    from NJ

    >>>The plain old GM single point is my favorite.>>>
    >>>Would I be better off buying a new Vertex? Are they as good as the older mags? >>>

    Both new and old might be almost but not quite as good as your plain old favorite. Why don't you buy both and let us know which comes closer to your favorite? Jack E/NJ
     
  18. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    Can I still play my AM radio with a Mag ignition?
     
  19. Jack E/NJ
    Joined: Mar 5, 2011
    Posts: 836

    Jack E/NJ
    Member
    from NJ

    Mags are usually less RF noisy than coils & gens. But use suppression plug wires. Jack E/NJ
     
  20. Paul
    Joined: Aug 29, 2002
    Posts: 16,380

    Paul
    Editor

    For best results follow manufacturer's recommendations,
    ie: solid core wires and nonresistor plugs.
     
    Elcohaulic likes this.
  21. Jack E/NJ
    Joined: Mar 5, 2011
    Posts: 836

    Jack E/NJ
    Member
    from NJ

    That's true with coil point ignitions as well. Solid core metal copper or steel plug wires like Packard 440 are too good as antennas for spark induced RF noise. Sorry, suppression wires are needed for decent radio reception. Call it a trade-off or compromise Jack E/NJ
     
  22. jazz1
    Joined: Apr 30, 2011
    Posts: 1,534

    jazz1
    Member

    My only experience with MAGNETO is hearing one go POP. When I asked pilot what the hell that was he said "Oh that's just the magneto, no problem we got two on this engine" It was a '46 Cessna Prospector
     
    30tudor and Elcohaulic like this.
  23. Jmountainjr
    Joined: Dec 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,672

    Jmountainjr
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    A lot of ground has been covered, but a lot has not to get to the point of your question. You said it a street driven 454, but I don't see where you said what type of car it's in. In no particular order:
    • Most mags have points, but many new ones are electronic.
    • Nothing wrong with an old Vertex. You'll pay $200-$300 for a used one and spend $400-$500 on the rebuild and upgrade.
    • The original mags were built with magnets that require periodic recharging. Upgrade to rare earth magnets to get away from the need to recharge. The magnet upgrade can get a 1 amp mag to about 2 amps.
    • The Vertex advance plate option can provide up to 12 mag degrees of advance (24 engine degrees). It's all weights and no springs, so there is not the same level of curve control as a distributor. It was intended as a start aid - take some timing out while cranking. Typical weight set will be all in by 2500 RPM. No vac advance provision.
    • Mags are intended to run non-suppression wires and non-resistor plugs. You can run some minimally suppressed wires to help with electronic engine management devices. It will still kill your radio.
    • You'll want your plug gap at 0.018" to 0.020"
    So if you have a heavy car, you may want to stay with a distributor to get the vac advance. If you are really into your radio, keep the distributor. If you just want the "look", buy a fake mag. If it's a fairly light weight hot rod, put the mag in and drive it. Dual exhaust rumble beats AM / FM.
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2018
    ottoman, Elcohaulic and Countn'Carbs like this.
  24. a few more tips. they can be timed statically with a buzz box just remember to take the slack out of the rotor by pushing the opposite way on it. use a quality kill switch rated for the mag used. the brown vertex caps are the old ones and are worth some good money. solid steel wires will not work with a efi system. this pertains to a msd system.
     
    Elcohaulic and Countn'Carbs like this.
  25. abone1930
    Joined: Jan 16, 2006
    Posts: 1,325

    abone1930
    Member

    Been running them for years, old reliable :) last one I got had it freshened up at a place that works on them in Forney Texas, cost me around 150.
     
    Elcohaulic likes this.
  26. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,212

    Elcohaulic

    Thank you! I am going to just stay with a stock points and get one of those old cool tack drive distributors that came with the vette.. I love my stock AM radio. My buddy said if I go with a mag, kiss Candy and Mike
    goodbye. There a popular Pittsburgh oldies radio show..
     
  27. Kan Kustom
    Joined: Jul 20, 2009
    Posts: 2,739

    Kan Kustom
    Member

    Some good info here.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.