hi all i'm still new to motors, built a few but not a lot and never use a magneto before, anyways i was wondering if anyone knows if anything special is required to install an aftermarket, mallory ect..., magneto on a 351 M motor, like a one wire altenator, or an electronic egnition box or anything else.
thanks
sweet ross

 

A magneto uses points like a normal distributor, but it generates its own current. It requires no battery current and you ground it to kill the spark. Not much reason to use one with todays systems. In the sixties it gave you a hotter spark than a conventional system.

 

well this is going into a race type motor

 

Lots of $$$$ Magneto's are big bucks.

http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...mp;D=%2D123875

With the excellent choice of electronic ignition alternatives, I would be hard pressed to be able to justify this expense, magneto's are so last century....

Need to buy any buggy whips??

Not saying that magnetos are obsolete, there may be some "racing only" applications for these, but IMO you would have to be a hard core racer to justify the expense.

I spent part of my youth growing up in a rural area, where magneto's were commonly used on irrigation engines, I can tell you for sure, magneto's are not immune from failure, nor are they cheap to fix. To compound this issue, you will want to know where you can even get a magneto fixed in your area, and to have a spare to use while it is being repaired.

 

I ran one in my 67 with the Gurney-Weslake but that was 1968 when a mag was better than anything else. Today unless you're running in top-fuel you would be much better-off with a good s/s ignition.

 

well scince this motor is gonna have a blower, detroit 8-71 screw type, what kind of distributor, crab tree dual point, they also have a manifold that clears high enough for a regular highth distributor, should i go this route?

 

IMO, stay in a position where you can use as many "standard" parts as possible, it will save you boat loads of money over time...

 

well JMD this motor isn't mine, this motor is going into a 61 starliner, don't ask why he didn't use a clev i ask he said he just had this motor around and wanted it built into a sick drag motor

 

ive never been a fan of the dog M's