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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 Gas Pumper | | Gas Pumper Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 | | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Vertex Magneto. It's a self contained ignition system, has no need for an external battery or generator/alternator. Jerry could explain it better than I can, but essentially, it has its own generator built into the housing, plus the high tension coil. You can have it out of the engine, sin the shaft by hand, and it'll make a spark with a pretty good wallop to it (don't ask how I know that ;)). Those were very popular on race cars, as it eliminates several components (starter, generator), reducing weight and power losses.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | Before the fancy electronic ignitions came about a magneto would supply much more zap than a convention point type ignition. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 Gas Pumper | | Gas Pumper Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 | Thanks. I had no idea. But there must have been a drawback to this system because it didn't take off? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Thanks. I had no idea. But there must have been a drawback to this system because it didn't take off? They are simple, reliable, and still used on some engines that have no battery/alternator/generator. They took off (take off) very well in the right application. | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Millions of farm tractors used them. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | In the past just about every thoroughbred racing engine ran with
a Scintilla Vertex magneto until recent times and you still see
many midgets still running with them especially in the
nostalgia get together's. We ran them in our Chevy II and
Sesco engines. Also used one in the Chevy V8 sprinter back
in the day.
dg
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Most recip aircraft engines have 2.
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 Gas Pumper | | Gas Pumper Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 3,399 | That was my point guys. As a Pilot I saw magneto systems all the time in aircraft applications, on the farm all the time in tractor applications, and every week during the summer in lawn mower applications, yet this system or something like it never caught on in automobile applications. I was just curious as what your opinions were as to WHY. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,961 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,961 | Back when there was still a lot of pump farms where my wife grew up in Medina County running on natural gas, they all had magnetos. They lasted a long time and were very efficient, but were very expensive to repair when they broke. Back in those days, almost any kid could throw in a set of points and condenser. Magnetos were very popular with the flathead guys, but that was a little before my time. Olds and Y-Blocks were boss in the mid to late 50's when I started smoking the tires. | | |
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