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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!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
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For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,797 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,797 | Can HEI, Pertronix, or other electronic ignition operate properly with a DC generator, or doers the vehicle have to be converted to an alternator?
I assume 12v only? No 6v electronic conversions?
Last edited by Otto Skorzeny; 09/30/2025 8:00 PM.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,796 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,796 | Pertronix sold a 6V electronic ignition at one time, but I don't think they could run fast enough to give me one of their products. I don't see any reason a properly designed electronic ignition system wouldn't function with a DC generator- - - - -all the ignition system sees on the input side is voltage. How it gets there shouldn't be an issue. Correct voltage regulator adjustment might be a problem- - - -correct regulated voltage against a fully charged 12V battery needs to be 14.5-14.7 volts.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,766 Carburetion specialist | | Carburetion specialist Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,766 | We have helped LOTS of customers with generators, pertronix, and "carburetor idle issues" correct those issues simply by converting to an alternator.
If you are old enough, and grew up in rural America on REA electrical service, and remember the TV picture shrinking from both the top and the bottom when the refrigerator compressor kicked on, the above statement makes more sense.
Jon
Good carburetion is fuelish hot airThe most expensive carburetor is the wrong one you attempt to modify. If you truly believe "one size fits all," try walking a mile in your spouse's shoes!The Carburetor Shop | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,797 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,797 | I'm not considering doing any modifications or conversion to electronic ignition. It's just a question that popped into my head.
No. I've never seen or heard of a TV screen picture shrinking when the Fridge came on.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,766 Carburetion specialist | | Carburetion specialist Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,766 | If you grew up in Atlanta, the electrical grid probably had sufficient capacity that you wouldn't see it.
In some of the older rural houses on REA, the picture would shrink from both top and bottom by as much as a couple of inches when the extra starting current from the compressor created a momentary low voltage. The dip would last maybe a second or two. Things electronic like stable voltage.
While the output from a generator might average the 14.5~14.7 volts Jerry mentioned at idle, the voltage isn't as stable as that from an alternator.
Jon
Good carburetion is fuelish hot airThe most expensive carburetor is the wrong one you attempt to modify. If you truly believe "one size fits all," try walking a mile in your spouse's shoes!The Carburetor Shop | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,797 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,797 | I'm from a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio but I never saw a tv do that. That sort of thing probably happened before my parents even met each other.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
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