Any folks with Magneto experience?

[TX3100Guy]

I have had a Vertex magneto rebuilt and cleaned. I've now installed it and a new wiring harness, complete with a kill switch for the mag, (Joe Hunt did the rebuild). I also purchased from them the Magneto Tach Converter, since I'll be running a newer electronic tach.

Has anyone used this box from Hunt for this purpose?

I have downloaded the wiring diagram that comes with the converter and I'm still a bit confused. Here is what I think needs to be done.....

Red - connect to a 12 volt switch power source
Black - connect to vehicle ground
Violet - connect to the input of the tach
Brown/Black - connect to one side of the kill switch along with a wire to the vehicle ground
Brown/Orange - connect to one side of the kill switch along with a wire from the terminal on the magneto
Brown/Yellow - No need to use in my situation

Does my interpretation of where the last three wires go correct?

[mr48chev]

In truth, the only magnitos I have ever been around work wise is on farm tractors built in the 40's and 50's. They were the reason one wire alternators came about as they have no regular ignition system only a kill switch.

I understand the Bubba factor of running a mag but unless you are acutually building a race car that has no battery I don't see the need or trouble with what we have for modern ignition systems now.

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

In truth, the only magnitos I have ever been around work wise is on farm tractors built in the 40's and 50's. They were the reason one wire alternators came about as they have no regular ignition system only a kill switch.

I understand the Bubba factor of running a mag but unless you are acutually building a race car that has no battery I don't see the need or trouble with what we have for modern ignition systems now.

I understand your position, but the truck was a one family truck since 1953. The late owners Dad purchased it new in 1953 and it was just a work truck, until they began to use it as a pusher truck on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The son of the owner then began a full frame off restoration and reconfiguration of it as a hot rod.

To that end, he installed a 1959 Chevy inline six 261 cubic inch rebuilt engine with new pistons and crank. He also did the machine work to install a McCulloch supercharger from a 1959 Studebaker Golden Hawk, The Vertex magneto, and a Hallibrand quick change rear end. None of these make any sense in todays world of "drop in a V8 LS engine with all the doodads" but I'm trying to stay in line with the former owners original plan and keep as many of these unique hot rod oriented items intact and working.

[Rickysnickers]

I'm going to move this to the electrical section. You might get more bites there.

[mr48chev]

You might find some answers in this Hamb thread. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...o-tach.536791/

Be Ware if you have not been around the Hamb before, they do not do modern. it is a traditonal hot rod board that is no billet, no aftermarket independent suspension and a lot of other no discussion on later model stuff.

[GSP7]

I thought Joe Hunt was no more and not around many years ago. I have a Joe Hunt Magneto on my BB chevy Sanger Flat Bottom, and I had Cerilo redo it probably 25 years ago

Maybe that is a new different shop using Joe Hunts name

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by GSP7

I thought Joe Hunt was no more and not around many years ago. I have a Joe Hunt Magneto and I had Cerilo redo it probably 25 years ago

Maybe that is a new different shop using Joe Hunts name

Not sure if its the original Joe Hunt, but they answered the phone, rebuilt the magneto and took my money.....LOL

https://www.huntmagnetos.com/

[CG]

That engine compartment oozes cool. Neat truck all around and an interesting history. If they used it out on the flats as a push truck they must have really cleaned it up when they got home. Doesnt look to be a salt flat rust bucket.

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by CG

That engine compartment oozes cool. Neat truck all around and an interesting history. If they used it out on the flats as a push truck they must have really cleaned it up when they got home. Doesnt look to be a salt flat rust bucket.

Thanks for the nice comments. When the late previous owner decided to restore the truck, he removed the bed and cab from the frame. Had the frame sandblasted and powder coated. The bed must have been in bad shape as he chose to buy a whole new bed from Mar-K. The bed is the only new body component, the rest is in amazing condition.

Even the fenders are in great shape with no sign of rust. The inner fenders were another story. I ended up replacing the drivers side, but in hindsight could have had it blasted and powder coated. The inner on the passenger side was replaced and re-shaped by the previous owner to accommodate the supercharger.

The truck is very unique and a bit of a history of hot rodding, which is why I'm trying to stay true to the late previous owners plans, albeit I have done a few things to it for me, such as:

- relocated the gas tank to under the bed
- installed four wheel power disk brakes
- installed a custom designed Ron Davis aluminum radiator
- installing a new Autowire wiring harness
- installing an Ididit steering column
- installing a Vintage radio
- installing a Vintage Air AC/heater
- ditched the bumpers and installed a rear roll pan (not sure what I'll do upfront)


The rest of his vision includes the McCulloch super charger, Vertex magneto, 1959 261 cu/in inline six re-built engine, Hallibrand quick change rear end, etc.

Here are a few photo for now -

[crossfire84]

Very cool!

[VetteVet]

I remember the Joe Hunt magneto use to be the performance mag for Harleys in the 60s.
My 65 Sportster has the stock magneto from HD.

[biketopia]

cool truck and neat pictures. Your interpretation of the wiring diagram is correct too.