Hey Guys, hope all is well with you all.

Quick scoop.  Building a truck and I am close to mounting the engine on the frame.  As my baby (272 Y block with only 7,500 orig miles) sits on the engine stand I need to start making some electronic decisions. 

My problem is I am a mechanical kind of guy, not much in the electronics arena.  I want to run the one wire Alt, with J. Mummerts bracket.  Other than that I have no idea what I should get.  Can any of you gents give me the skinny on a reliable set-up for my engine. 

MSD, Mallory, Joe Hunt, I am lost.  Not sure what should go with what....  Sorry, don't flame me, just being honest and looking for a little expert guidance.

Thanks,

Ryan

I would suggest a '57 and up factory distributor with a Pentox electronic conversion. Have the advance curve set up by someone who knows how and use a matching coil. For an alternator you may want to go with a GM 2 wire with an adapter plug. Someone here should have more detai on that. It is my understanding that they work better than the one wire.

Ryan;

You don't mention what year your truck is. If it is a 56 or earlier and you want more performnce, make sure you get a 57 and later dizzy if you go with the Pertronix upgrade.You may also want to upgrade your carb and intake too. Also, I have had good luck with the "Tuff Stuff" brand 100 amp chrome GM 1 wire alternator. You will get many different opinions on this topic, but with the 1 wire alternator you get to eliminate the external voltage regulator. For me, the less wires in the engine compartment the better.

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Thanks for the input guys.  A little more.

My engine is a 1956, 272.  I've went threw the engine and it is about as close to new as one could be.  Only 7,500 miles as it was used in a firetruck owned by a small town in northern New Mexico.  I went through it, cleaned it up, put in new Gaskets and pressurized the rockers as well as a valve job.  I am planning on a 3 x 2 set up, with Lakester Headers.

The truck cab is a 1948 F2, Chopped 5 1/2".  Z'ed frame made by me.  The pictures of the truck with parts set loosely just to give me an idea where I was at.  It will sit 4" off ground at the front  of the cab and 5" at the back of Cab.

Because the Engine will be setting out front for all to see, I would like to minimize the wires.  I was thinking about the MSD ready to run with a blaster 2 coil.  I can find a shop to set it up for me, I just want to pick my components and want it super reliable. 

Any experience with the Joe Hunt stuff???

Thanks again, Ryan

No matter how few miles on it the all vacuum advance distributor is not the thing to use, especially if you are changing carbs and intakes.  As others have said the '57 to '64 dist with centrifugal and vacuum advance is much more understandable and serviceable.  I have used a Pertronix running a MSD box with good results. 

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Ryan, I run a 1 wire alt on my 56 and it works great. Only difference from a 2 wire is it will not energize untill the rpm is brought above aprox 1200 RPM, once energized it will continue to charge at lower RPMs. I also run a MSD ready to run and coil, love the fact that I can pop the cap off and in a couple minutes adjust timing curves,max advance,etc. Mike

1956 Fairlane Victoria (ORREO)

 

Overlooking Beautiful Rimrock AZ

The MSD ready to run is in my opinion the ultimate ignition setup. If using a genuine Ford distributor, prefer the late model distributor with an Accell/Mallory points eliminator kit and a matching coil.

Just thought I would put my two cents worth in.

regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

Thanks guys.  Going with the MSD & one wire set up.

Thanks again.

~Ryan

I like the stock '57-up dizzy with the Petronix. I've been running Petronix in all my early cars since around '95 and had nothing but good luck.  I even run the stock style dizzy in my race truck with a petronix to trigger an MSD 6AL.  Hard to beat and the price is easy.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Boy Tim, you have been reading too many Aussie post, they got you calling the distributor a dizzy now!

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?