The Ford Barn

jm29henry · 04-16-2015, 10:54 AM

Hi I am looking at a 1923 ford model t touring car it's on Craig list mi . I was told by a member of my model a club that that do not run nearly as good with a distributor over the magneto and it would be costly to re install. Just would like to get s few more thought be for i check the car out in person thanks for your time and thoughts

15max · 04-16-2015, 11:28 AM

If properly working, either should work well.

J Franklin · 04-16-2015, 12:11 PM

A good working magneto will outperform the distributor setup as it throws a hotter spark with longer duration. Either system will work well when you have a 20HP engine, but the fun of hearing all that buzzing and free starts are lost with the distributor.

jboggess · 04-16-2015, 12:51 PM

T's run great on mag,, let the T be a T

40 Deluxe · 04-16-2015, 01:22 PM

"Let the T be a T"! Great comment! If a person wants to keep changing and adding newer parts, why not just set the body on a modern tube frame with independent suspension, small block V8, automatic and air conditioning?!

Steve Jelf · 04-16-2015, 08:12 PM

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The presence of a distributor DOES NOT mean the car has no magneto. The distributor DOES NOT REPLACE THE MAGNETO. A distributor and its coil replace a timer and four coils. The car may have a magneto, or it may not. The current owner can tell you whether it's been removed. Yes, a T runs better on MAG than on BAT. If the magneto is gone and you want to revert to the stock ignition system, it will cost around $500. If the magneto is still there and you want to go back to Model T ignition, it will cost around $250. Or you can drive it with the disturbutor while you gather the necessary stock parts at swap meets for a lot less.

jm29henry · 04-16-2015, 08:23 PM

Thank you for all of the great advice

Sundiesel · 04-17-2015, 05:09 PM

Some T owners, mostly those who don't understand the original ignition system, say that the original system is troublesome. In the early stages of T ownership, I was one of those people. I removed the magneto ring, but left the magnets to circulate the oil and I replaced the coils with a distributor.
In recent years, and with the generosity of the Coilman, I converted the system back to stock. On a relatively stock engine, (just aluminium pistons) I haven't noticed any real decline in performance as a result.
However, my present speedster project has no magneto or coils, just a distributor. Which not only saves a lot of weight, but provides a more accurate spark in a worked over engine.

04-16-2015, 10:54 AM	#1
jm29henry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: michigan Posts: 1,126	Is there An advantage to A distributor over a magneto Hi I am looking at a 1923 ford model t touring car it's on Craig list mi . I was told by a member of my model a club that that do not run nearly as good with a distributor over the magneto and it would be costly to re install. Just would like to get s few more thought be for i check the car out in person thanks for your time and thoughts

04-16-2015, 11:28 AM	#2
15max Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 327	Re: Is there An advantage to A distributor over a magneto If properly working, either should work well.

04-16-2015, 12:11 PM	#3
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: Is there An advantage to A distributor over a magneto A good working magneto will outperform the distributor setup as it throws a hotter spark with longer duration. Either system will work well when you have a 20HP engine, but the fun of hearing all that buzzing and free starts are lost with the distributor.

04-16-2015, 12:51 PM	#4
jboggess Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 112	Re: Is there An advantage to A distributor over a magneto T's run great on mag,, let the T be a T

04-16-2015, 01:22 PM	#5
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,779	Re: Is there An advantage to A distributor over a magneto "Let the T be a T"! Great comment! If a person wants to keep changing and adding newer parts, why not just set the body on a modern tube frame with independent suspension, small block V8, automatic and air conditioning?!

04-16-2015, 08:12 PM	#6
Steve Jelf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Parkerfield KS Posts: 526	Re: Is there An advantage to A distributor over a magneto Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The presence of a distributor DOES NOT mean the car has no magneto. The distributor DOES NOT REPLACE THE MAGNETO. A distributor and its coil replace a timer and four coils. The car may have a magneto, or it may not. The current owner can tell you whether it's been removed. Yes, a T runs better on MAG than on BAT. If the magneto is gone and you want to revert to the stock ignition system, it will cost around $500. If the magneto is still there and you want to go back to Model T ignition, it will cost around $250. Or you can drive it with the disturbutor while you gather the necessary stock parts at swap meets for a lot less.

04-16-2015, 08:23 PM	#7
jm29henry Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: michigan Posts: 1,126	Re: Is there An advantage to A distributor over a magneto Thank you for all of the great advice

04-17-2015, 05:09 PM	#8
Sundiesel Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 25	Re: Is there An advantage to A distributor over a magneto Some T owners, mostly those who don't understand the original ignition system, say that the original system is troublesome. In the early stages of T ownership, I was one of those people. I removed the magneto ring, but left the magnets to circulate the oil and I replaced the coils with a distributor. In recent years, and with the generosity of the Coilman, I converted the system back to stock. On a relatively stock engine, (just aluminium pistons) I haven't noticed any real decline in performance as a result. However, my present speedster project has no magneto or coils, just a distributor. Which not only saves a lot of weight, but provides a more accurate spark in a worked over engine.