Well, why are they so much different than a distributor? Is it at all possible to run one on a street car? Advantages/Disadvantages? Dont laugh if this is a dumb question, I just wanna know. Thanks guys.

 

A magneto uses a permanent magnet flying past a pickup coil to generate a small current to be applied to the ignition coil. They're self powering and don't require battery power or an alternator to power the ignition. On V8's four pickups are usually mounted around a wheel with a single magnet attached to the crank to fire opposing cylinder pairs in a "waste spark" type system.

It's probably not something you'd want on a street car, magnetos are more for lightweight race cars that don't need variable advance or a heavy electrical system.


[This message has been edited by Apeiron (edited June 02, 2001).]