Nekomata Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 So, I'm still not very familiarized with V8 engines, but is this little part (No. 20) a magneto? This is a part from Revell's parts pack engines, the Pontiac 421 c.i. Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 (edited) Though it looks much like one, it's not in fact a magneto. It's a high-output coil-type distributor called a Spalding Flamethrower Here's a wiring diagram. Edited June 22, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Yes part # 20 is a magneto, and part # 12 would be the distributor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 (edited) Yes part # 20 is a magneto, and part # 12 would be the distributor. No, it's a Spalding Flamethrower distributor...NOT a magneto. A magneto generates its own spark. The Spalding Flamethrower does not. It uses two EXTERNAL coils, unlike a mag of the era, which had its "coils" internally. Edited June 22, 2015 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Oops, I stand to be corrected as Ace is right. It is the Spaulding Flamethrower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my80malibu Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 Though it looks much like one, it's not in fact a magneto. It's a high-output coil-type distributor called a Spalding Flamethrower Here's a wiring diagram. Is there a way to save this diagram for future use to my computer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detailstymied Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 right click on the picture and a box should pop up. left click on "save as" and keep track of the default location or select your own. you could also use the snipping tool (start menu/ accessories/ snipping tool) and make a screen shot of it and save to your choice of location. the path is how i get there on my computer and yours may be different. a third way might be to highlight the address bar/ box, and save it that way. if the origin of the document was given you could have saved that location, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjordan2 Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 I don't know about Windows, but on Mac you can just drag the original post of the diagram to your desktop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekomata Posted June 22, 2015 Author Share Posted June 22, 2015 Ah, thanks! Nice to know it's official name and wiring diagrams ...but, that's way past my skill level, I guess I'll just stick a good old fashioned distributor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclescott58 Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I've been building models for about 50 years now, and I love it when I find out about things like the above. I rarely wire my engines, but I'm always interested in learning about what is what in my model kit. Until today, I never knew there was anything like the Spalding Flamethrower. I like many others just assumed it was a magneto. This is when this site is the best. When one has threads like this, that explain things like the above. Very cool! Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landman Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 On 6/21/2015 at 8:42 PM, Ace-Garageguy said: Though it looks much like one, it's not in fact a magneto. It's a high-output coil-type distributor called a Spalding Flamethrower Here's a wiring diagram. Here I was, ready to ask you where the coil wires went on the Flamethrower and the answer came up in the image page of the internet. Thanks Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Where does the "Dizzy" fit in ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 4 minutes ago, Greg Myers said: Where does the "Dizzy" fit in ? Funny...I've been building fast cars all my life and I've never called a distributor a "dizzy". I guess I'm just never going to be cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 Don't even know where that came from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Can-Con Posted March 6, 2018 Share Posted March 6, 2018 19 minutes ago, Greg Myers said: Don't even know where that came from. IIRC, it's Australian slang. At least, I've mostly heard it refered to that way by Australians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Darby Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 I'm glad I found this thread, because if you look closely at the box art on the side of the original issue AMT 32 Ford 5 Window Coupe (drag version), you can see it's equipped (only on the box art, unfortunately) with a Spalding Flamethrower. My box art replica (shown mocked up here) is getting one, with plug wires made from sewing thread run through beeswax, all old school.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 Spalding Flamethrower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 1 hour ago, Dave Darby said: I'm glad I found this thread, because if you look closely at the box art on the side of the original issue AMT 32 Ford 5 Window Coupe (drag version), you can see it's equipped (only on the box art, unfortunately) with a Spalding Flamethrower. My box art replica (shown mocked up here) is getting one, with plug wires made from sewing thread run through beeswax, all old school.... Yes sewing thread run through wax is old school and I still have a couple of models left that are wired that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 Scratch built this one from styrene rod and C-channel.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 8, 2018 Share Posted March 8, 2018 4 hours ago, afx said: Scratch built this one from styrene rod and C-channel.. Very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffdeoranut Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 what years were the flamethrowers used in general? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, jeffdeoranut said: what years were the flamethrowers used in general? If my memory is correct, the Spalding Flamethrower was introduced in the mid-to-late 1950s. The manual I have only lists the Chevy 265 and 283 smallblock V8 engines, so that would put it earlier than '62, for certain (the 327 came out in '62). They used early 1950s production car 1956 Ford points. The advantage, though some "experts" say they lessened point float, was actually that, because they were TWO 4-cylinder distributors in one, firing TWO coils, they allowed far more dwell time than a single-point system. That means more coil saturation, and a fatter, hotter spark. The advantages of a setup like this had been known for years, but the Flamethrower is the first factory unit I know of (hot-rodders had been using similar tech earlier in custom-made systems). Grant made the same unit later, and they were used for a long time. They'll work on the street just fine, and they were often seen on blown drag-only engines.They're still appropriate (and work very well if you don't want to trust electronics). And though they were never made specifically for Ford flatheads, many have been converted. It's not a hard job for a competent machinist. Edited March 10, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 On 3/5/2018 at 7:04 PM, Greg Myers said: Where does the "Dizzy" fit in ? On 3/5/2018 at 7:32 PM, Can-Con said: IIRC, it's Australian slang. At least, I've mostly heard it refered to that way by Australians. All the "cool" guys on the HAMB say it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted March 10, 2018 Share Posted March 10, 2018 (edited) Shelby used them on the Ford 260 engines in '62/'63. Edited March 10, 2018 by afx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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