The Ford Barn

Bored&Stroked · 12-19-2025, 11:23 AM

I've been going through all the ignition electronics for our FlatCAD Bonneville engine. It is a blown/injected 1940 Cadillac flathead - running Alky. Every part of the engine (except the block) is something we designed . . . most of it we built as well (heads, lifter blocks, roller lifters, girdles, etc). It makes 650 HP on the dyno.

Anyway, I've needed a way to test the complete MSD ProMag system. It is a ProMag 20 amp unit and the magnets are so strong that you cannot use a Sun type distributor machine to turn it. So, I needed to come up with an inventive way to do my testing.

I decided to create a "Frankenstein Test Bench" - using my lathe to drive the unit. Had to make the fixtures to hold it, the hub to mount the crank triggers, the spark plug rack, etc..

Anyway . . . here is ole 'Sparky' on my lathe, with a link to a video of it running:

Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSa9V6KkgSL/

IMG_1894.jpg

IMG_1895.jpg

IMG_1897.jpg

12-19-2025, 11:23 AM	#1
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,906	Off Topic: For those of you who love Magnetos! I've been going through all the ignition electronics for our FlatCAD Bonneville engine. It is a blown/injected 1940 Cadillac flathead - running Alky. Every part of the engine (except the block) is something we designed . . . most of it we built as well (heads, lifter blocks, roller lifters, girdles, etc). It makes 650 HP on the dyno. Anyway, I've needed a way to test the complete MSD ProMag system. It is a ProMag 20 amp unit and the magnets are so strong that you cannot use a Sun type distributor machine to turn it. So, I needed to come up with an inventive way to do my testing. I decided to create a "Frankenstein Test Bench" - using my lathe to drive the unit. Had to make the fixtures to hold it, the hub to mount the crank triggers, the spark plug rack, etc.. Anyway . . . here is ole 'Sparky' on my lathe, with a link to a video of it running: Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSa9V6KkgSL/ IMG_1894.jpg IMG_1895.jpg IMG_1897.jpg