[krash55918]

Hello everyone. I posted this in the drag racing forum also but I'm hoping folks in this forum will have answers to my questions also.
1. I'm not familiar with MSD other than to know it's electronic ignition. No idea if there are adjustments or anything else I need to know about it.
2. Black box top of engine, right side of distributor, what is this? Part of the MSD? What does it do?
3. That is not an alternator, much smaller than any generator I've seen on cars. What is this? It has a wire to ground and looks like one that may go to the box in question 2.
4. Why three batteries?
5. Have never had a shifter like this or ever driven a car with one. I am not familiar how to work it at all. Shift pattern?

This car was originally a 289 4sp. The goal is to get her back on the street. I'll be swapping the tranny back to standard (thinking Tremec TKX). Can I swap to an alternator? If so, will I still need the three batteries or can I go back to one battery? Please excuse my ignorance if any of my questions make me sound like an idiot. I appreciate any help.

 

[galaxiex]

Looks like someone tried to make a "drag race car" out of that poor thing.

Black box at front of engine is a Mallory ignition coil.

Shifter looks like a B&M ratchet shifter, or maybe a B&M Quick Silver shifter.
Google how to operate it.

3 Batteries? Probably the 2 on the passenger side were used as ballast.
On a hard launch the right rear tire "unloads" and adding weight there is an old racer trick to try and keep that tire planted.
Often see drag cars with the battery in the trunk on that side.

Didn't get a good look at the small thing at the front of the engine.
My guess its an electric motor to drive the water pump.
One of the batteries is probably used to run that pump motor.

Maybe post some clear in focus pics instead of a video.

 

[krash55918]

It was my uncle who raced it back in the 70s & early 80s. He ended up putting it into storage sometime around 83. He was stationed at Norfolk for a long time so he would've been running any local tracks in that area I imagine. I never even took a close look at the two batteries on the right side of the trunk, I had it in my head that somehow they were all wired in tandem. I'll try to get over to get some pics of the engine bay tomorrow. Thank you for all the info so far. I'm noting lots of interesting stuff on her. . Here's an interesting pic of the rearend, at the risk of sounding stupid it looks like an airbag to me (?). I'm gonna give youtube a shot to see if there are any vids how to use the shifter now that I know what it's called. Thanks

 

[galaxiex]

Yes, that's an air bag, also to help with traction on the right rear tire.

 

[krash55918]

I had no idea bags were around back then, that's pretty cool. The car also has a driveshaft loop. What does the ET 1229 on the window mean? Is that his Estimated Time or does it mean something completely different? I really appreciate all of you sharing your knowledge with me. I haven't been able to get to the car yet to take some pics or to see if the two batteries on the right side of the trunk are just ballast. I hope they are; I've never been a spark chaser and it was very intimidating to think that this car had a three battery system. The shifter was also a little concerning but not so much now after checking out some youtube vids last night. I'm sure I'll have more questions but getting her running sure feels a lot closer just getting those concerns off the plate. Thank you

 

[galaxiex]

ET 1229 might be his "dial in" for bracket racing.

ET usually stands for Elapsed Time at the 1/4 mile drag strip.
IOW how long it takes the car to go from standing start to the finish line.

If the 1229 is actually the cars 1/4 mile ET then that's quite respectable for the small block.
A 12 second car is slow by today's standards, but back in the day, it was considered pretty quick, esp for a street car.

 

[Mercury4me]

In addition to the batteries providing ballast, it might be a total loss system and it needed 3 batteries to make it through a night of racing. Especially if it has an electric water pump and some high power ignition. Charging systems draw engine power so it used to be a thing to run off the battery

 

[krash55918]

ET 1229 might be his "dial in" for bracket racing.

ET usually stands for Elapsed Time at the 1/4 mile drag strip.
IOW how long it takes the car to go from standing start to the finish line.

If the 1229 is actually the cars 1/4 mile ET then that's quite respectable for the small block.
A 12 second car is slow by today's standards, but back in the day, it was considered pretty quick, esp for a street car.
[/QUOTE
I was thinking the same thing about the time. I'm thinking that if I get her running that would be plenty quick for me.

 

[krash55918]

Total loss system? Isn't that special? I will be at a total loss if that is what this car has. Not good news for somebody who hates chasing sparks. Wonder if that is why it doesn't have an ordinary alternator? Hoping to get to it tomorrow to get pics and look closer at these batteries.

 

[crwalker54]

Answers:
1&2. Yes as many others have stated that is a Mallory used in conjunction with the red box on the firewall. That box looks like a 6AL system. Yes there are man adjustments that can be made, gotta get the docs.
3. The black motor on the drivers side is an electric motor used to drive the water pump
4. 3 batteries as correctly said by others: 1 is used for all ancillary water pump, fuel pump etc, while 2 are used for the ignition, since this car has no alternator
5. Cant say anything about the shifter, as I am a 4 speed guy.

Other notables: The blue thing on the right side by the solenoid, is a fuel pressure regulator. The other white thing is a fuel filter.
12:29 ET? If this went 12:29 I would be impressed.
It also looks like it has a DANA rear

Good luck. If ya want to sell it let me know

 

[krash55918]

The car's stored at mom's so I had a neighbor check the battery situation out. There are definitely cables attached to all of them which makes sense after reading the comments so far. Keeping in mind that I've already stated that I am not a spark chaser, and at the risk of sounding really dumb; can I just install an alternator and a water pump to go back to a single battery system? If not, what would I have to do? I have to go through all the systems before I can safely attempt to start the car so I hope to make the changes as I go. The goal is to have a fun street car when I'm done.

 

[extech]

you can always put it back to stock. water pump is likely stock

 

[crwalker54]

Yep, what extech said. Here is the wiring diagram