SBF 36-1 Trigger Wheel setup

[sharding]

I am looking to add a Megajolt setup to my 1980 302, and need to add a trigger wheel for crank position. Any pictures or info on the wheel and sensor bracket setup would be greatly appreciated. Or any input from someone who has made this conversion, of course!

Steve

[Rick Parker]

Look at MSD trigger wheel & pickup.

[bobcowan]

If you're not going to be racing the car, you can use a stock balancer that already has the timing ring attached. Just make sure the balance matches what you already have.

If you're racing, or need an SFI balancer, I couldn't find one that had a timing wheel attached.

AFAIK, there is no off the shelf 36-1 trigger wheel to fit a SBF. I was cruising through e-bay, and found a guy selling wheels of the correct diameter. I contact him, and asked if he could make me one with a bigger center hole, and he could. I think it was <$30.

I sandwiched the trigger wheel between the balancer and the pulley. Of course, that means you also have to space all the other pulley's out by the same 1/8".

For the sensor, if you use a stock balancer with wheel attached, you can use the stock front cover. Easy. Otherwise, you'll have to fab your own bracket.

[sharding]

The MSD stuff I've seen is flying magnet, which is different than the 36-1 ford edis system the megajolt is set up for, I think.

Thanks for the pictures, Bob. Your setup is pretty much what I've been thinking I would do. I just got a crank pully from a 2000 Explorer 5.0L that has a trigger wheel mounted to study. Wrong balancer, but it was only $25 on ebay with shipping. Interesting that the missing tooth is not at 50* as I expected.

Steve

[sharding]

Oops, probably is at 50*. Forgot that 0* timing mark is not at 12:00.

[sharding]

Here's what the Explorer 5.0 parts look like. The balancer is too heavy for my 1980 engine, but at least I have a timing cover and sensor setup that will probably work. Gotta pull the old stuff off the engine and start measuring.

Also need to figure out the balancer - either modifying the 2000 50oz (mine's the 28oz style), getting a new one to adapt, or gluing the trigger wheel on my old one.

[bobcowan]

At one time, I ran across a web site company that would accuratly mount the trigger wheel to the back of any balancer. I was considering that, but then couldn't find them again. But I think it was a company in England.

The megasquirt ECU is probably different than the megajolt ignition system, so don't take this as gospel. Mine is mounted so the sensor is on the 9th tooth after the missing tooth when the engine is at TDC. Be sure and read through the Megajolt instructions before fabbing anything.

As you can see from the pictures, I made the trigger wheel adjustable for timing. When clamped between the balancer and the pulley, it never moves.