I recently installed a distributor in my 26 coupe and am real pleased with it's performance. The instructions stated to disconnect the mag because the modern day 6 volt coil will not take the mag output and will burn up. Would it be possible to run the mag through a separate circuit and run the lights and possibly charge the battery directly and just let the generator run the engine? And no I'm not smoking anything.
See 6 vs 12 volt thread and the post by Regan.
Ron the Coilman
The Mag puts out AC, you can run the lights on AC but without a resistor they will burn bright and dim with engine RPM. The voltage changes on the model T mag as RPM changes. Charging the battery with AC can also be done, but you have to run it though a diode and a regulator to get a trickle charge, wiring it directly will short out the magneto. As far as the generator running the engine, it should never run the engine. If you have a generator it should be used to charge the battery.