One-wire alternator

Brandon

I spent a lot of years in motorsports, and I agree you don't want an extra accessory dragging down your engine if you're using your G primarily for competition.

When I was running what they called Mini-Indy cars, the road race versions had to have starters and batteries. We weren't required to run any charging system, and no fans (the airflow at over 150 mph usually being adequate). Weight and center of gravity considerations were at such a premium we ran gel cell Varta batteries in a lie down position. Those batteries had no hope of starting the car (but they would power the coil for 3 or 4 hours), so we used big humper batts wheeled up beside the car on a dolly or wagon - then plug into the onboard battery with a quick connector like this one:

This is a standard Moroso part, and is easy to come by. We were within the rules, as we did have a starter and a battery - but that rule book never said the onboard battery had to actually start the car. There were times when 10 cars qualified within .75 seconds of one another on a 2.5 mile track - so every ounce and every inch was an advantage.

I don't know if tractor pulling is that competitive, but I'd guess you could shed a few pounds and gain a few horsepower by using a lawn tractor battery with one of these connectors and a big offboard battery to start you G, then unplug it to run with no charging system.

You can run with no spark degradation for a long time on even the smallest of batteries. If there's a rule that says "stock" means with generator, I'd see if the rule book says "working generator". If not, gut the generator so it offers no resistance to the engine. For more background on how to read what the rule book doesn't say - there are some great books by the late, great Smokey Yunick I recommend. Whether it's stock cars, open wheeled cars, or tractor pulling, there's still an engine and wheels involved so the tricks have to be fairly similar. Plus - you'll know you've made your mark on your sport when there's a new addition the rule book added to cover some new trick that you thought up!

best of luck with it,

Steve

Brandon

I think the MSD's are a bit over-rated unless your engine is turning warp speed RPM's at high dynamic compression ratios. The G motor probably doesn't qualify on either score. It would surely be helpful if you could beg, borrow or even rent some dyno time to actually measure the effects of things like an MSD, the drag of an alternator, or any other ideas you come up with.

But - another part of me realizes it's not really fun unless you can throw cubic dollars at any given problem. Someday when your testosterone levels subside, you can look at the chrome over pot metal trophies on the mantle and wonder what the he!! else you could have done with all the time and money you have wrapped up in those trophies. Then again, you'll have some great memories about what fun it was!

'til then, have yourself a Merry Christmas.

Steve