The traditional, bone-simple VW conversion for a Volksplane is a single magneto, on or grounded, that's it. A few years ago I started this thread sharing the recommendation from Steve Bennett of Great Plains that an ordinary 009, blue coil and battery with a wind generator or just dead-drain was his recommendation for a simple, lightweight, single-ignition VW aircraft conversion. The wind generators don't really appear to have taken off, pun intended, but there are still a host of options. What do folks think about these options or about relying on a single ignition in a VW in the first place?
1) Stock 009 distributor, blue coil, battery with or without alternator/generator (the original, points need adjustment);
2) Same as above but the with drop in electronic ignition 009 conversion and associated coil (no points to adjust, draws more current);
3) Same as above but with Davis Unified Ignition (GM HEI components) with integrated distributor/coil unit (easy to install but a big honking thing);
4) Same as above but magnetically or optically triggered electronic ignition not based on 009 distributor (more expensive, may not work for hand prop);
5) Vertex magneto (if you can find one, expensive, even bigger than the DUI, but no electric required);
6) Slick 4316 aircraft magneto (expensive but no electric required);
7) Slick 4200 industrial magneto modified for aircraft use (cheaper but olive green ;-), no electric required)
8) E-Mag self-powered electronic ignition (expensive, will still require battery for start, may not work for hand start).
2) Same as above but the with drop in electronic ignition 009 conversion and associated coil (no points to adjust, draws more current);
3) Same as above but with Davis Unified Ignition (GM HEI components) with integrated distributor/coil unit (easy to install but a big honking thing);
4) Same as above but magnetically or optically triggered electronic ignition not based on 009 distributor (more expensive, may not work for hand prop);
5) Vertex magneto (if you can find one, expensive, even bigger than the DUI, but no electric required);
6) Slick 4316 aircraft magneto (expensive but no electric required);
7) Slick 4200 industrial magneto modified for aircraft use (cheaper but olive green ;-), no electric required)
8) E-Mag self-powered electronic ignition (expensive, will still require battery for start, may not work for hand start).