Old School "Made in the USA" Ford 427

The Crew Cruise was not without failure. The starboard engine stalled and refused to start again. Captain Doug brought her back to the dock on one again. Enough said.

Dr D was on the scene the next morning diagnosing an over heating coil. It was a new coil and research is continuing after replacement. Mallory old school tach drive distributors with new electronic ignition, new coil with internal ballast or should we be back to old school external resistor with points?

The question has been posted to Mallory to get new original distributors or have these factory rebuilt.

These engines ran fine for 40 years with points, sure the points are a little more maintenance, the set-up for the ceramic ballast seemed beautifully engineered. Have we adopted new technology needlessly?

Below are two videos featuring the 427 engine - as Paul in the boat yard said when he heard of the failure - "That's what you get with hot-rods."

The engines are the finest hour for American automotive design. Having a pair in a beautiful Chris Craft from the same period of prosperity in North America has to make you stop and wonder how we ever lost the edge and became consumers of foreign made cheap imitations.