c3junkey

Anyone have experience upgrading to either a MSD or Mallory tach drive HEI distributor? I am replacing a stock tach drive distributor on a 1970 350/350.

Mallory site
[URL="http://www.malloryperformance.com/ProductDetails.aspx?modelNumber=3864501& productID=2435&majID=530&minID=5325&sele ction=2&minselection=9[/URL]"]

Pretty sure you can use the Mallory stand alone, whereas the MSD requires the upgraded MSD ignition box.

MSD site

[URL="http://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=8572/424.0.0.0.0.0.0"]

Roughrider

I don't know the answer to your exact question, but if you decide on the Unilite, make sure you get the power spike filter which is an option. While a good distributor, it could blowout from a voltage spike. The filter protects it from that.

capevettes

I put a Mallory Unilite Distributor in both my 65 and 61. The module blows out every few years even with the filter. I am keeping the stock setup in my 68. Points are a PITA but won't leave you stranded like a blown module will. The modules are $125 a pop too

Garys 68

My experience, a well maintaied points distributor is fine for a stock, or near stock, motor. Any "upgrade" to the ignition system will probably be less reliable ( I can think of 2 or 3 examples) and will provide no performance increase. Save your money, fix your current distributor, buy a timing light and dwell meter.

Mike Ward

Aftermarket ignitions are not a worthwhile investment- no performance increase.

PETKAH

On my 1970 a used a HEI tach drive distributor from Star Performance - about $170 - has worked great for about 7 years.

...Roger...

If you rebuild the stock the dist. (replace bushings)and put in a good set of points it will be trouble free for many years.
I also have installed a ton of Pertronix units in the stock dist. and have never had one unit fail.(knock on wood)

gkull

Points left me stranded just driving in pouring rain and getting splash up under the hood.

Hei, Mallory Unilite, and now MSD have never left me stranded. I used the Mallory with the recommended ballast resistor and a MSD blaster II coil for about 10 years and it never failed. Now it is it 14th year of use in a drag car.

71406

I installed a Pertronix system 7 years ago and never had a problem.

tfi racing

Unless you are planning to turn your motor to 7500 rpm on a regular basis,a stock distributor in proper condition is just fine.You may want to upgrade to a Pertronix unit and get rid of those crappy points.I went through three brand new defective "quality" sets last year getting stranded twice.If you can find some old stock OEM points you might be OK,the after market points are now just garbage.After that I put in the Pertronix unit and have been trouble free since.

Frogday

I don't have the part number in front of me, but there is an Accel module that is a direct replacement for the Unilite module and is only $49. I ordered one from Summit Racing and put it in a few months ago.

...Roger...

If you go with stock buy a set of NAPA points part # CS786 and condenser part # RR175.

pws69

I had a couple of different vehicles that I put Unilites in - they are a nice unit for the price, but you MUST keep a spare module with you - they seem to be the most fragile of the lot - I got stranded twice, then carried a spare module.

Later, I had a Pertronix in my 69 for a couple of years or so, loved it till it left me high and dry visiting my son and his family one day.

So, in my 69, I am back to a stock distributor with points that I completely rebuilt in and out, and the car runs the best it ever has.

You really can't beat a stock unit in top condition!

pws69

capevettes

That's good to know. I may buy a couple and keep them in the glove boxes. Hey, in the 68 with the points I drive around with a Dwell meter and an extra set of points. Pick your poison I guess.

c3junkey

Seems like everyone has had their share of problems with both stock systems and upgraded HEI.

Has anyone decided to forego their manual tach and replace the distributor with a standard HEI version? A friend of mine went this route and saved a considerable sum versus purchasing a manual tach equipped model. Not sure how to best make this choice if I go this route.

Also wondering if anyone has tried the CRT tach model? see link

http://www.crtperformance.com/html/c...rd_orders.html

Seems a little too inexpensive.

DRIVESHAFT

People seem to like to talk bad about the Unilite.
I dont think everyone is lying, but my experience has been different.
I have had a Unilite in three different vehicles.
Two of them were daily driven for years. I have never had a Unilite module fail.

Frogday

I have had the same Unilite for 10 years and as far as I know, the module I changed is still good. The car I added the Accel module to had been sitting in my garage for 3 years when I decided to start it to move it. It was only changed because I suspected a battery charger may have affected the module while I was trying to start a car that I hadn't run in so long. I've never actually had any issues with my Unilite.

Frogday

I have the box from the Accel part for the Unilite.
Box says:
Accel #2005
Replacement module for
Accel Points Eliminator kits
Here is the link...turns out it was actually $39, not $49. Even better.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

c3junkey

I did a similar conversion with the Petronix unit. However, I may have other problems with the vacuum advance and release with the centrifugal mechanism.

All in all, I just think an HEI system might be a smart move. Perhaps I can swap this out and play with rebuilding it later.

Did anyone have an opinion on the CRT distributor?