need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor
Hi
On the German E-bay, they offer a MALLORY UNILITE distributor
P/N= 3864501.
The unit has a mech tach drive adaptor, but I can't see a vacuum advance on the pic. ( E-bay item # 1777796139 )
Does somebody know this distributor ?
I don't like to give up the vacuum and cebtrifugal advances.
What do you think.
Presently, my big block is fired by the original mechanical contact distributor.
It works well, but I want a electronic contact thing ( Petronix ) in order to get the adjustment done for once, so this unilite distributor sounds OK
( specially the price ).
Thanks for all input.
Gunther
On the German E-bay, they offer a MALLORY UNILITE distributor
P/N= 3864501.
The unit has a mech tach drive adaptor, but I can't see a vacuum advance on the pic. ( E-bay item # 1777796139 )
Does somebody know this distributor ?
I don't like to give up the vacuum and cebtrifugal advances.
What do you think.
Presently, my big block is fired by the original mechanical contact distributor.
It works well, but I want a electronic contact thing ( Petronix ) in order to get the adjustment done for once, so this unilite distributor sounds OK
( specially the price ).
Thanks for all input.
Gunther
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: spring city pa
Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (WESCH)
Wesch I run a unilite with no vac adv ,,, why if I may ask do you want to do away with the mechanical advance . I wound up having to use the unilite after there was simply no room to use the hei unit . I have mine hooked up to a msd 6a with an auxiliary timing module . The unit works fine . Sorry but I can't comment on the dist. you mentioned , but you can be sure some that has the tach drive model will read this.
Geo
BTW there are no springs used with the zti pistons :D
[Modified by ram82fire, 5:08 PM 10/16/2002]
[Modified by ram82fire, 5:09 PM 10/16/2002]
Geo
BTW there are no springs used with the zti pistons :D
[Modified by ram82fire, 5:08 PM 10/16/2002]
[Modified by ram82fire, 5:09 PM 10/16/2002]
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Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (WESCH)
Careful with that one. I'll check the number later if I get a chance. You might want to look for the Mallory catalog at http://www.mrgasket.com
The issue is, the Corvette tach drive turns the opposite direction from pretty much ALL other tach drives. It also has a square drive.
When i got my car it had a Mallory dist in it, but it was the wrong one. I had to send it out to Mallory to retrofit to be a Corvette unit. Then I added the unilite after the fact.
Dave
The issue is, the Corvette tach drive turns the opposite direction from pretty much ALL other tach drives. It also has a square drive.
When i got my car it had a Mallory dist in it, but it was the wrong one. I had to send it out to Mallory to retrofit to be a Corvette unit. Then I added the unilite after the fact.
Dave
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Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (ddecart)
Ok. Gotta correcxt myself here. Just checked the Mallory distributor catalog http://www.mrgasket.com/pdf/DistributorsM.pdf
That dist is listed as being correct for 55+ Corvettes. It's pretty much the same as what i now have in my car since I re-fitted mine with the Unilite setup.
Just looked at the auction. Doesn't look too bad. 41 Euros. Probably a good price. Not sure what one new would run over there.
I think I would have cleaned it a bit if it were mine that I was selling. Does it say if the unilite module actually works still? I think they're suceptible to voltage spikes and getting fried. Looks like he just cut the wires. That's not great. I can help you out there if you buy it. It also needs only 6 volts, so you need to install a ballast resistor to drop the voltage. They should be commonly available.
Dave
[Modified by ddecart, 8:04 PM 10/16/2002]
That dist is listed as being correct for 55+ Corvettes. It's pretty much the same as what i now have in my car since I re-fitted mine with the Unilite setup.
Just looked at the auction. Doesn't look too bad. 41 Euros. Probably a good price. Not sure what one new would run over there.
I think I would have cleaned it a bit if it were mine that I was selling. Does it say if the unilite module actually works still? I think they're suceptible to voltage spikes and getting fried. Looks like he just cut the wires. That's not great. I can help you out there if you buy it. It also needs only 6 volts, so you need to install a ballast resistor to drop the voltage. They should be commonly available.
Dave
[Modified by ddecart, 8:04 PM 10/16/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Springfield Oregon
Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (WESCH)
I have that dist. on my car. It is a mechanical advance only-tach drive. The mechanical advance is totally adjustable, and so far mine has worked great. One note, Mallory says do not run sollid core wires, too much RFI will kill module. Mine was purchased from Summit, 9/99, $365.95. Really nice distibutor, easy to work with. I've had mine set to 24 deg. mech advance for over a year, and it has never varied 1 degree in all the times I've re-checked it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (ORVette)
Hi
Thanks a lot for this quick answers.
How do you like the idea to run without a vacuum advance ?
How is the ignition set up, degrees ?
Doesn't the vacuum advance allow better starting caracteristics to the engine ?
Or is it only some kind of fuel economy thing ?
Actually, the gentleman selling this unit says, it was installed over 10 years ago for 14 days in a Vette and sits since than in the shelf.
Will ask him about the functioning of it.
If I don't get this unit, I will install a Petronix kit onto my existing distributor, but I am also a bit afarid , it's old and worn out.
Gunther
Thanks a lot for this quick answers.
How do you like the idea to run without a vacuum advance ?
How is the ignition set up, degrees ?
Doesn't the vacuum advance allow better starting caracteristics to the engine ?
Or is it only some kind of fuel economy thing ?
Actually, the gentleman selling this unit says, it was installed over 10 years ago for 14 days in a Vette and sits since than in the shelf.
Will ask him about the functioning of it.
If I don't get this unit, I will install a Petronix kit onto my existing distributor, but I am also a bit afarid , it's old and worn out.
Gunther
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,563
Likes: 2
Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (WESCH)
I installed a Pertronix unit in the original Delco tach drive distributor on the 454 that's in the '67 roadster. It lasted 45 minutes- then burnt up!
I then installed the Mallory Unilite. I didn't want to, because of no vacuum advance. After using it for a year without incident, I can say that it is very reliable, runs very well, and is a very good unit for street use.
My 2c.
:yesnod: :chevy :chevy :yesnod:
I then installed the Mallory Unilite. I didn't want to, because of no vacuum advance. After using it for a year without incident, I can say that it is very reliable, runs very well, and is a very good unit for street use.
My 2c.
:yesnod: :chevy :chevy :yesnod:
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Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (WESCH)
Hi
Thanks a lot for this quick answers.
How do you like the idea to run without a vacuum advance ?
How is the ignition set up, degrees ?
Doesn't the vacuum advance allow better starting caracteristics to the engine ?
Or is it only some kind of fuel economy thing ?
Actually, the gentleman selling this unit says, it was installed over 10 years ago for 14 days in a Vette and sits since than in the shelf.
Will ask him about the functioning of it.
If I don't get this unit, I will install a Petronix kit onto my existing distributor, but I am also a bit afarid , it's old and worn out.
Gunther
Thanks a lot for this quick answers.
How do you like the idea to run without a vacuum advance ?
How is the ignition set up, degrees ?
Doesn't the vacuum advance allow better starting caracteristics to the engine ?
Or is it only some kind of fuel economy thing ?
Actually, the gentleman selling this unit says, it was installed over 10 years ago for 14 days in a Vette and sits since than in the shelf.
Will ask him about the functioning of it.
If I don't get this unit, I will install a Petronix kit onto my existing distributor, but I am also a bit afarid , it's old and worn out.
Gunther
The vacuum advance is pretty much only an economy/emissions thing. Shouldn't affect starting or driving at all. It advances the timing under low engine loads.
It's pretty adjustable. There are a couple of different weight designs for those distributors. That one is probably the older style like mine. There a couple of weights and springs inside with stop-screws. You can adjust the springs and total advance to tune the curve to how you want it.
Other than that, it's like any other distributor, i think. Well, it has a special Mallory rotor to work with the unilite module, but that's about it.
Dave
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (redvetracr)
Wesch,
You might check out the kit to put the Mallory unilight into a stock distributor or even the Petronix unit. ...redvetracr
You might check out the kit to put the Mallory unilight into a stock distributor or even the Petronix unit. ...redvetracr
I would also like to add that a properly functioning vacuum advance makes a world of difference on a street-driven car particularly if the engine is fairly stock. Yes it does impact economy and emissions but it has a great impact on driveability. You can run only centrifugal advance on the street but you have to be a fairly savy tuner to get anywhere near the result you get with vacuum advance.
If it were me, which it isn't, I would pass up the Mallory Unilite distributor.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (gerry72)
Hi
Thanks alot for all oppinions.
On my request, the seller added some pics of the distributor with the cap removed and :mad , it looks like if there aint a centrifugal advance either ?
The cap is very short and it seems to be a straight distributor with no adjustments to be made.
Pls look under article number 1777796139 in E-bay, what do you think now ?
I might go the Pertronix or Unilite kit way and just mod my distributor. :cheers:
Gunther
Thanks alot for all oppinions.
On my request, the seller added some pics of the distributor with the cap removed and :mad , it looks like if there aint a centrifugal advance either ?
The cap is very short and it seems to be a straight distributor with no adjustments to be made.
Pls look under article number 1777796139 in E-bay, what do you think now ?
I might go the Pertronix or Unilite kit way and just mod my distributor. :cheers:
Gunther
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Re: need info about MALLORY UNILITE distributor (WESCH)
Don't worry!!! That looks PERFECTLY NORMAL!!
The centrifugal advance is UNDER that gold-tinted plate that holds the unilite unit. That's one thing that makes it a pain to adjust though. You need to remove that plate and the unilite unit (or points if it were a points dist.) adjust the weights/springs, put it back together and then test.
I see "5-92" on the unilite unit. Sounds like he's telling the truth that it's 10 years old.
Dave
The centrifugal advance is UNDER that gold-tinted plate that holds the unilite unit. That's one thing that makes it a pain to adjust though. You need to remove that plate and the unilite unit (or points if it were a points dist.) adjust the weights/springs, put it back together and then test.
I see "5-92" on the unilite unit. Sounds like he's telling the truth that it's 10 years old.
Dave
