Difference in distributors?

[lyrikz]

Current setup is a HEI distributor. Chevy 454. It is a no brand name model. I rebuilt it, new cap. THe truck runs fine, no issues.
WELL, today my boss came and handed me a new Mallory 85 distributor.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-8548201/All/


I heard mallory makes a good product. Do you recommend replacing my current no name brand with this unit. It just feels bigger/heavier then the one i have now. It also has some kinda vacuum advance control inside. I dont really know much about these distributors. I would hate to replace it and run ito issues ya know. ahah.

Any advice.

[chevy_mike]

I think you should just send the Mallory to me.

I would say, if the boss is giving you stuff, throw it on, keep your old part as a spare. Keep the boss happy by seeing that you are using the stuff he gives you... you may keep getting free stuff that way.

Again, my shipping address is... LOL

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

I think you should just send the Mallory to me.

I would say, if the boss is giving you stuff, throw it on, keep your old part as a spare. Keep the boss happy by seeing that you are using the stuff he gives you... you may keep getting free stuff that way.

Again, my shipping address is... LOL

LOL. My thing is i dont want to screw anything up. WHen i put my dist. in the first time it was out 180.. I just dont want to do it again. He also gave me a shift light and tach. Thing is awesome.

My other concern is the vacuum advance. I dont know how to use that thing, it seems adjustable. lol.

The coil looks so much bigger and nicer. Malory dist. with a msd ignitor on it. IM assuming that link for summit is WITHOUT the ignitor.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

I think you should just send the Mallory to me.

I would say, if the boss is giving you stuff, throw it on, keep your old part as a spare. Keep the boss happy by seeing that you are using the stuff he gives you... you may keep getting free stuff that way.

Again, my shipping address is... LOL

Talked to the boss again and he stated the dist. was for his old race motor. So he doesnt recommend me putting it on my truck since i have a basic 454 build.

So, im going to get pics, and part numbers of everything he put on the dist. and put it up for sale.

[GASoline71]

Does the HEI in your 454 have a vacuum advance? If so then the Mallory should be fine. It will put out a hotter spark... I'd use it in a heartbeat.

Post up a pic of what the vacuum advance looks like.

Is the coil actually bigger? Or just the cover that goes over it?

Gary

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Does the HEI in your 454 have a vacuum advance? If so then the Mallory should be fine. It will put out a hotter spark... I'd use it in a heartbeat.

Post up a pic of what the vacuum advance looks like.

Is the coil actually bigger? Or just the cover that goes over it?

Gary

Yes it has vacuum advance on the dist. i have now.

I talked to my boss and he said the dist. is set up for a high horsepower engine and he wouldnt recommend it on mine. His engine was 600+ horsepower without the nose.

Just the overall size of this thing feels bigger. ahaha I havent held my old one in a while, but i just dont remember it being so awesome feeling. lol.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

Yes it has vacuum advance on the dist. i have now.

I talked to my boss and he said the dist. is set up for a high horsepower engine and he wouldnt recommend it on mine. His engine was 600+ horsepower without the nose.

Just the overall size of this thing feels bigger. ahaha I havent held my old one in a while, but i just dont remember it being so awesome feeling. lol.

pics

[GASoline71]

That thing is sweet... It will work great even in a stock motor if you ask me. I wouldn't hesitate using it. The MSD coil might be a tad larger, because it has more windings in the primary. Hence it will feel heavier too.

Good unit... it's from CNC'd cast T-6 aluminum on the top,and billet aluminum on the shaft. Probably also why it feels hefty. Toss a new set of 8mm Mallory or MSD wires in with it and it will be sweet.

The vacuum advance looks pretty straight forward. I would ask your boss where he had it set to advance, and see if he can help you adjust it.

Here is the instruction sheet for it...

http://static.summitracing.com/globa...aa-8548201.pdf

Gary

[lyrikz]

He said he added stuff to the internals. Said he paid 500 bucks for the whole setup.. Summit says its 135, but i think its bare, im not sure.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

He said he added stuff to the internals. Said he paid 500 bucks for the whole setup.. Summit says its 135, but i think its bare, im not sure.

So swapping dist. Can i just unbolt mine, mark where the rotor is and install this new one with the rotor in the exact same location and have no issues?

[GASoline71]

I would think so... since you have an HEI already... it should have the connector and eveything already there.

Do you have the dust cover for the coil?

Gary

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

I would think so... since you have an HEI already... it should have the connector and eveything already there.

Do you have the dust cover for the coil?

Gary

ya, i have all that.

Well, sweet. Im going to install this, mess with the vacuum a bit see if i can get that all figured out. Take the truck for a spin to make sure everything is okalee dokalee... Then i will just put mine up for sale.

[GASoline71]

Kewl... goodluck. Did you see the .pdf link I posted to the instruction sheet off of the Summit Racing website? That might help ya dial in that advance.

Gary

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

Kewl... goodluck. Did you see the .pdf link I posted to the instruction sheet off of the Summit Racing website? That might help ya dial in that advance.

Gary

Yes. Im reading it now. THis just gives me an excuse to get back in the garage. Ever since i started building my truck i go through phases. Where all i want to do is wiring, then all i want to do is motor, then all i want to do is paint... Well, right now i need to be in paint phase, but all i want to do is screw with motor work. So i cant seem to finish the truck .LOL.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

So swapping dist. Can i just unbolt mine, mark where the rotor is and install this new one with the rotor in the exact same location and have no issues?

Bump your engine over to bring #1 up to fire before you pull the old distributor. It makes re-installation so much easier; at least for me it does.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by El Jay

Bump your engine over to bring #1 up to fire before you pull the old distributor. It makes re-installation so much easier; at least for me it does.

i want it to be pushing air as its coming back up right. not sucking air?

[tasian]

yeah it sucks air in when the piston goes down so you want it pushing air

[C20-67_N_MO]

Originally Posted by lyrikz

i want it to be pushing air as its coming back up right. not sucking air?

Correct.

It should be blowing your finger out of the spark plug hole at the #1 Driver's side.

Nice looking dizzy. If it performs as good as it looks you should be golden!