Technical Mallory 2 piece cap plug wires

Just acquired an original cast iron Mallory distributor for my "B" motor and looking for info on wires. I would like to run cloth style and was wondering how they fit into the 2 piece cap. Also, what do I need to do to the distributor to run 12 volts?
Thanks

 

Mallory 2-piece caps take 7mm wire. Cloth covered & lacquered wire is 7mm.
Ignition coil will need a ballast resistor in series with 'ignition on' wire, which is 'power from ignition switch'. Reduces power from 12 volt to 8.4, IIRC.

Stand by for controversial addition.

 

So, I am confused as to how the are secured to the cap. Unlike a regular cap with terminals and plug wires with boots.

 

OK and figured it out. Is there suppose to be a gasket/seal between the cap halves?

 

There is supposed to be a rubber seal between the halves.

 

Thanks Jim and will have a look for something suitable.

 

It's a molded thing with tapered grommets around the wire holes.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/mallory-old-style-cap-wires.722289/

 

I'm running Packard 440 from brillman in my daily, seems great so far, any 7mm works good. These are a pain in the *** to setup

 

Thanks for the link
I will need to take a better look at mine to see what condition they are in. I suspect replacements are not available?

 

They come available from time to time on EBay. You'll just need to keep an eye out.

 

Nope, I have heard of 4 banger guys running 8 cylinder caps, and I'd ***ume with some modification the 8 cylinder biscut would fit in a 4 banger cap, for the $25 you can find a complete sbc YC Mallory at a swap meet it is worth a look atleast

 

Just loosen the screws, insert wires and tighten the screws. You're usually better off buying a complete distributor for the parts. Caps can go from $100-$200, but sometimes a clean dizzy is $75.

The 2 piece cap is really three pieces. The top, the bottom, and the rubber insulator/seal.

 

You can use an 8 cyl cap/biscuit like ****gy said- if you use the 8 cyl biscuit in the 4 cyl cap, you will need to trim every other tapered grommet flush

 

I have a 4 cyl Mallory for my BMW 4 in my '24 T roadster. (Swap meet dizzy) It has an 8 cyl. cap with every other hole filled with clear silicone. No evidence of carbon tracking in cap, looks like a safe way to do it.
I had a '53 Merc with a Mallory 3 piece cap, no rubber gasket. My wife cut a rubber circle out of a thick inner tube, and used a leather hole punch (1/4" mandrel) for the spark plug wire holes. Worked great...Just don't cut the holes any larger than 1/4".
5/16" is equal to 8mm, too large.