mallory distributor question

Can someone explain to me what a Mallory Rev-pol distributor is.

They are the same as other flattops, but what makes them different? and what is needed to run them?

thanks.

Also, the YC-310-hp and the YC-310-G....differences between the two.

 

It stands for "reverse polarity", and they came with a special coil--I don't know HOW special, but it said rev-pol on it--and a dash switch that allowed you to reverse the polarity of the system.

 

I have a Mallory #Y0275 E model in my blown '49 Merc. It's mechanical advance only, no vacuum advance. It has a 4-lobe cam instead of 8-lobes. I can still buy parts from Ohio George Montgomery for it. Points part #24875-B, cap part #4004 and rotor part #4215. I bought this dizzy in 1955 for a Merc powered '50 Crestliner custom that was done in California.

Heres a little ad from Honest Charlie on the rev-pole:

 

YC-310-HP Vs. YC-310-G

The last prefix denoted advance curve.

HP= High Performance
G= Corvette Specific

I can be emailed direct at mmancini@vintageignition.com

 

What does the "E" denote for the flathead dizzy?

Rich

 

BTW, Summit still sells points for those

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=MAA%2D24875B&N=400249+302263+115&autoview=sku

 

The "E" denotes an extended shaft model.

 

If thinking about the Rev-Pol design hurts your head as much as it hurts mine, you can convert it back to normal dual point op with cam (held in by a little clamp down in the darkness) and point plate from a Chevy flattop.

 

Bringing this one back up...
It looks like the Rev-pol one needs a transformer, from looking at the Honest Charley ad. Anybody agree?

Here's a pic of a
Rev-Pol model for a Ford V8 flatty and a
Double-Life for a Ford FE.

Notice two condensers on th Rev-Pol and one on the Double-Life. The points on the Rev-Pol are completely independent.

What about running one condenser and connecting the points on the Rev-Pol?
Would that turn it into a dual point? Or should this be done along with Bruce's suggestion?
I haven't dug down into the darkness yet. Maybe I have a doner for the flatty.

I'm hoping to run the flathead one in my truck.

 

My recollection is that the second coil winding was magnetically opposite the first, and instead of just letting the first winding's field collapse (creating a spark), the second winding "reinforced" the collapsing field. Think of it as instantly reversing the connections on a regular coil; instead of just going from +12v to zero, the coil (magnetically) went from +12v to -12. At least that was how I understood it to work.

 

Thanks AlbugF1. Are you saying a second winding in a special coil?
What would the benifit be?

Ahh, the ad mentions that the above differences I mentioned are the only differences.
I think I'll try one condenser and connecting the breakers and see what happens.

 

I think it should work fine with the 4-lobe cam if you copy the points wiring on the double-life distributor.

The points are offset in this setup so that you get 8 separate point switches per revolution (4 with one set of points and 4 with the other).

I guess that is the gimick behind the "double-life" name - you get twice as many miles out of a set of points because they are only opening half the time.


It won't make it a true dual point though - those use an 8 lobe cam and the two sets of points overlap, e.g. one set opens first, then the other opens while the first is still open. The total dwell is from the first set opening to the second set closing.

 

I was thinking that the Double-Life was (true) dual point. Your explaination SimonSez makes sense though.
So the Rev-Pol seems kind of like a dual coil set-up? Or two completley different ignitions basically for each half of the motor?

 

From what I can see in the Honest Charlie ad, the original transformer is essentially two coils in one, but with a single output terminal.

It looks like you connect one set of points to the top of the coil and the other to the bottom of it.

If I can find an original coil for mine I will run it like that, otherwise I will re-wire it like the double-life version.

 

Hey Simon, I'll keep an eye out for a couple of them fancy coils. If you come across a couple keep me in mind.

 

Traditionally, "double point" refers to the Mallory patent type used on early Fords and many '50's performance cars. Both points, with overlapping dwell periods, work together on each spark, extending the dwell beyond what is possible with a single point.
Same number of lobes as cylinders.
Dual coils setups normally use one point only for each cylinder firing, but there are two points and they alternate cylinders, working separate coils. Only one point set is working at any given moment. Again, allows more time for coil to build energy...normal way requires special rotor and cap with two coil ******s...
This Mallory double life works like a dual coil, not a dual point...but manages to do it with sinle terminal cap and rotor. Essentially a 1 1/2 coil ignition...dual primary windings agitating the same secondary and firing through a single wire.

 

I've got a yc-310-hp for my small block. it has four lobes, two points that are wired to the same condensor to fire the same coil. each point fires every other cylinder. this is not a dual coil setup.

 

Now that's something unusual. How did they hookup the extra secondary...both into one terminal?? Sounds like a hybrid of double life and YC parts!

 

I think the Double-life is the same as what revkev6 is mentioning. I haven't ran it but it looks like his discription.
Anybody tell from the pics above if you agree?

 

I think at least the plate and cam must be from a double life--I don't know of any other Mallory using a separate points arrangement.

 

Bruce - a slight correction. It it the Rev-pol that is like a 1 1/2 coil setup.

As far as I can tell, the Double-life and the Rev-pol are the same basic distributor and the only difference is the way the points are configured. My tag is stamped "YC-310-HP", but has Rev-pol printed on it. I have seen others that are also stamped "YC-310-HP" and have Double-life printed on the tag.


Double-life:
4-lobe cam, two separate sets of points connected together with one condensor. This is wired to a normal coil.
The only benefit of this over a normal single point distributor is that the points last longer as each set is only firing 4 times per revolution.


Rev-pol:
4-lobe cam, two separate sets of points, each with their own condenser and wired to separate primaries on the special Rev-pol coil. This coil has a single secondary terminal that connects to the distributor cap.
My guess is that this offers some of the benefits of a dual-coil setup without having to use two coils and a special distributor cap.


Hence, if you have a Rev-pol, but can't find the special coil, you can remove the second condenser, wire the points together and run it with a normal coil.

 

Now that is a useful bit of knowledge!

 

I agree. Sounds like a simple conversion. I'll try to get this done this weekend and get some "tried and true" or some "tried and screwed" results.

 

I got this thing running!!! Just like SimonSez said. Pretty easy, nothing special involved.
I was waiting for a radiator or could have found this out sooner.
I connected the two point sets to the single condenser set the dwell to 35 like it said on the distributor and she runs good.
thanks for the help everybody, Gary

 

On my 64 camino i'm going to be running a Rev-Pol model F, i just jumped a wire between the condensers with a regular coil Havent got it running yet having other electrical problems.

Why cant i run like this??

I might be wrong but kinda remember my 54 Desoto Firedome distrbuter has dual condensers like that

 

HEY??? Bttt

 

****gy, Seems like it should work. That's basically what I ended up doing.

 

Interesting thread, and good information.
My 6 cyl Mallory RevPol YC 180 HP had me puzzzled on the RevPol part, found the answers that I needed here. Thanks '22

 

blown 49..Do you have Ohio George Montgomery Phone number or a way of contacting him. I'm in need of Mallory parts.
Thanks

 

Me too. I have a YC345HP for my 409 and want an extra cap/rotor and points.