I've read all of the posts about the different options - stock, points, electronic, msd, mallory, chevy, mopar, etc. I'm going to upgrade my 8BA from single carb, to dual 97s on a thickstun. I want to go electronic and price is very imporant. I'm thinking about finding a mallory dual point, and upgrading with pertronix. Is this a good choice? Are there better/cheaper options? Thanks, Rich
There's about four options in the Speedway catalogue, but all are pricey... Most of the electronic stuff requires ignition modules to work, the Pertronics units only negate the points, but if you've got a solid dizzy, they're a cheap way to make it more reliable. Flatman
Yeah, new Mallory and MSD are gonna run 300-400 bucks. I just want a good dizzy with centrifugal advance, that can be upgraded easily to electronic. Has anyone used the Mallory dual point? Rich
Chevrolet point distibutor can be used with very little work.Compare ford distributor base with chevrolet base, very little machine work and use ford distributor gear...
I have used an SBC Mallory dual point machined to fit the 8BA timing cover, initially I used a Pertronix but swapped back to points after a few hesitancy problems, in my opinion it runs, starts as well or better on the points plus I am happier with mechanical points than a black box. As a former electronics engineer I am dubious of components in an electronic module running in the heat in an engine compartment. Rich
Regardless of which technology you decide on to generate a spark, the important issue in your Flathead with dual 97s is how you control the spark TIMING. Drivability is enhanced if you keep some form of vacuum advance but that has to be a system that will operate properly on manifold vacuum. Full centrifugal advance mechanisms are probably the easiest to find and the least trouble to install but just be sure the curve is right and that the total doesn't exceed what your Flathead likes. (Probably 18-20 degrees). The modified Chevy/Delco Remy is (IMO) one of the best choices but it needs recurved.
Yes. This is an old Mallory made for the 8BA engine. It was converted to Chrysler electronic ign. several years ago. The module is hidden under the dash away from the heat. It starts too easily to enjoy the distinctive flsthead starter motor growl. These have become pricey. The cheaper Chevrolet old Mallory can be converted the same way and modified to fit the flatty but the Chevrolet dizzy has a different built in advance curve. You should get the Chevrolet advance curve modified for the different needs of the flat motor.
We have done several flathead ignitions using the Taylor Vertex Mag electronic look alike. There has been no trouble to date. They require no external modules or coils, and use only 2 wires. One is the hot and one feeds the tach if you have one. Major drawback? Price
Ive done both the MoPar conversion and am also using a new Mallory dual point with an MSD CD ign box on an 8BA with a PM7 and dual 97's. IMO the Mallory quality is ****.....advance curves are all over the place AND even my new one's shaft almost seized b/c of improper clearance built into it from the factory. All up a POS.....you take your chances on getting a good one. I found the MoPar set easy to mod, cheap, will never wear out and will provide all the spark you will EVER need even in the hottest of flatheads. Those elec/mag look alike dist look kool...but 600 clam$ for a fake mag? No thanx.... Just my 2c... Rat
Can someone post a link to a post or site describing how to modify the mopar and chevy ones? Thanks, Primo
here's Tommy's piece with pic's. If it won't open, search under Tommy and Mallory conversion. http://fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/pictures?userid={2DF1D2F1-A0E4-40E6-9484-8B9287279599}&AlbumId={85EE867A-0310-4C5B-9816-07CBA614E6B4}&GroupId={6EF22434-F5A5-428E-BBFB-C2F89E3600E7}
The MSD has gotten good reviews arom those who have tried it. Mallory requires work and parts replacement, Chev and Mopar conversions may well be the best but of course require considerable work to fit and also need considerable shortening of the advances. Finding a system with cent and vac would be ideal.
Here is the article on converting from points to Chrysler electronic. Some guys modify the 318 Chrysler distributor to fit the flatty. (turn down the body to fit the timing cover and shorten the shaft to take the flathead drive gear.) You'd probably need to modify it's advance also. Here is my electronic dizzy.
And that shows another choice...the early flattop Mallory was an excellent piece with superb quality...disadvantage is that basic tuneup parts are growing difficult to find, and of course you need to find the distributor...or modify the common Chevy one.
Modifying a vintage SBC Mallory is a good bet--it doesn't take much to fit it to a '49-'53 front cover, and I still see them at swap meets for $5-$20. I often buy them just for spare parts for other, harder to find Mallorys.
You can even find tach drive models made for the Corvettes. One fella made a small bolt on aluminum ledge so that the original dist. hold down works with 8BA heads.
I've never owned a post-flattop Mallory, but have helped a friend debug a late Chevy one, and have read numerous people's experiences with flathead ones...a few of these, to be fair, were positive. From my experiences as well as others, Mallory points and condensers are absolute **** for multiple reasons and neeed replacing with good USA equivalents from Echlin and standard. Others have had same basic expeience with cap and rotor as well...fortunately this stuff is sourced from normal OEM applications. My friend was getting less than 1,000 miles out of new points, and converted his to single point just to save h***le. He went through two electronic ones and several modules, repeatedly rewiring to the letter of advice from instructions and from Mallory techs before switching to points...he HATES the things, but is trapped because it is about the smallest Chevy distributor there is and he built his firewall as a tight fit around it! On the first tuneup of his most recent Mallory, we noticed burn marks adjacent to several places where points and connecting wires approached the case...the brand-new, Mallory ***embled unit (with point contacts and rubbing blocks totally shot at 900 miles) had been ***embled with primary arcing to the case at three points--somehow, it ran. I'm pretty sure the vac advance was inop, but my friend actually refused to let me check that--he could not bear the thoght of another problem area. Flatheaders report that the things come with an SBC advance curve, way too much advance for a Ford--at least they are fairly easy to alter here, and probably lots of people are running the bad advance on tolerant flatheads. So, I think you can build a good one by taking care of all the problems...but whyinhell should an expensive new part be a restoration project?? Old Mallorys, by contrast, look like they were built for Rolls Royce. Now, Mallory is just a brand, alas.
I'll second that. I've run vintage waterproof cap type Mallorys in several cars, and have never been let down by one. The one I used in my first '53 Chevy got new points when I installed it, and was then run regularly for seven years with zero maintainence. I checked the point gap a couple times and it was still in spec, so I left it alone. The only way I've found to kill one of the big br*** external condensers is to crush it in a vise; if they're still round, they still work.
I see there is mention of the flattop distributors for SBC that can be used. Is the swap specific to these distributors or can it be used for all mech. adv. SBC dist. (like the dual point Mallory's)
Any SBC distributor can be easily modified for use in a '49-'53 flathead. One of my friend is running a modified SBC Spalding Flamethrower in his.
I think the best look for a period correct build is a vintage mallory unit with waterproof cap, converted to electric. Never failed me yet. Mike www.vintageignition.com
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