Been toying with the idea of putting a dual point distributor in the 322. There's been a couple on ol' ebay and they get pretty pricy. Somewhere i swear i've read or heard that a GM dual point is able to be adapted to fit a nailhead. Maybe i'm making that up since i can't find anything on the subject either on here or "the google" . Thanks!
I have a used dual point dist for Nailheads if interested. I'd like to get $100.00 + shipping. Also, Mallory used to make dual point conversions for the Nailhead distributers as well. I might have one of them kicking around, would have to see. pm if interested in either.
I've been using Chevy Mallory dizzys on 8-BA flattys for quite a spell.. Chuck it in a lathe and cut it down till it looks like a flatty dist..Then have it recalibrated. Check one against your stock dizzy.It may work,cheeper than one for a Buick..
I do quite a few distributors and often the dual point conversion is available for a buick. However the dual points arent really goin going to help anything if the rpm range of the nailhead is still pretty low and not modified etc. Other than maybe the cool look of an old mallory etc?? A really clean set up distributor with a curve and good parts will serve you well. Get a extra distributor and let me build it up........
It would have to be a cut down Chevy, as both Olds and Pontiac advance in the opposite direction. AMC V8 distributors look awfully close to a Nailhead, but I don't know if they rotate CW or CCW. If they're CW, it would be worth some measurements. I see AMC Mallory distributors go cheap quite often.
Bubba nailed it, a properly set up single (or with an electronic conversion) is gonna be the ticket...
i was thinking that as well, regarding stock dist. setup. I'm running 3 94s, on a 322, and the engine is basically stock. For now... i plan on stripping it down this winter, re-ringing it,hone cylinders, get a valve job,new cam, bearings, etc. Again, with the cam i hear a stock grind is best. Just kicking around the idea of the dual point, and just seeing if anyone had heard of the Chevy/GM conversion as well. The other advantage with dual points i guess is i woudn't have to run my vaccuum advance? But, it seems to be running just fine as it is, (with new points, obviously). The pentronix idea is a good one as well. My only gripe (though it's internal and not visible) is that the car is a "period" car and my wiring is cloth wire. i maybe should mention it's a 31 A sedan? i know it's a dumb thing to worry about in the long run. Even if i put a "cool looking "mallory in, i wouldn't even see it anyhow since the firewall's recessed 3 1/2 inches thanks for the input guys. Any leads on a pentronix system for the nailhead anyway? Might be worth checking out anyhow. thanks again -ace
So is the general consensus then that the dual point doesn't provide an awful lot of extra rpm? Ive had my 364 nailhead rebuilt last year, it has new everything, except the crank, that was in good shape, so we kept it. The cylinders are now 040 oversized though, and at some point id like to run 3 97's on it. The only thing i didnt get around to doing was a new set of points, rotor, leads and a cap. Its running slightly lumpy, with a flat spot when you hit the throttle, i put this down to the points being almost non existent, as they probably havent been changed in nearly 20 years of use. I have a new set on order, along with some twin fire plugs, and a condenser. I really love the idea of fitting a Mallory dual point in it, would this not make any difference to performance?