Need a mallory 4001 cap for my Rev Pol dual life dizzy. Any one have a connection? Also I am eating up points in 2,000 miles. I have the original large condenser on the dizzy with 24875B points. I have a ballest resistor in line with a mallory 35,000 coil. This is on a 49 merc engine in a 38 with two 97's, offy heads and intake, and a Isky max 1 cam I built in 1980 when flatheads were dead. Any help here as to why these arc so bad would be great? I have beeen driving this for 15 years now and God only knows why I am asking this question now after 40,000 miles. Gary
I got my last cap from Summit but they may not be available anymore. One place you can try is Vintage Ignition who is also a H.A.M.B. Alliance member.
Point burning is usually from gap being too small. I'm looking at some old Mallory service material here. Those points ( 24875B) should be gapped at .020 on a 8 cyl eng. The dwell on each point should be 25deg -26 deg. Total dwell both points is 32-34. You can get screwed up on a dual point setup setting by dwell if the phasing of the points is not correct , you end up with a total dwell reading that is right BUT the point setting is not correct. I would stick it on a old Sun dist machine once and see what it is really doing. There is also a note here that says on a late flat head a Mallory spark control valve no 24980 in order to get enough advance vacumn. With 2 carbs the vacumn would be worse yet. ( not the cause of your problem) but interesting. The capaciter mfd capacity should be stamped on the bottom. Should test within + or - .03 mfds of that. Mallory ones w no stamp are .28 and should test at and test the same. Hope this helps some or at least points you in the right direction for the problem
I think this is the Mllory model without point overlap, not the usual one. The Old Big condenors are often dead of old age. Does coil require a resistor, and of course have it?? Another point fryer is poor ground. Quick test...tighten down breaker plate to body, then run a wire from a condensor mounting screw right back to battery and see how the points do.
Run ONE condenser!!!! unless you have a special REV POL coil Jump a wire across to the other points as for cap Mallory went to shit a couple years back and discontinued them
Are they making these style points still?? I'm asking because of lots of bad experience with current manufacture M points. If points are NAPA equivalent or Old Mallory, they are not likely the problem themselves.
I am using Mallory points as they still make them. I will check the ground as you suggest and check to condenser as instructed. I did email Vintage Ignitions so I will see where that goes. Thanks, Gary
I've ran both, only problem i had with non mallory points is the screw that held the spring was too long on a couple sets and did not let them open, it hit, so yea check that too, i caught it before i got them in
You can get points, rotors, and condensors from Mallory. I just got 'em for my ZC dizzy last week thru a local speed shop, these parts fit YC series dizzies. I just made contact with a guy over the weekend who claims to have a bunch of old Mallory stuff. I'll be going to his place in a few days to get stuff for my ZC dizzy. I can check and see if he has any 4001 caps. Re Vintage Ignition; I have e-mailed him at two e-mail addresses and PM'd him and never got a response..... Dave
I used to eat up points and condensers in my flathead truck Until I installed a ballast resistor Also setting the points should be done on a machine with that Do not ever sand points with sand paper A points file is all you ever want to use or else you take the coating off the points and they start to wear fast. this should help.
And if points are recent manufacture by Mallory...check underside. Mallory condensers (the current ones, not oldies) have a clear coating that makes ground very dodgy...I don't know if points might have that too.
Good post the others are on the money. Assuming the points are good ( new) and set correctly then more than likely the condensor is the problem. The old mallory condensors are pretty dried up from old age. I usually polish the old condensor for looks and insulate not to function and use a lat unit somewhere on the distributor. Buy NAPA heavy dudy echlin first line and they work very well... pm sent
Any chance you have the coil wires on backwards? That'll make a weak spark and plugs will only last 2000 miles or so when they should have went 10-12,000. I agree with those recommending condenser replacement. Any condenser should work, they're all .028 or .0028 mF from what I understand. Used to run auto condensers on 4-stroke dirt bikes with no probs.
Actually there are common condensors made that vary from .18 to .32mfd. I'm sure other ratings are also made.
Thanks, for a while I thought they were 28.0 mF. Someone here on the HAMB gave me the straight scoop and I couldn't remember how many decimal points.
Thanks for all the great idea's. I will look into most of them. Maybe I can resolve the point frying issue. Only unresolved issue is the 4001 cap. I will contact GMC BUBBA and see what he may have. Mine is not bad, just like spare items in case. I hate to replace this old unit as many hot rodders ask "what the hell kind of a cap is that?" That is what keeps it in the merc. Again thanks, Gary
Well it seems every thing has been covered but one-You need to use cam lube on the cam to prevent the point block from wearing down. This can cause points to prematurely burn also. I also used a 1957 ford condenser inside my dizzy and just had the mallory on the outside for show.
The 4001 caps are getting pretty pricey, there one on the bay right now at $ 90 and i have seen them go for $200 plus. Item number: 260394623881 Sometimes you can purchase a entire distributor on ebay for less than the cost of just the cap???
Check this thread for info, documentation on the Mallory Magspark system & ZC/YC distributors. Part numbers, pretty much everything I could dig up. Got it from Mallory... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=351824#4 Cheers, chrx
Caps are very tough to come by now. I have been long sold out and need to scour ebay when I need them.
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