Flathead 8BA Distributor - Mallory or MSD?

Shopping for a 8BA flathead distributor........should I do an electronic or dual point for the distributor? The MSD electronic is a vacuum advance which heard is a draw back with the multiple carbs. The Mallory is electronic with no vacuum advance, but Ive also heard some so-so stuff about Mallory. Anyone had experiences with either?

 

A Mallory distributor with Pertronix insides works well for me.

 

I have used the "old" Mallory full centrifugal duel point years ago and it worked very well on a multi carbed 8BA. I have heard anecdotal reports that the current production Mallory distributor may come with an SBC advance curve. In which case you would have to have it recurved. I have not used an MSD for a flathead, although I have one on a BBC in my boat and it has been problem free. I believe the flathead MSD is dimensionally larger than the Mallory.

 

Hands down you want a gmc bubba dizzy. Looks better, runs better, easy to work on if you get points and its cheaper. Just search it on here.

 

Yup! What he said, and it still looks more like a stocker.

Here's a link: http://www.lindertech.com/bhrs/flathead_chev.htm

 

The Mallory electronics are more sensitive to voltage spikes than MSD. There is anecdotal evidence that the unilite module can't live with a generator and mechanical voltage regulator. You can run a filter with it, but at that price, you may as well go MSD. Don't let the vacuum advance scare you away.

Alternatively, the old style Mallory looks good and the dual points can be replaced with a pertronix for electronic reliability. Getting the old flat caps can be challenging and expensive.

A GMC bubba converted distributor is the best bang for the buck though, particularly for a daily driver.

 

I have an MSD in my 8BA with 2 carbs. The vacuum advance is removable, mine is removed and curved like a mechanical advance only. I did have an issue with the drive gear on the distributor fitting too tight on the cam gear so I used the one from the original dist. The id of the original gear is about .002 bigger than the MSD gear, but seems fine. I also changed to a black cap. I like the MSD distributors due to the ease of tuning the advance curve.
Bill

 

Bubba. Done.

 

Thanks guys, I just bought a bubba's dizzy.

 

x2!

 

I am running the MSD dizzy with no problems, had to do the tinkering with the advance springs......over all, very pleased.