I am going to pull my SBC enigine out to fix some small items, and to replace the ******, and I am kinda in limbo on what if anything to do with the dist. Currently I have a GM single point and it runs good, but I have an Accell Dual point and was wondering it it would run better with that. I am not interested in the vacuum vs non vacuum advance, (mehcanical only) as that has been beat to death, but rather would there be a big difference in performace between the two? I cannot fit an HEI. What do you all prefer dual, single, or single with a petonix setup, or none of the above?
Dual point distributors are primarily used for high rpm operation. Switching to the Accel won't make it "run better"....as long as the stock distributor is working properly and is set up to work with your engine combo, you won't gain performance by changing to a dual point or even an electronic ignition. And if you want a dual point for the 60s racing look, don't use an Accel, instead you should spend countless hours researching old Mallory distributors, as they were the common setup.
Mallory dual points are the traditional look for sure. If you get on at a swap meet make sure the shaft doesn't have "wooble-O-sus"--I have mallorys trash the shaft bushing. All the parts to fix are available, or send it back to Mallory to referb.
Or if you want the look of an old dual point distibutor but want it to be h***le free, change the points over to electronic like Pertronix. That's what I just did with the Mallory dual point on my drag boat hemi. Now I can forget about that problem!
i guess it depends on how well built the motor is and if you intend to rev the piss out of it..other than that it it will not make the engine run any better, and they can be a ***** to tune. most dual points were designed for high RPM engine applications due to one set of points "floating"and not producing a good ignition signal at high RPM's ..at least that is what i was told..thats my story and im stickin to it.
On a street engine, the only way a dual point will increase performance is if the advance curve is more performance oriented than that of the current distributor. I agree that a '50s-'60s Mallory has "the look", as well as superior quality than a later Mallory or Accel.
On a street engine, the only way a dual point will increase performance is if the advance curve is more performance oriented than that of the current distributor. I thought of that, but I could change the weights on the single point to get more advance as well. Sounds like I should keep the single.
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