[Echofive]

I have a 327 still runing points distributer, It has been suggested to me multiple times to dump this and get an HEI. I was looking at the distributer on Jegs.com I saw a HEI Mallor distro for 159.99, i didnt think it was bad. Is this a true HEI distibuter? what other parts would i need to convert if i went with this?
Is this an okay disto? Christmas and my birthday is coming up so will probably have some extra money to spend


anyone have an opinion?

[lluciano77]

Get one of those rebuilt Mallory Unilites on Ebay. I would get a mechanical advance.

[hasanybody1]

Before you buy.....Make sure that the larger dia. dist. will fit your vehicle. Fitting the engine is secondary. What are you using the vehicle for? Street driving and highway cruising you'll want a vacuum advance. If in doubt buy a dist. cap for a HEI V-8 and see if the firewall is going to interfere. If you keep the cap clean you can usually return it. You can measure the outside of the HEI cap. Get the Diameter and divide by 2. Then measure from the coil tower on your stock dist cap(installed) to the firewall and anything else that might be in the way. What intake manifold are you running? Some of the older manifolds won't clear. Just some thoughts.

[billman]

The HEI has been popular for quite awhile now, and they are very dependable. It depends on what you have in mind. As 'hasanybody1' mentioned, perhaps a vacuum advance will suit. I believe the Mallory version can be run either as vacuum or mechanical. However, as 'lluciano77' mentioned, the old Unilite mechanical will fit anything (I believe the model is YL) and the new version has been redesigned on the inside so it uses lighter weights than before and it comes with a stock compatible advance curve (32 deg. in the distributor unmodified) that is all in by 3600 rpm. There is a graduated tab inside the distributor that can be bent over to gain additional timing. This is the one I run, it works fine with a stock coil and no problems at all. The HEI uses a straight 12 volts to the coil, so you may have to run a 12 volt line (unless your car is already HEI) from a "switched" terminal in the fuse box. By switched, I mean one that gets power only when the ignition key is in the ON position. Check with a voltmeter, some are hot all the time.

[Dradee]

These are the best HEI distributors http://www.performancedistributors.com/index.html ,they even set the advance specifically for your vehicle if you want. Mallory unilites are allright but prone to burning modules.

[eric302]

If you want to keep your old dist. but are tired of changing points you could go with a Pertronix module. It replaces the points and basically makes your dist. electronic. You can get them at Summit, Jegs, etc.

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

Another problem with the Stock GM type HEI, is the base of the distrib will not clear the rear runners of the intake manifold on early intakes

[Echofive]

My intake manifold is a WEIAND 8004, is this to old?
My application is street use im putting it on my 327 Turbo fire. I'm pretty sure pretty much anything will fit in distance of my firewall i have alot of room under the hood.

I'm looking at a few on ebay. Are there diff versions of the mallory Unilite, Which ones should i look for?

[Auto-Part]

Go to your local bone yard and pull one from any GM V8. Clean it lube the insides new cap and rotor and you are cooking for under $75.00

[lluciano77]

Originally posted by Dradee
These are the best HEI distributors http://www.performancedistributors.com/index.html ,they even set the advance specifically for your vehicle if you want. Mallory unilites are allright but prone to burning modules.

Unilites only burn modules when you hook them up wrong, or if you have other electrical problems elsewhere. All you have to do is read the directions.

Originally posted by Echofive
My intake manifold is a WEIAND 8004, is this to old?
My application is street use im putting it on my 327 Turbo fire. I'm pretty sure pretty much anything will fit in distance of my firewall i have alot of room under the hood.

I'm looking at a few on ebay. Are there diff versions of the mallory Unilite, Which ones should i look for?

There are vacuum advance or mechanical advance Unilites.

[Echofive]

Thanks guys, I love this forum! you guys are alot of help, thanx for making me and my car happy!

[Dradee]

llucianao77 you are right about that but,I have used them in the past and even used the filters on both ends and still had modules go bad,they are very sensitive,the light trigger also can be corrupted with moisture and dirt very easily.The worst part about a mallory is, try getting parts for it when your on a vacation somewhere and it goes bad,you might not find the performance HEI module everywhere but I guarantee you can find a stock module just about anywhere.

Also for a street driven vehicle a vacum advance is the way to go.

[lluciano77]

The local parts houses are carrying Mallory parts now. It is usually a bad ground or incorrect input voltage that fries people's Unilite modules. You need to have around 9 volts or else there will be problems. Both too high and too low voltage causes damage with them. I have been running Mallorys in my Ford and Chevy with no problems for years.

[Echofive]

My friiend ran a mallory for a year or so no problems, i dont think ill be goin on any vacations, with my el camino, if i was looking more for reliablilty i wouldnet have bought a muscle car.

[Dradee]

LOL,what you dont like reliability?? I sure do.You can find alot of factory refurbished Mallory distributors on ebay,that tells me something aswell