Mallory Distributors

[CDL1542]

You all have some very good points on why I should avoid the mallory kit. I'm starting to think that I should just pick up a pertronix kit and extra set of points and call it a day for now! My current goal is to make my Z more reliable and I thought that the mallory dizzy would not only do this but be an upgrade at the same time. I do like having backups though which is why I originally wanted the other mallory (which had points and I could use pertronix in). Considering that I most likely won't be able to drop pertronix or points in the unilite if it fails, I'll probably just stick with the stock one and go with pertronix.

[Mike W]

So I can speak with some authority here as I have had both the Mallory Unilite as well as the 123 Ignition.

 

I used the Mallory without vacuum advance (running triple webers).  Also used the power filter and always carried a spare ignition module with me, although I never had to use it. Had it connected to an MSD 6AL as well as a Mallory high power coil.  Aside from a more modern distributor that the Unilite offered over the OEM setup, one of the primary reasons that I purchased it was that you could change the advance springs to optimize the advance curve for your particular car (Webers, headers, Isky cam, etc).  However, there were 2 problems with the mallory advance setup.  One was that finding the right combination of springs was all trial and error and the second issue was that to change the springs, you needed to remove the Unilite from the engine and disassemble part if the distributor.  A big PITA.  Regardless, I can say that it was reliable and at least with the advance curve that it came with, my car ran well and never missed a beat.

 

I am now running the 123 Ignition and I would never go back.  I use it with the MSD 6AL, which I had confirmed by one of the 123 engineers in the Netherlands.  The local US rep was also extremely helpful, especially when I had a fit problem with the keyway that mates with the oil pump shaft.  Got that resolved fairly easily and I understand that they machine the adapter a little different now for a much better fit.

 

Changing the curve is a snap and in fact you can even have 2 different curves stored and switch between them even while driving.  You simply connect a PC to the USB port on the 123, design the curve you want with the 123 software (with or without vacuum) and load it in.  Probably takes all of 5 minutes.  If you don't like the way it performs, just make the appropriate changes and load a new one.  That simple. 

 

This has all of the benefits of the Unilite and makes optimized advance curves a snap to program.  Agree that it is a little more expensive, but when you add the power filter, spare module, etc, it comes out about the same.  Frankly having used both I would easily pay $200 more for the 123.

 

You can find a complete write up I did on the install here:

 

http://www.classiczcars.com/topic/48627-very-cool-ignition-upgrade/?hl=%2Bcool+%2Bignition+%2Bupgrade

 

Hope this helps.

 

Mike.

[grannyknot]

What Mike W. says, I went from the Pertronix unit to the 123Ignition distributor and am very happy with it.

I set it once and haven't touched it since. With programable mechanical advance you can try any profile you like and change it in an instant to some other profile.This spring I'm going to start fooling around with the vacuum advance feature to see if I can improve the gas mileage on long trips.

Chris