Mallory optical distributors

**bowtiebro** · 07-30-2012, 01:22 AM

I have a bunch of these older mallory optical distributors and was wondering how you feel about them experiance ect, i have been told that the picups fail quite offten is this true i allways run msd billet distributors in my toys but my buddy needs a cheap replacment and im tring to help him out but dont want to sell him one of these if they dont last

**SoldHondaBoughtHondo** · 07-30-2012, 02:41 AM

You mean a mallory you--no-lite?

**TAYLORSS** · 07-30-2012, 06:30 AM

I like them. They have been the distributor of choice in my hot rods for 25 years or so. May be I am lucky, I have never had one fail. I have probably run 10 or 12 of them.
This prevents the failures many folks experience.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-29351/

If you are running a box like an MSD6 or similar I don't think you don't need it.

**bowtiebro** · 07-30-2012, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by TAYLORSS

I like them. They have been the distributor of choice in my hot rods for 25 years or so. May be I am lucky, I have never had one fail. I have probably run 10 or 12 of them.
This prevents the failures many folks experience.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-29351/

If you are running a box like an MSD6 or similar I don't think you don't need it.

Thanks for the input i have ran atleast one of these and havent had a single problem with it he has a msd box i think we will give it a try and see how it goes

**matt wheeler** · 07-30-2012, 06:36 PM

Man i ran one for ten years without one problem if you are not running a msd box you will need to put a ballas resistor in it but i bet you already know that, Hell the mallory unlite out lived a few of my boats

**gn7** · 07-30-2012, 06:50 PM

The Unilite's biggest enemy is heat. In a boat, its not a problem. In a big block 460 Ford stuffed in to a Mustang, they are doomed. Ford found the same thing with the thick film ignition and moved the module to the air filter box.
The other thing that kills them is high inductive coils. The fact that they require a ballast resistor is nothing more than a crutch. I can run a MSD off a set of points and not need a ballast resistor, but the Unilite will roll over and die. How the flock do you make any credable amount of spark energy with a 9v ballast resistor stuffed in the circuit? GM HEI, Ford thick film, Ford Duraspark, and I.C.E. are all inductive systems that will crush a mallory Unilite. Even the Petronix points replacement does not require a ballast resistor.
Running a Unilite to trigger a MSD takes a HUGE load off the unit. It becomes nothing more than a very low amperage switch. It could potentially last forever in that mode. But then, so will a set if cheap points.

**EVILFORCE** · 07-30-2012, 06:54 PM

I have run them as well. No problem with them. I have had more problem with the MSD distributors by far. Like Bob said. If you run them with a MSD or Mallory box it takes a load off of them.

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Mallory optical distributors

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