Using a Mallory distributor

[Guest]

So I was looking at distributor options and came across the Mallory unilite for the 60 degree engine. Of course there are several different ones they make be it for vacuum advance or mechanical and what not.

Mallory says this one is an electronic. its the unilite model I guess

http://www.centuryperformance.com/detail.asp?product_id=MAL-4569201

From what I understand it doesn't have a tach reference signal.

However I am wondering can this be wired in to a stock HEI computer setup and have it work properly?

I haven't seen anyone running anything like this before which is why I am curious. It looks more compact then a stock distributor and I like that.

This would be for a fiero 2.8 if that matters.

[firechiken]

RE: Using a Mallory distributor

I thought the Unilite system was mainly used as a replacement for points? I don't think the Unilite would be an improvement from an HEI system. I had one in my firebird before I changed over to HEI. I had my tach hooked up, so there must be some way of doing it, I dont remember how, though.

[geoffinbc]

Tee difference is the optical pickup. Kinda scares me though. Can you sa "Opti-Spark"

But it should be a bit more accurate. The cap and rotor is probabally an improvement over stock too.

[Guest]

I am not looking to see if this will make more power or for an improvement over stock. I am just curious if its a bolt in distributor and if it will work with the stock computer and wiring.

firechicken, what year firebird did you have and what engine? Was it a simple swap over to the HEI from the Mallory?

[firechiken]

It was an 85 Firebird, with a 400 from a 71 Impala or some other big Chevy, but it was a 71. Everything was there to do the swap, as the Firebird already had the HEI in it, before the Unilite. But if I remember correctly, it was basically all the same wires, all I had to do differently was take out that big ceramic resistor found on the points ignition.

[firechiken]

Wiring diagram:

http://www.centuryperformance.com/mallory/techfiles/Uni_new.gif

Use this in conjuction with the diagram for your car.