I was digging around in the shed and uncovered a new box with some stuff I didn't remember having. There was a Mopar electronic distributor and a Mallory electronic distributor. I think they are both for small blocks. Don't know about the Mallory, I have had it before I ever had any big blocks.
Is there anyway to bench test these to see if they are OK?? The shafts all spin freely and don't have any sloop. They don't look like they have had much use either.
I can't see anyway you could test them to see if they actually worked unless they were hooked up to the cars wiring. Of course,it is rare that they do fail.The weights for the mech. advance can stick or bind,and you can test for vacum at the advance pod. A dist machine only checks for advance,etc. I'm not sure about checking the actual current,i think maybe Steve or Leaburn or some other elec. guru might be able to help you out.
Joined: Sun Feb 05 2006, 11:51PM
Location: Pa
Posts: 3064
I'd take em to a speed shop Scott, someone who has a distributor machine (Sun, etc.) and they should be able to not only test them but set up the advance curves for ya !thumb
Joined: Sun Feb 26 2006, 08:46PM
Location: Kingston,Ontario
Posts: 5622
I appreciate the praise,Glen.Thank you. You might find a Sun distributor machine somewhere in the dinosaur archives.It would be easier and quicker to jam it in a car to test it. The last time I saw a ditributor machine was five years ago that got tossed from a museum that went belly up. I would put a vacuum hand pump on the advance to see if it's OK,then check the gap at the reluctor. Depending on how long it's been sitting,the pick-up can grow weak--only in rare cases.Mostly,I had no problem with the electronics--just the sticky advance mechanisms.
Upon closer inspection the Mallory is actually a Unilite. So I am going to drop it in and pull the Points out, just need to verify it is for a small Mopar, looks like it is. This is probably the best solution for the truck right now anyway. I can ditch the points mess and not have to worry about an ECU failure.
The only catch with putting it in to test is I don't have a vehicle currently setup to test in. So I will have to wire it up and hope for the best. That is one bonus of the Unilite, I can rig it without cutting anything.
Joined: Sun Feb 26 2006, 08:46PM
Location: Kingston,Ontario
Posts: 5622
Small block distributors have the vacuum can inlet (when standing the disty up)facing right. The B/RB disty vacuum can faces left. Shaft lengths are different as well.B's are shorter than the LA and RB distributors.