How do I install a Mallory Distributor

914orrust · 05-11-2010, 10:03 AM

This might be a totally basic question so please excuse me for being an idiot.

I bought a Mallory distributor (#4554101). I read on these forums that this is the ideal distributor to use. My car currently has a .009 distributor.

My question is - how do I install it? My .009 distributor has one wire coming out of it. The Mallory has 3. The wiring procedure acording to the instructions are:

Red Wire: If you use loom resistance wire, connect to the coil (+) terminal. If you use a ballast resistor, connect to 12 volt side of ballast resistor. Huh?

Green Wire: Connect to coil(-) terminal. Ok. That seems simple enough

Brown Wire: Connect to engine block ground. Also seems simple enough.

I think the big question mark to me is that darned red wire....

Thank you for your help.

Marc

Kirmizi · 05-12-2010, 07:42 AM

The Red wire is your switched (on/off by ignition switch) power for the distributor. I'm running mine through an MSD, so I'm not sure about those wire colors; but I'm pretty sure about the Red wire being the 12v source for the dizzy. Did you swap springs and set the advance curve? Mike

914orrust · 05-12-2010, 08:17 AM

Kirmizi - Thank you for the reply. I have not installed the distributor yet. So, does the red wire go to the positive of the coil?

To answer your other question, I have not swapped the springs nor have I set the advance curve. I'm not quite 100% on how to set the advance curve but I'm ready to learn.

Kirmizi · 05-12-2010, 10:21 AM

According to the wiring diagram, yes. Like I said, I'm running an MSD box so my dizzy lead is from there. I installed the Mallory Advance Curve Change Kit (different springs) in mine, the grey+grey springs I believe. The kit provides the springs and tools to set the advance. Mike

Joe Ricard · Joe Ricard's Garage

Wire it just like the diagram. Brown is ground. red 12V switched power and green to the coil negative.

Be careful about what coil you use. some need a ballast resistor. FLAPS always have them.

Oh and you will have to dent your cylinder tin a little bit to get the cap to fit. No biggy.

914orrust · 05-13-2010, 07:34 AM

Joe - thank you for your insight. I am using a Bosch coil. I assume I will need a ballast resister. I will be installing it today. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

The stock-replacement Bosch coils (and the original ones) effectively have the resistor built in. Some of the aftermarket ones, particularly the "high performance" coils, do not.

--DD