FORM 1214M (REV. J) 09/03
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
UNILITE
®
DISTRIBUTOR
This product is applicable to pre-1966 California and pre-1968 federally certified passenger cars. It is also
applicable to non-emission controlled trucks and similar vehicles. It is not applicable or intended for use on
any emission controlled vehicles operated on highways or roads, unless otherwise noted.
IMPORTANT
Before installing the UNILITE
®
Distributor, make sure that your vehicle is equipped with an ignition ballast resistor (or loom
resistance wire) in the wire between the ignition switch and the coil (+) terminal. Check a service manual for your vehicle to
locate the ignition ballast resistor (or loom resistance wire). If your vehicle is not equipped with an ignition ballast resistor,
install a Mallory Ignition Ballast Resistor Part No. 700 in the wire between the ignition switch and the coil (+) terminal.
Failure
to use an ignition ballast resistor will eventually destroy the UNILITE
®
Ignition Module.
PARTS INCLUDED IN THIS KIT:
1 UNILITE
®
Distributor
GENERAL INFORMATION
Advance Curve:
Most UNILITE
®
Distributors with part numbers that end in “01” have 24°
(crankshaft degrees) of mechanical advance (between 3,000 and 3,200
RPM). Listed below are exceptions:
CHEVY LUV...........................................28° AT 3,000 RPM
CHEVY VEGA.........................................20° AT 3,800 RPM
CHRYSLER SB V8 .................................20° AT 3,000 RPM
FLAT HEAD FORD V8............................16° AT 3,600 RPM
MODEL A FORD....................................18° AT 2,000 RPM
MODEL B FORD ...................................14° AT 2,500 RPM
VW RABBIT, DASHER............................28° AT 4,600 RPM
CHEVY V6 2.8L AND 3.1L.....................24° AT 4,400 RPM
Ignition Coils:
The UNILITE
®
Ignition system works with most stock ignition coils and
aftermarket high performance ignition coils. For optimum performance,
use a Mallory PROMASTER
®
Coil Part No 29440 or 29625, or Mallory
Chrome Electronic Ignition Coil Part No. 29216.
Spark Plug Wires:
To prevent false triggering and premature ignition failures, use suppres-
sion type spark plug wire. We recommend spiral core ignition wire, such
as Mallory PRO SIDEWINDER
®
Ignition Wire.
Spark Plug Gaps:
For street applications, use your engine manufacturer’s specifications. For
racing applications, start with your engine manufacturer’s specifications.
Then experiment with, and closely monitor, various gaps to achieve
maximum performance.
Electric Welding:
Disconnect the distributor wire harness before welding on the vehicle.
NOTE: When replacing an HEI type distributor, it may be necessary to
purchase and install distributor boots and terminals for the spark
plug wires to correctly fit the UNILITE
®
Distributor cap.
Part No. 668
HEI to UNILITE
®
Boot Terminal Kit
Step 2
Turn the engine crankshaft in the direction of rotation until the timing
mark lines up with the top dead center (TDC) mark on the timing tab.
See a service manual for these locations.
Step 3
Remove the distributor cap from the distributor. Do not remove the spark
plug wires or coil wire at this time. Make sure the rotor blade points to
the mark made on the distributor housing (from Step 2). If it does not,
repeat Step 2 until the timing mark lines up (again) with the TDC mark
on the timing tab.
NOTE: Once you are finished with Step 3, DO NOT turn the crank-
shaft until the new distributor is installed.
Step 4
Note the direction that the rotor is pointing. If you are replacing a vacuum
advance distributor, note the direction the vacuum chamber is pointing.
Remove the distributor hold down clamp and remove the distributor from
the engine.
1 Distributor Wire Harness
UNILITE
®
DISTRIBUTOR INSTALLATION
Step 1
Remove the distributor cap from the UNILITE
®
Distributor.
Step 2
Place the UNILITE
®
Distributor in the engine. Rotate the UNILITE
®
Distributor housing in the opposite direction of rotor rotation until the
nearest slot on the rotor’s shutter wheel is aligned with the optical eye
of the UNILITE
®
Module. This will generally give timing close enough for
starting purposes. Put the distributor hold down clamp in place and
tighten slightly, leaving it loose enough to turn the UNILITE
®
Distributor.
Make a mark on the UNILITE
®
Distributor housing where the rotor points.
Step 3
Install the UNILITE
®
Distributor cap. Remove the spark plug wire on the
original distributor cap that the engine timing is set from, and install it
onto the UNILITE
®
Distributor cap post above the mark on the UNILITE
®
Distributor housing where the rotor had pointed. Install the remaining
spark plug wires from the original distributor cap to the UNILITE
®
Distributor cap in the same sequence.
OLD DISTRIBUTOR REMOVAL
Step 1
Disconnect the trigger wire from the coil (-) terminal. Locate the spark
plug wire on the original distributor cap that that is used to set engine
timing. See a service manual for this location. Mark the distributor cap
and distributor housing at this spark plug wire position.
MALLORY [ MALLORY PERFORMANCE CLUB ]
