Delco and other dist questions

S

sotis

Member
S80
currently has stock delco dist

traded some time on a tractor for a 61 pu with 266 that also has a delco dist. I read the i4 and sv dist are interchangable with some mods. What I plan on doing is using the v8 dist for an ignition upgrade for the Scout 152. However, I also read that a mallory can be used by changing a the gear - whats simpler and cheapest but more importantly best?
 
While all the distributors do interchange in the block, the I-4 distributors have a 4 lug point cam and the sv distributors are set up with an 8 lug cam. The actual timing curve between all the various distributors is a bit different from one to the other also.

Why not just recondition the existing delco and be done with it? Install a pertronix after making the build and it's good for life.

A new mallory distributor will not be shipped with a timing gear, those haven't been available in many years.
 
Thanks michael- probably will end up going with a pertronix. I would like to have a spare distributor/ignition system on hand though and since I have a couple of other sv distributors (Holley and presto points) I was wondering about the swaps. If using a mallory is a matter of puttin a gear on I might wanna try that some time - which application mallory do you use -small block? Also, what do you guy's have for i4's with a pertonix in it and how much? Thanks again and you should be seeing my carb any day now.

Tom
 
After way more time than my fat ass oughta be spending in front of the computer I think I got all my questions answered. Mallory does still carry a 4 cy app but pricey. The conversions I've read about are mostly older posts and sketchy at best. I think I'd rather run points than go with high energy or thick film crap let alone graft something together. My question is now; how much better is a pertronix than a points triggered cd box - I need this to start next year when it's 40 below
 
Last edited:
The mallory distributors are excellent products, no need to be concerned with quality or effectiveness.

But no better and no worse than any distributor set up with a pertronix conversion. Once the trigger assembly is installed in the distributor and the engine correctly tuned, it's a no-brainer from then on out.

We don't change these parts around for more effectiveness, we do it because many times we simply do not have the right part for the job when dealing with this old junk.

Breaker points work just fine with any cd ignition box, but there will be wear of the point cam over time which in turn changes the timing. And functionally, breaker points don't come anywhere near close to maintaining correct ignition system timing, every time they open/close they are different in actual operation to some degree. The elimination of the breaker points in any distributor is the best single engine upgrade process that can be done.

The pertronix unit works wonderfully no matter what the actual engine operating conditions are.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top