Changing distributor from stock
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20
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From: Near Alpena
Changing distributor from stock
I have a 1986 351/W I am changing the distributor form the stock one to a Unilite Mallory. The problem that I am having is I want to use the OME ignition box and wiring.
The wiring coming from the box to the distributor is:
Orange / Yellow
Black / Green
Brown / Blue
The wiring coming off the old distributor is:
Orange
Black
Pink
The Mallory distributor has:
Red
Brown
Green
I have cut the plug off the old distributor to use on the new Mallory I need to know how to wire the Red, Brown, Green to the OME plug Orange, Black and Pink. Please help I don't want to mess this up and cost me a bunch of doe. I have spent a bunch on this motor and have run out of funds. So now time to make due. Thanks Doc....
The wiring coming from the box to the distributor is:
Orange / Yellow
Black / Green
Brown / Blue
The wiring coming off the old distributor is:
Orange
Black
Pink
The Mallory distributor has:
Red
Brown
Green
I have cut the plug off the old distributor to use on the new Mallory I need to know how to wire the Red, Brown, Green to the OME plug Orange, Black and Pink. Please help I don't want to mess this up and cost me a bunch of doe. I have spent a bunch on this motor and have run out of funds. So now time to make due. Thanks Doc....
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Gorham, Maine
RE: Changing Distributor from Stock
I just completed an overhaul of my '86 351W and installed an MSD distributor.It was listed as a stock swap-in for the old dist, so I wired it to my stock module. I have some wiring background, so I figured out what module wires to connect. I lined the rotor up with #1 cyl at TDC and had erratic spark--truck would spit and sputter, but was off time. Made sure dist was not out 180 deg., adjusted timing etc.
The problem was that the MSD dist had its own self-contained module and, believe me, two modules hooked in tandem cannot figure out when to fire the right plugs. I had to abandon the stock module and hook up the 3 dist wires to coil neg, coil pos, and chasis ground as a diagram in my MSD paperwork showed.
The mistake caused no damage to my dist or, to my knowledge, my OEM module. The Mallory Unilite also has its own module built in, so check your instructions thoroughly. I also heard that Mallory recommeds using a ballast resistor with the Unilite. I am not that familiar with Mallory, so I would check their web site or tech support for more info. Good luck!
The problem was that the MSD dist had its own self-contained module and, believe me, two modules hooked in tandem cannot figure out when to fire the right plugs. I had to abandon the stock module and hook up the 3 dist wires to coil neg, coil pos, and chasis ground as a diagram in my MSD paperwork showed.
The mistake caused no damage to my dist or, to my knowledge, my OEM module. The Mallory Unilite also has its own module built in, so check your instructions thoroughly. I also heard that Mallory recommeds using a ballast resistor with the Unilite. I am not that familiar with Mallory, so I would check their web site or tech support for more info. Good luck!
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20
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From: Near Alpena
Thank you for your reply. But I think that you must have misunderstood what I was asking. I am NOT using a Mallory Cross Fire module in tandum with the OME Dura Spark Igntion module, but just trying to use the OME Dura Spark igntion module box it self insted of buying Mallory's Cross Fire igntion module box.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 788
Likes: 1
From: Hendersonville, TN
What 86 Windsor said. There is a module built into the Unilite. Had one in my Chevelle. You will need ballast resistor and hook wires up to the coil. Can't remember the wiring, but Mallory should be able to tell you. I think(but not sure) that the CrossFire is just an amplifier kinda like the MSD6A setup. For all that money, I'd have been tempted just to get one of the Ford HEI setups. My brother made his own by grafting the top of a GM dist onto a Ford base, but then he is a machinist with access to an entire top-notch shop. Makes me wish I'd gone into that profession myself...although it's good for me to swap out electrical expertise for machine work from time to time! LOL.
BTW, the Duraspark is a great system till it dies. The HEI is much more dependable, and the real killer-on-a-budget system is to convert it to a GM HEI
module, and a search of this forum will yield the instructions for doing this in a recent post.
BTW, the Duraspark is a great system till it dies. The HEI is much more dependable, and the real killer-on-a-budget system is to convert it to a GM HEI
module, and a search of this forum will yield the instructions for doing this in a recent post.
Last edited by 200000+F150; Apr 14, 2004 at 02:04 AM.
