Timing light?
#41
Back in the day I had a Mercury Comet with a 4 bbl v-8. Car would only run on one side. I could pull 4 spark plugs wires on side with no effect of engine running. I pulled one on the opposite side and engine died. Found the carb was only feeding half the engine. Replaced carb, and it ran fine. Just a suggestion. Bassinguy
#42
Exactly. I've been trying to come up with credible failure modes that would account for all four spark leads on one bank not powering a timing light. Other than a coincidental failure of all four wires or plugs, or a really, really coincidental carbon track in the cap, the only other thing I can come up with is some sort of resisitve connection between the head and the block that prevents a good ground path to the plugs. Given the number of head bolts, intake bolts, and other fasteners, I have a hard time seeing this a a credible failure mode.
#43
Back in the day I had a Mercury Comet with a 4 bbl v-8. Car would only run on one side. I could pull 4 spark plugs wires on side with no effect of engine running. I pulled one on the opposite side and engine died. Found the carb was only feeding half the engine. Replaced carb, and it ran fine. Just a suggestion. Bassinguy
I don't know of a manifold that fuels bank-by-bank. Well, a cross-ram does, but typically with either twin carbs, or a huge plenum (or both.)
#44
Anyone besides me notice that this crucial bit of info is not being supplied?
#45
#46
I believe my brain believes it's an early Monday morning - I'm crazed & confused.
Help me understand. The OP states he has an HEI (Post #1). Then, in post #19 he's going to put a new module in the Mallory the car came with. What exactly does that mean? An original Mallory ignition system is not an HEI is it not? So, what is going on? He had an HEI and the HEI wasn't working then he's swapping out the HEI with a Unilite Mallory and a new module in the Mallory? I think I'm brain dead for sure. Or, he has a newer Mallory HEI system?
Didn't the original type Mallory require an external voltage regulator to run in-line with that system or you'd fry the distributor? Like this Mallory inline voltage regulator/ filter p/n 29351. I'm hedging here, I know, maybe that VR is shot?
EDIT: They call it a Power Filter, not a VR.
Help me understand. The OP states he has an HEI (Post #1). Then, in post #19 he's going to put a new module in the Mallory the car came with. What exactly does that mean? An original Mallory ignition system is not an HEI is it not? So, what is going on? He had an HEI and the HEI wasn't working then he's swapping out the HEI with a Unilite Mallory and a new module in the Mallory? I think I'm brain dead for sure. Or, he has a newer Mallory HEI system?
Didn't the original type Mallory require an external voltage regulator to run in-line with that system or you'd fry the distributor? Like this Mallory inline voltage regulator/ filter p/n 29351. I'm hedging here, I know, maybe that VR is shot?
EDIT: They call it a Power Filter, not a VR.
Last edited by Vintage Chief; March 12th, 2020 at 07:48 PM.
#47
I believe my brain believes it's an early Monday morning - I'm crazed & confused.
Help me understand. The OP states he has an HEI (Post #1). Then, in post #19 he's going to put a new module in the Mallory the car came with. What exactly does that mean? An original Mallory ignition system is not an HEI is it not? So, what is going on? He had an HEI and the HEI wasn't working then he's swapping out the HEI with a Unilite Mallory and a new module in the Mallory? I think I'm brain dead for sure. Or, he has a newer Mallory HEI system?
Didn't the original type Mallory require an external voltage regulator to run in-line with that system or you'd fry the distributor? Like this Mallory inline voltage regulator/ filter p/n 29351. I'm hedging here, I know, maybe that VR is shot?
EDIT: They call it a Power Filter, not a VR.
Help me understand. The OP states he has an HEI (Post #1). Then, in post #19 he's going to put a new module in the Mallory the car came with. What exactly does that mean? An original Mallory ignition system is not an HEI is it not? So, what is going on? He had an HEI and the HEI wasn't working then he's swapping out the HEI with a Unilite Mallory and a new module in the Mallory? I think I'm brain dead for sure. Or, he has a newer Mallory HEI system?
Didn't the original type Mallory require an external voltage regulator to run in-line with that system or you'd fry the distributor? Like this Mallory inline voltage regulator/ filter p/n 29351. I'm hedging here, I know, maybe that VR is shot?
EDIT: They call it a Power Filter, not a VR.
Mallory made an HEI clone in addition to the crappy Unilites. Yes, the Unilites should have the "power filter" because they didn't bother to make the Unilite module robust enough to survive; unlike the "genuine" HEI module which works just fine up to 18-ish volts, at least short-term.
Either way, I get suspicious when the original poster quits answering questions.
#48
Some folks think ANY electronic ignition is an "HEI".
Mallory made an HEI clone in addition to the crappy Unilites. Yes, the Unilites should have the "power filter" because they didn't bother to make the Unilite module robust enough to survive; unlike the "genuine" HEI module which works just fine up to 18-ish volts, at least short-term.
Either way, I get suspicious when the original poster quits answering questions.
Mallory made an HEI clone in addition to the crappy Unilites. Yes, the Unilites should have the "power filter" because they didn't bother to make the Unilite module robust enough to survive; unlike the "genuine" HEI module which works just fine up to 18-ish volts, at least short-term.
Either way, I get suspicious when the original poster quits answering questions.
#50
Thanks for the reminder.
Naw, they were just an under-engineered piece of crap. They were sensitive to over-voltage problems because the internal components were not robust. So Mallory wanted you to buy a $40 surge protector to "protect" the $40 module they failed to engineer properly.
Enjoy. I wouldn't give them the time of day. 'Course, MSD isn't any better now. What isn't Chinese is potted and non-repairable. No thanks.
I believe the issue w/ the Mallory system was the ground was it not? They couldn't employ the original GM HEI patented ground system so they did some type of mysterious reverse engineering - I think sending the ground back to the engine block? Or was it something else, the bearings in the distributor that grounded the distributor? I honestly do not know. I'm no guru on HEI or the original Mallory systems but I had friends who had them and they were hit or miss IIRC.
Enjoy. I wouldn't give them the time of day. 'Course, MSD isn't any better now. What isn't Chinese is potted and non-repairable. No thanks.
Last edited by Schurkey; March 12th, 2020 at 11:27 PM.
#52
#54
Strange problem indeed. How about swap #2 plug wire with #1 (cap end and plug end of coarse) and see if it triggers the timing light on #1.
Or a new set of wires maybe, who knows with little to no feedback from the op.
Or a new set of wires maybe, who knows with little to no feedback from the op.
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