The V8 Owners Forum -

Hoping for some assistance here....

I'm looking to upgrade my distributor, and have been offered a Mallory dual point (second hand). My current system uses the standard Lucas distributor and an MSD 6A ignition & Blaster 2 Coil.

Will the dual point work with the MSD, and assuming it does, is the ballast resistor requried.

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

Ken

Yes it will work but I have no idea about the ballast as that depends on what coil your using more than anything. To be blunt though a dual point isn't an upgrade. They are unreliable and provide less control over the spark than a working standard dizzy.

pretty sure you do away with the ballast as the msd takes control of the coil,you can use the points to trigger it,might even be able to junk one set,have a look here http://www.msdignition.com/forum/

As the MSD uses the point's only as a trigger ther's no need for the ballastresistor. You need to get rid of the condenser aswell (assumming there's one).

Folks, many thanks for the information.

Looking at this dissy, it does not appear to be rocket science. The output from the twin points is wired to a metal terminal on the body of the dissy below the cap. A second connection appears simply to be an earth to the body.

One assumes these provide the signal; rather basic

Katanaman, you do not appear to be a fan of these distributors? I agree that points are not much of an improvement over electronic ignition, however having used points in the past, they can be properly set up (including dwell angle adjustment), and operate effectively. The only reason I considered using this setup was that the points would be under no load and are merely providing a signal.

Interested in hearing some more thoughts on this one, if people care to indulge.

Regards,

Ken

the main hatred of the dual points is that they tend to lose their adjustment very quickly,most tend to fit one of the conversion kits such as a pertronix ignitor and do away with them

KMCE wrote: having used points in the past, they can be properly set up (including dwell angle adjustment), and operate effectively. The only reason I considered using this setup was that the points would be under no load and are merely providing a signal.

You'r on the spot, using the point to trigger the MSD there's nothing to do with dwell angle adjustmend. The MSD only needs a signal and makes its own dwell angle.

I did use points trigger on my MSD 6AL for 5 years with no problems at all. I had to replace it last year cause my almost 40 year old Lucas dizzy worned out. As I did wanted to recuve the dizzy I chouse for the MSD Pro Billet but thats an expensive investmend.

I have a MSD 6AL box and Lucas points dizzy in my turbo Mini. It has been the same for 10 years, to be honest I have not even adjusted the gap. I have popped the cap open once every year and checked that the points still open. Ultra reliable ! IIRC Mallory instructions say that the second set of points are disconnected. If your Lucas is mechanically in good condition, keep it.

Another point to consider is that you may need to reset the advance curve in Mallory whereas your existing dizzy may be closer to the mark.

I thought the main problem with the dual point dissys was that they ate condensors. The Cobra RV8 forum is replete with tales of this.

I use the OE Lucas Opus dissy fitted with Lumenition which triggers an MSD6/Blaster 2 coil via a "Lumenition to MSD" module that MSD sent me.

Hi folx,
what´s about this setup:
Currently I´m using the Mallory Dual Point Dizzy on it´s own.
I´ve a Mallory HyFire VI A and ordered a unilite-conversion set for the dizzy.
I´m I right, that I can throw the ballastresistor?
Is this a "performance" upgrade?
I hope, that this is more reliable than the dual point, because the car in which this engine works, will be shipped to Mombasa next year.

Q too stupid?

yes since your driving the hyfire you dump the resistor. I wasn't thinking with my earlier reply as you never use a resistor with a cap discharge ignition.

Robrover wrote:I thought the main problem with the dual point dissys was that they ate condensors. The Cobra RV8 forum is replete with tales of this.

This is very true, I’ve had mallory DP on chevy and rover and both had good appetites for condensors.

As others have said, the MSD just wants a trigger - so having a dual point (which is all about having longer dwell) makes no difference. Its about the only time I would recommend the prince of darkness over something else.

katanaman wrote:Yes it will work but I have no idea about the ballast as that depends on what coil your using more than anything. To be blunt though a dual point isn't an upgrade. They are unreliable and provide less control over the spark than a working standard dizzy.

I bought a mallory dual point under the impression it would be a good upgrade. Couldnt afford unilite and the old dizzy was knackered.

What a mistake that was. It's a pain in the arse. It's alright when it works properly. But say on a single point dizzy, if the points are bad, it makes a bad connection but ignition timing doesn't change drastically. On the dual point if one set of points is bad, it throws the ignition out by miles resulting in popping exhaust, manifolds glowing red etc.... When you set the points you have to check the timing again because it is so sensitive which is a pain in the arse because our timing gun is knackered.

Also after I made some adjustments to it recently the base plate came loose on the A1 which had some interesting effects. Dont get the dual point mate. I learned the hard way.