TheSamba.com :: View topic - Chinese MSD Distributor Tips & Tricks + Budget ignition Demo

Mon Aug 19, 2024 1:03 pm

jpaull wrote:
Great question. I always liked the mallory unilite distributors quality itself. I just never liked the supply of caps, rotors, and ignition points/internal modules. And i really dont like to run points or internal modules anyways. The mag pickup is just more reliable and maintance free.,,,

I don't have a CDI on the Unilite, was trying to figure out what one I should try.
I haven't actually had to buy a new cap and rotor for the unilite yet, when I bought it used it came with like new cap and rotor, but looking on here I found the correct rotor is still available from Holley for $2 something and the cap on eBay or amazon one meant for a boat. $50 or so. under MY-409 or Sierra 18-5397.

I admit I don't know much about ignition curves and such and that's what's kept me from other distributor choices, MSD clone or the 123. I know what I have works, I guess I'm still locked into the poor mindset it's my only car and I have to keep it running so I can't experiment with new ways. When it's now too many cars and projects so I doesn't really matter.
I'm going to bite though and order a MSD clone as I have read all 45 pages of this thread over the last couple days. Then I'll hunt for the crane nascar unit with coil. Thanks!

Mon Aug 19, 2024 2:27 pm

onwardtothestars wrote: jpaull wrote:
Great question. I always liked the mallory unilite distributors quality itself. I just never liked the supply of caps, rotors, and ignition points/internal modules. And i really dont like to run points or internal modules anyways. The mag pickup is just more reliable and maintance free.,,,

I don't have a CDI on the Unilite, was trying to figure out what one I should try.
I haven't actually had to buy a new cap and rotor for the unilite yet, when I bought it used it came with like new cap and rotor, but looking on here I found the correct rotor is still available from Holley for $2 something and the cap on eBay or amazon one meant for a boat. $50 or so. under MY-409 or Sierra 18-5397.

I admit I don't know much about ignition curves and such and that's what's kept me from other distributor choices, MSD clone or the 123. I know what I have works, I guess I'm still locked into the poor mindset it's my only car and I have to keep it running so I can't experiment with new ways. When it's now too many cars and projects so I doesn't really matter.
I'm going to bite though and order a MSD clone as I have read all 45 pages of this thread over the last couple days. Then I'll hunt for the crane nascar unit with coil. Thanks!

If its working just fine, and this is your only car, just use what you have. Does it have points or a internal electronic ignition?

Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:58 am

jpaull wrote:
If its working just fine, and this is your only car, just use what you have. Does it have points or an internal electronic ignition?

The Unilite has an optical trigger, I'm sure they all do unless someone converts them back to points. IT's not my only car, I just have the mindset it is, that I need to work out of. You know, old habits, die hard.

Anyway, here's the Speedmaster

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184529217151

I'm going to pray and grab that.

Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:21 pm

The speedmaster link that you gave is one that burned me when i ordered it. They show the MSD style, but shipped me a lesser version that had a "fixed" distributor drive. The one below might be a safer bet.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264116911900?fits=Make%3A...R5LXuZOuZA

Some reading on Optical vs Mag pickup here:
https://documents.holley.com/techlibrary_tb_magnetic_vs_optical.pdf

Tue Aug 20, 2024 12:53 pm

jpaull wrote: The speedmaster link that you gave is one that burned me when i ordered it. They show the MSD style, but shipped me a lesser version that had a "fixed" distributor drive. The one below might be a safer bet.

I guess I'll see when the speedmaster arrives. I bought a Hi-6/PS91 to run on the unilite with. I made an offer on a Hi-6N/LX92 for the ChinaMSD.

Mon Aug 26, 2024 12:19 pm

Yep, you were correct. Wrong distributor. Filed with eBay, guess I’ll be sending it back. Darn-it

Mon Sep 02, 2024 8:08 am

I've run a Mallory without issue for about 20 years and 60K+ miles,
but just with a blue coil. Love it. Rock-solid timing, super adjustable.
Was going to try it with an older HyFire CDI.

Like the MSD, the old HyFire boxes were analog, and the newer digital.
There are deals all over the place especially on old YL distributors.
Curves are adjustable, and since they're from the old days, very high quality.
Far as i can tell the only real functional difference is the module.
I was told you can put a Unilite module in a YL. Not sure if that's true.

I've seen those Unilite modules on the wall all the time at old Mom/Pop auto parts stores.
Pretty sure they're the same for all of their distributors.
Should be around for a long time.
Never had one fail.
Rotors and caps might be getting hard to come by?

Going to appear the dummy here,
but,
With a CDI, you are only using the points/module to trigger the CDI.
Load on the module/points was reduced, and that was one of the benefits,
Right?

If I've been running a Mallory distributor without a CDI for 20 years,
What would be the concern using it with an old HyFire?

Mon Sep 02, 2024 9:54 am

After reading this post and asking for answers here. I read a lot of forums and installation manuals for all sorts of CDI boxes as pertaining to the unilite. The unilite and hyfire was a popular combination. Also the various other brands out there. Aircooled.net use to sell the hyfire to go with the unilites they sold. The digital crane hi-6 manual lists the unilite as compatible. Which is what I plan on running. I’m going to experiment with the China MSD clone as well just due to the unilite being hard to get replacement consumables for. Looks like there’s a timing curve that is similar to the gray/pink spring combo most type 4 people run.

My opinion has little weight but from all the information I’ve read I’d say you’ll have no problem with the hyfire and your unilite.

Mon Sep 02, 2024 11:30 am

onwardtothestars wrote: jpaull wrote: The speedmaster link that you gave is one that burned me when i ordered it. They show the MSD style, but shipped me a lesser version that had a "fixed" distributor drive. The one below might be a safer bet.

I guess I'll see when the speedmaster arrives. I bought a Hi-6/PS91 to run on the unilite with. I made an offer on a Hi-6N/LX92 for the China MSD.
This is what I run on my 2276.
I've bought 4 of um. One was sold to Norris, one was stolen when my car was stolen and the other two are currently in my possession.
The backup set is for my DD67.

If you have never ran a Hi6N, be aware they make an auditable chirping sound when the engine is running. IMO it lets you know it's working as designed.

Cold engine starts are quick and effortless, even after the car sits for a month or so at a time.

Mon Sep 02, 2024 1:54 pm

onwardtothestars wrote: The digital crane hi-6 manual lists the unilite as compatible. Which is what I plan on running.

The Unilite can be Optical, Points, or internal Module. Just saying "unilite" wont identify the trigger type, and ignition compatibility. You mentioned yours is a optical trigger. Just do some research on things you need to make specifically the Unilite optical to work properly with whatever CD box you use. Its not as reliable as mag pickup, and may need extras to work well, if you can get it to work. Its 3 wire disign, not 2 wire. The Crane/Fast XR700 was made specifically for optical. Its a low performance/very mild igntion combo.

One comment for encouragement from another thread refering specifically to the unilite optical:

"at least it's not a Mallory Unilite trigger. (Best have good walking shoes if you buy a Unilite)
The PerTronics would have been a more reliable trigger, or even the original points..." :lol:

Tue Sep 03, 2024 1:30 am

onwardtothestars wrote: jpaull wrote: The speedmaster link that you gave is one that burned me when i ordered it. They show the MSD style, but shipped me a lesser version that had a "fixed" distributor drive. The one below might be a safer bet.

I guess I'll see when the speedmaster arrives. I bought a Hi-6/PS91 to run on the unilite with. I made an offer on a Hi-6N/LX92 for the ChinaMSD.

Hello.

Due to this excellent thread, I have tried a few ignition systems on my bug. We all have our preferences on which systems we like and why.

I've had a used crane hi-6n with lx92 coil on my engine. Along with a Mallory unilite (optical.. wouldnt use the points or pertronix style tbh..) a standard svda, and a t25/vanagon distributor..

All distributors worked fine with the crane hi6n.

Imho

The Mallory can be awkward to get service parts, BUT.... the optical unit is very accurate through the rev range up to approx 7k. Which is exactly what you want in a good distributor. It's a nice piece of kit, I wish they'd support it better!

The Mallory optical triggers are known to NOT like electrical surges. I had a smoothing cap before the hi6n, and a surge protector across the battery. Not necessarily the correct way to do it, but i never had a problem.

Msd sell the capacitors or you can buy your own, Mallory also sell surge protection devices..

The hi6n definitely makes the "chirp of power" :D

Good luck with it.

Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:42 am

jpaull wrote: onwardtothestars wrote: The digital crane hi-6 manual lists the unilite as compatible. Which is what I plan on running.

The Unilite can be Optical, Points, or internal Module. Just saying "unilite" wont identify the trigger type, and ignition compatibility. You mentioned yours is a optical trigger. Just do some research on things you need to make specifically the Unilite optical to work properly with whatever CD box you use. Its not as reliable as mag pickup, and may need extras to work well, if you can get it to work. Its 3 wire disign, not 2 wire. The Crane/Fast XR700 was made specifically for optical. Its a low performance/very mild igntion combo.

One comment for encouragement from another thread refering specifically to the unilite optical:

"at least it's not a Mallory Unilite trigger. (Best have good walking shoes if you buy a Unilite)
The PerTronics would have been a more reliable trigger, or even the original points..." :lol:

I think you're confused. The Unilite's all came as optical. Even the advertising says,
The maintenance free electronic module uses an optical pickup for triggering accuracy that never wavers or wears out

I think the name has something to do with it too, uniLITE for optical.

Now, there are people that could convert to points, and I know mallory made a magnetic pickup that could be used in the unilite.
BUT generally speaking the unilite is always optical unless specified otherwise.

Tue Sep 03, 2024 6:10 am

onwardtothestars wrote: jpaull wrote: onwardtothestars wrote: The digital crane hi-6 manual lists the unilite as compatible. Which is what I plan on running.

The Unilite can be Optical, Points, or internal Module. Just saying "unilite" wont identify the trigger type, and ignition compatibility. You mentioned yours is a optical trigger. Just do some research on things you need to make specifically the Unilite optical to work properly with whatever CD box you use. Its not as reliable as mag pickup, and may need extras to work well, if you can get it to work. Its 3 wire disign, not 2 wire. The Crane/Fast XR700 was made specifically for optical. Its a low performance/very mild igntion combo.

One comment for encouragement from another thread refering specifically to the unilite optical:

"at least it's not a Mallory Unilite trigger. (Best have good walking shoes if you buy a Unilite)
The PerTronics would have been a more reliable trigger, or even the original points..." :lol:

I think you're confused. The Unilite's all came as optical. Even the advertising says,
The maintenance free electronic module uses an optical pickup for triggering accuracy that never wavers or wears out

I think the name has something to do with it too, uniLITE for optical.

Now, there are people that could convert to points, and I know mallory made a magnetic pickup that could be used in the unilite.
BUT generally speaking the unilite is always optical unless specified otherwise.

Thank you for a very good correction and clarification. I lumped Unilite as a general Mallory distributor reference incorrectly. I had a great experience similar to clatter with a Mallory distributor with points and it lasted a long time. If all Unilites are optical and have a internal module, that makes sense.

One of the main points of this thread is to not rely on a module that could fail, hopefully your works well. If you end up driving with that combo far, it might be nice to carry either a 2nd module or seperate distributor as a backup.

Mon Sep 09, 2024 7:13 am

I’ve always carried a spare Unilite module in the bus,
Gives peace of mind 1000 miles from home.
Never needed it.

Say i hook up an old analog HyFire
The module would be MORE likely to last a long time, correct?

Mon Sep 09, 2024 10:24 am

Clatter, yes, it should last longer that way.

Mon Sep 09, 2024 10:39 am

Definitely.
But, with about 75% of all the Unilites I have ever installed i have also installed a voltage spike "controller" which is probably just a Xener diode, but still. So far, I have never had a module faliure when that was installed too.

Wed Sep 11, 2024 5:05 pm

How does one wire up the choke & idle shut-off valve, on solex 34 pict using a MSD 6ALN box? Thanks in advance.

Thu Sep 12, 2024 9:52 am

12v key on source, like normal

Thu Sep 12, 2024 10:42 am

chrisflstf wrote: 12v key on source, like normal
My MSD box and coil, are not in the engine compartment. Would the 12V source off the alternator work?

Thu Sep 12, 2024 11:13 am

It will "work", but its not 12v key on, its hot all the time