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340 unilite distributor question #2467466
03/16/18 07:37 PM
03/16/18 07:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 401
Western Colorado
3
340Scamp Offline OP
mopar
340Scamp  Offline OP
mopar
3

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 401
Western Colorado
I just got a Mallory unilite distributor for a 340. I'm wondering what this needs to hook up to? Is there a control box or does it work with a Mopar ECU? It has a 2 wire plug. Thanks in advance.

Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: 340Scamp] #2467651
03/17/18 10:04 AM
03/17/18 10:04 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
3
383man Offline
Too Many Posts
383man  Offline
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Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
You might want to contact Mallory and ask them if its compatible to work with the Mopar ECU. Ron

Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: 340Scamp] #2467668
03/17/18 10:55 AM
03/17/18 10:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,005
Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
master
Bad340fish  Offline
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Tulsa OK
I think a unlite can run without the ECU. I used to have a 67 Barracuda that had one and I think it triggered the coil direct I can't remember.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
87 "Chrysler" Conquest
Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: Bad340fish] #2467679
03/17/18 11:33 AM
03/17/18 11:33 AM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,487
God's Country Maryland
GODSCOUNTRY340 Offline
top fuel
GODSCOUNTRY340  Offline
top fuel

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Posts: 2,487
God's Country Maryland
Scamp, Are you sure it doesn't have a 3 wire connector? The ones I've seen have 3. The red wire goes to the ballast, green to - coil and brown to ground. You don't need an ECU, it will work wired direct. Make sure you use a ballast resistor or you'll fry the control.


I love the smell of Deer guts in the morning, it smells like... VICTORY!
Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: GODSCOUNTRY340] #2468038
03/18/18 11:23 AM
03/18/18 11:23 AM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 401
Western Colorado
3
340Scamp Offline OP
mopar
340Scamp  Offline OP
mopar
3

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 401
Western Colorado
Thanks, It does have 3 wires, the basement was dark when I looked at it earlier.

Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: 340Scamp] #2468109
03/18/18 02:26 PM
03/18/18 02:26 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
C
Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
Cab_Burge  Offline
I Win
C

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,007
Bend,OR USA
Mallory had a lot of failure with that type distributor ignition system, we use to call them never lights shruggy
My message is there are lot of choices for lot better units that won't fail you when you really need it work


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: 340Scamp] #2468223
03/18/18 06:43 PM
03/18/18 06:43 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,457
Washington
M
madscientist Offline
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Washington
One of the most underrated distributor systems. Ever. If the light fails, it's an issue with the owner or the alternator.

1. Never EVER charge the battery with the Unilite plugged in.
2. Never EVER jump the battery with the Unilite plugged in. In both cases, unplug the Unilite and charge the battery then plug it back in.
3. Spend the extra money and buy the circuit guard and use it. It will stop the voltage spikes you can get from some alternators, especially the cheap ass parts store remanufactured alternators.

The red wire goes to switched power. The green goes to the negative side of the coil. The brown goes to ground.

Thankfully, MSD is now making the Unilite and circuit guards again.

I also suggest using the correct Mallory coil. My cousin bought a Unilite and then cheaped out and used the cheesy MSD canister coil. It was always a pain in the ass to hot start. After he died, I ended up with the car. First change was a Mallory coil (29440) and the hot start issues went away.


Follow these simple directions and the Unilite will out live all of us. I've been using them since 1980. Sold and used dozens of them over the years. The failures are always owner inflicted.


Just because you think it won't make it true. Horsepower is KING. To dispute this is stupid. C. Alston
Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: 340Scamp] #2468266
03/18/18 08:04 PM
03/18/18 08:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,658
A
Andrewh Offline
master
Andrewh  Offline
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Posts: 8,658
the most common problem is snapping off the carbon rod post in the center.

amazingly it will run for a while even with that snapped off. But eventually will fry the electronics.

you have to be very careful putting the cap back on. you can't tilt it like you would do a normal distributor. If you do, the rod snaps off.

I killed 3 of them before the guys at super shops(yes that is how long ago I got it) figured out why they were dying.
I had to pay for the replacement parts for the last one, but learned not to kill them again.

Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: Andrewh] #2468307
03/18/18 09:17 PM
03/18/18 09:17 PM
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Posts: 4,457
Washington
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madscientist Offline
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Washington
Originally Posted By Andrewh
the most common problem is snapping off the carbon rod post in the center.

amazingly it will run for a while even with that snapped off. But eventually will fry the electronics.

you have to be very careful putting the cap back on. you can't tilt it like you would do a normal distributor. If you do, the rod snaps off.

I killed 3 of them before the guys at super shops(yes that is how long ago I got it) figured out why they were dying.
I had to pay for the replacement parts for the last one, but learned not to kill them again.



Never heard of that but very possible. I don't remember what year Super Shops went down but that Unilite has to be more than 25 years old. Pretty cool.

How many times have you replaced the module if you don't mind my asking?


Just because you think it won't make it true. Horsepower is KING. To dispute this is stupid. C. Alston
Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: 340Scamp] #2468318
03/18/18 09:40 PM
03/18/18 09:40 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar Offline
master
451Mopar  Offline
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Aurora, Colorado
I ran a UniLite in the Charger 400 stroker from about 1990 to this year, but I did have to replace the module once about 5 years ago. I used it to trigger a MSD 6AL box, not drive the coil directly, so that may be why it lasted so long?
Just took it out because converting to the FiTech EFI which wants a magnetic pickup distributor.

Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: 451Mopar] #2468328
03/18/18 09:57 PM
03/18/18 09:57 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,457
Washington
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madscientist Offline
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Joined: Sep 2014
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Washington
Originally Posted By 451Mopar
I ran a UniLite in the Charger 400 stroker from about 1990 to this year, but I did have to replace the module once about 5 years ago. I used it to trigger a MSD 6AL box, not drive the coil directly, so that may be why it lasted so long?
Just took it out because converting to the FiTech EFI which wants a magnetic pickup distributor.


That is one draw back.


Just because you think it won't make it true. Horsepower is KING. To dispute this is stupid. C. Alston
Re: 340 unilite distributor question [Re: 340Scamp] #2468343
03/18/18 10:36 PM
03/18/18 10:36 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 4,457
Washington
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madscientist Offline
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Washington
Can't edit my post but want to add the red wire goes to 12 volt side of the ballast resistor.


Just because you think it won't make it true. Horsepower is KING. To dispute this is stupid. C. Alston






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