Mallory Unilite....JUNK????

Last night went to Cruise Night with a good friend and his 440 Coronet convertible.

As soon as we pulled in after a 30 mile drive, his car died out. A quick check and we discoverd the fuel pump quit (btw, recently replaced).
Luckily a friend has one and he had his son swing it over to us (Thanks Scott (SCRAG) )

Get the pump in and now we had fuel but lost spark.
After making checks, come to find the Mallory Unilite module in the Mallory distributor had toasted.
The only thing we had done to the distributor prior was disconnect the connector to disable ignition when checking fuel.

His ignition system is comprised of the Mallory Unilite Distributor, MSD 6AL and MSD HVC Ignition Coil.

I had a similar experience last year with my dad's '67 Barracuda. It had a Pertronix kit installed prior (not by me). We had just finished swapping a 4 barrel intake and carb. I needed a hot ignition key on wire for the electric choke. I was checking with a test light at the ballast resistor. Found what seemed to be a good wire and tapped it.
Now the car wouldn't start. Later to find out I must have wiped out the pertronix module while checking for a hot wire.

Any thoughts on the Mallory Unilite? My friend is deciding whether it is worth keeping it and keeping a $100 unilite sensor as a spare or just put in another distributor.

Thanks!

I thought the unilite was an all-in-one unit (no box required)... why the MSD box?

Unilite is a complete electronic ignition set up, but many, including myself, add a MSD box for the same reason as everyone else, it makes the spark hotter. I love the unilites and wouldn't run anything else. As with any product some love it some hate it, I have run them for 25+ years including just the under cap converters, the only problem I have ever experienced is the rare occassion were I cause it myself, similiar to your experience. IF your friend goes with another dist, I would be interested in having his old one as a spare.

I have the unilite in my Bee along with a Mallory coil both installed in 1976. No problems with it at all.

Hey, thanks for the positive notes on the distributor I'll be sure to pass it on to him.

Mopar346, how do you think you may have caused the ones fail that you touched? Just cutrious to know how to avoid that again.
I'll be sure to let him know your interested if he decides on some other distributor.

Thanks again and keep the comments coming

The only way I have ever blown a module is by shorting it out, I haven't done it often and it has been years. When I am going to do anything with the wiring that is related to the dist in any way I simply unplug the 3 wire connector and double check all my wiring before I plug it back in, when installing one I do the same thing, leave it unpluged and wire everything, double check everything and plug her up, tune the key and it goes vroom vroom, no problem. Best bang for the buck you can do for a car.

IMHO, using a light to trigger your ignition isn't very good.........They just aren't consistant and look terrible on a scope......You don't ever see them on anything really fast and nothing from the factory has anything like it......I only use them as wheel chocks......

hey Mopar346, thanks. I totally understand about leaving it umplugged until the very end when you are sure it is all good. Thanks!

Big_squeeze, I didn't use the test light to trigger the ignition, but to look for a hto wire with the key on. I normally wouldn't use a test light on a modern electronc equipped car, but looking for power on an old car. Thanks for pointing that out anyhow.

I don't think Big Squeeze was saying you souldn't have done it, he was just giving his thoughts on a light activated ignition. Hey Big Squeeze is your avitar running with scissors or a 4 way lug wrench???

The unilite modules do not like voltage spikes and they recommend you add their inline filter to avoid the spikes.

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IMHO, using a light to trigger your ignition isn't very good.........They just aren't consistant and look terrible on a scope......You don't ever see them on anything really fast and nothing from the factory has anything like it......I only use them as wheel chocks......

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I feel the same way, but a 3.0L Chrysler uses a photo-optic pickup. Lo, and Hi res.