Toronado.org

Well, with taxes come and gone, I've got a little bit of money again, and I'd like to float just a bit of it to oldsmobile. I know my '66 still has the factory points-type distributor, and I'd like to upgrade it. I don't want to go away from having a distributor, but I'd like to get rid of points, probably going to an HEI distributor or such.

on O'Reily's site I found an HEI distributor runs about $250... But, on Autozone I found an E-Spark conversion kit for $75, that takes the factory distributor and makes it points-less. For almost a third the cost, and the added benefit of looking completely orriginal, it's got my interest piqued.

The kit is made by Mallory, a brand that even I've heard of, so I'm fairly confident it's a good product, but I'm curious if anyone has used this kit. I'd also like to know how it works... Does it just convert it to an HEI? Or is it a different system all together?

http://www.malloryperformance.com/Produ ... MinID=5801

Thanks

I installed the conversion kit but it was "Petronix" brand. It bolted right in and so far has given me no trobubles. You can use your old coil but I put a little hotter one when I installed the kit (also a Petronix brand).

followme21 wrote:I installed the conversion kit but it was "Petronix" brand. It bolted right in and so far has given me no trobubles. You can use your old coil but I put a little hotter one when I installed the kit (also a Petronix brand).

Yeah, I've done a bit of research on the subject, and went with the pertronix igniter II instead. The mallory uses an optical sensor for ignition, which occassionally requires cleaning, and has alot more parts. The pertronix cost $30 more, but seems like a better unit. I suspect the points are why my engine did not run as well as it should when I brougjt the car home.

Also bought a bunch of little stuff too it's nice to be able to spend some money on my cars again.

This might be a bit late but I just bought a complete billet HEI distributor for $38 from KMJPerformance on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Oldsmobi ... ccessories

It appears to be good quality however I have not yet completed my engine build so have no performance data as yet. I will be glad to report back once I have it operational.

I have read the original air cleaner will hit the HEI Dist....
if you want to use it.

The Mallory E-Spark is a less-expensive version of the Mallory Unilite.

The Unilite, and the E-Spark are both very fragile in terms of over-voltage. Mallory cut corners when designing the things, they don't have appropriate protection circuitry or robust components.

Mallory expects you to add a $40 surge-suppressor to act as the protection device.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/maa-29351

ANY of the aftermarket conversions tend to have lower long-term reliability than a GENUINE DELCO HEI.

I would rather have a USED-but-usable Delco HEI than a brand-new Communist-Chinese knockoff. The Chinese have been known to build their junk so that Delco-style replacement parts won't fit.





Yes, you will need an air cleaner assembly from a newer Toronado to clear the HEI. The bonus is that the newer air cleaner assembly will be already set-up for a cold-air intake hose that can be routed to a source of cool, outside air rather than forcing the engine to breathe the hot underhood air. There is a potential for more power, less detonation.

Hey Twilight,

After some time under the hood, would you go with the pertronix kit again?

why or why not?

Thanks,
John

I fitted a Pertronix Ignitor more than ten years ago and haven't had to look at it ever since although I have replaced the leads, distributor cap, and the rotor.
For sale on ebay for $123

Pertronix Ignitor+Coil/Ignition 1181 1956-1973 Buick+Olds V8 w/Delco Distributor

I'm liking the pertronix kit, and will maybe ask for one for Christmas.

I LOVE good ole HEI, but I won't give up the factory air cleaner, and I'm trying to keep my 66 looking as factory as possible.

1977 Cutly wrote:I'm liking the pertronix kit, and will maybe ask for one for Christmas.

I LOVE good ole HEI, but I won't give up the factory air cleaner, and I'm trying to keep my 66 looking as factory as possible.

Cutly,

You can convert your original points distributor to HEI yourself or have this company do it.

DAVE's small-body HEIs Converts your original points style distributor to HEI system
24 Buffalo Lane
Yerington, Nevada, 89447
775- 722-3294
info@davessmallbodyheis.com
http://www.davessmallbodyheis.com/


I had a Mallory Ignition on an F100 I used to own and I hated it. It took special cap and rotor which I could only buy at a local speed shop. The cap and rotor were very expensive.

I know lots of people that use Pertonix and are very happy with it. Be sure to run a new - non resistor wire from the ignition switch rather than using the original resistor wire or you won't get top performance.

Having said all that, What's wrong with points? One advantage to points is that they never just quit working. If they're giving you trouble you can almost always finesse them enough to get home. I've never had to do that, though.

I've been driving a '56 Cadillac as a daily driver for 13 years. It still has points and a DC generator. When everything is properly set up, you will get excellent service from the original equipment.

The points in my Cadillac were installed in 2007 and show virtually no wear. That's over 40,000+ miles on them.

I intend to keep the points in the '66 Toro as well.