need distributor and advice

[SOLSAKS]

got newly built 360 back in 76 j-10
shop says current dist.,.... mallory 2560001 is not sending signal to coil.

so they say I need a new one

I learned
Holley bought out mallory
and discontinued the distributor

is this a good time to upgrade iginition system

or just what do y'all recommend ?

thanx
dave in NC

[ShagWagon]

I went with MSD. Distributor, coil, wires and 6al digital box.

No problems 10k miles so far.

[SOLSAKS]

Shaggy,...

I went with the set-up you have.

thanx for the advice.

dave in NC

[fulsizjeep]

I use Skip White HEI in a couple 401s. They were cheap enough to buy 2 and have a spare. I see they aren't listed at Skip White web site any more. There is a very similar if not the same product on Amazon I would try if I was shopping.

https://www.amazon.com/Top-Street-Performance-HEI-290-401/dp/B006CRVRHK

[Rusty76]

Hard not to like the price on the Amazon distributor.
Thanks

[SOLSAKS]

holy crap,....

that is a big difference.

a MSD setup with distributor, box, coil, a little over 6 bills.

I know high price does not always mean it is better

and low price does not always mean poor quality

but that is a big difference,....

if the amazon one is as good as MSD, I am an idiot, but no news there.

thanx for the responses.

dave in NC

[UnkleMunky]

For $70, that's worth giving it a shot. I was more impressed with an HEI conversion on a 258 than a TFI conversion on a 360 that I had experience with. Doesn't mean that's a universal experience, but I would lean HEI if I were to do another conversion in the future. I have no experience with the MSDs, so can't comment there.

[Crankyolman]

I have an HEI like that Amazon one. It might even be the same one but I can't say for sure. I've been running it since shortly after I got my truck with no problems. I think it has around 8,000 miles on it. I am using an MSD cap because I dropped the original cap when working on the engine and broke it and the MSD cap at Autozone was much better quality than the other caps they had.

[Ristow]

if the amazon one is as good as MSD,

it is not.

[rang-a-stang]

got newly built 360 back in 76 j-10
shop says current dist.,.... mallory 2560001 is not sending signal to coil

That sounds like a bad pickup or points. You shouldn't need a whole new dizzy for a bad pickup. I googled the part number and found the manual for your dizzy here:

http://www.catalograck.com/ImgVD/MAL/single_dual_point_distributor_23_25_27.pdf

In that manual, on page 2 it tells how to troubleshoot a "no signal to the coil" condition.
Page 5 has a parts list so if they/you find something wrong with it, you can order parts.

I say fix whatya got...

[tgreese]

Looking this up online, it says that a 2560001 is a Mallory Dual-Point for an AMC engine. As i understand it, "dual point" means that it has two sets of points that open/close at half the speed of a regular single point distributor, like the Delco points distributor used in these engines before 1975. I don't think there's anything exotic in the way it functions - your shop should be able to figure this out. This is a vintage speed shop part, but it still should not be complicated.

If you want, you could buy a reman Delco points distributor for a '74 AMC V8 and run that. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...184093&jsn=383

You have lots of choices for this engine.

[babywag]

got newly built 360 back in 76 j-10
shop says current dist.,.... mallory 2560001 is not sending signal to coil.

so they say I need a new one

sounds like you need to find a new shop.

[SOLSAKS]

appreciate all the comments

got a good laugh from babywag, thanx I needed a laugh.

you prob have a point

it is a very young mechanic that works on mainly newer vehicles

that may be a factor,...

but he is doing a good job, I am no mechanic at all

and I just appreciate them willing to even do the body work and mechanic work

all at one shop, a task most shops would not touch for any amount of money.

and I wanted all new components anyway.

thanx again for the advice and the laugh.

dave ein NC

[Ristow]

and I wanted all new components anyway.

that used to be a good way to look at it,but more and more the new stuff is worse than the old worn oem stuff.


i'd keep the mallory over a cheap chinese hei.


id actually find a stock motorcraft setup.

[Rusty76]

I'm sorta in the same boat. My Wagoneer ran (poorly) before had the complete drivetrain rebuilt. Its all back in and I'm now putting all the bits back together. I had the original Prestolite distributor. Is this thing horrible? My plan is to spend the least amount of money to get her up and running after that start to replace things that need replacing.

Ristow you have mentioned the stock motorcraft before. Any model? Admittedly
I have not take the time to research this topic yet.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.
Thanks