distributor 302/345HP crate engine

[JL1924]

Have a new 302/345 HP crate engine. Have been seeing rumblings in these forums about problems with distributor gear and cam gear wear problems. I have been considering a Mallory Unilite distributor, mainly because I run one on my 350 Chev powered street rod with no problems. Is there anyone out there that has any info on the Unilite in a 302 Ford. Is the gear supplied by Mallory a steel gear. What am I to watch out for in installing it. Are there measurements from the mounting flange to the gear to be concerned with? Can you shim if you don't have the correct distances? Any help or suggestions, appreciated.
Thanks.

JL1924@optonline.net

[TCR_BRIAN]

That motor has a Roller Cam so if you want to run a Mallory....run Part #3770401 for one with a Unilite.....#5070401 Magnetic Breakerless Mechanical Advance....#5770401 M/B with Vaccuum advance.....These have the longer shaft that 5.0's had, they will engage farther down the Oil Pump Shaft and can only be run on 5.0 style motors with the oil pump driveshaft that is hexed farther down....(Usually only a problem with Chro-Moly Oil pump driveshafts.) any other Mallory would probably need the gear changed, but will physically work.....If you run an MSD Distributor you HAVE to change the gear to a steel unit......Part # 8582 for the distributor and Part # 85833 for the gear....comes with instructions to install....Machine shop can do for about $20, or if you send it to MSD they will do it for free......

Regards,
Brian
www.teamcracing.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

[RACER X #99]

Read this it explains a lot.

http://www.cobralads.com/butcher63.html

[Cal Metal]

One of our esteemed members, who is a professional engine builder, said, in an earlier thread on this topic, that it is important to burnish the cam gear on a wire wheel to take off the hard edges before installation. He said that after doing that he has built at least 35 engines with no distributor gear problems.

This subject has come up on numerous ocassions on CC. You may want to do a search and find his response, which is more definitive than mine.