I'm installing a MSD-6AL2 programmable ignition box and need to lock out the mechanical advance. Mallory tech told me to drill advance plate and insert a roll pin, or send the distributor to them and they'll perform the procedure. Can anyone provide some detailed instructions on how to do this? I came up empty on the search engine and other sources such as Google, you tube, etc. Thanks.
Here are the instructions for adjusting the mechanical advance in a Mallory distributor. http://prestoliteperformance.com/me...ns_yh_series_mechanical_advance_kit_29014.pdf They say advance can be adjusted by loosening the screws and adjusting from 0* to 28* (YH Only) You shouldn't have to drill anything unless I am missing something or you have the YT distributor.
Larry, The programmable MSD-6AL2 box completely controls the timing so it is necessary to disable the distributors advance mechanisms. Here is an excerpt from MSD's website: "The new ignition, Part Number 6530, is based on the same output as the 6AL-2, but rather than rotary dials for rpm adjustments it sports a serial port that connects to a PC. Once you load MSDs Windows based software on your PC, youre ready to start mapping and programming. To start, you can get rid of the weights and springs that control the mechanical advance of your distributor. Go ahead and lock it out because you can now create a timing curve that allows you to manipulate the timing down to tenth of a degree increments every 100 rpm. The advantage is precise timing control, with the ability to ramp the timing in or retard it at exactly the rpm that you want it to move. Want more timing out for a start retard? Simply click the mouse and move a couple dots in position. Like a high speed retard? Clickity-click!" It's the locking out part that I'm unfamiliar but it's probably not as complicated as I'm making it out to be. Thanks. Bill
I understand. Looking at the pdf I linked, which advance mechanism do you have, the YH, or YT? One can be adjusted to 0* (locked out), one can't. Murphy's law says you have the one that can't. In that case, I would look carefully at the advance mechanism, and exactly how it works. Then stop it from moving. Mallory says drill through the advance plate and put a roll pin in the hole. Just figure out where to put the hole, or ask Mallory to send a diagram for you. You could also get an MSD distributor and lock it out, that's easy.
I drilled and roll pinned my HEI, there is no real secret to it. Make a hole, fit roll pin. A friend of mine came up with a novel way on his HEI that I'm sure can be adapted to just about any mechanical advance mechanism that is under a rotor. Just a plate of aluminum with 4 holes in it.
I remember seeing this when you posted it. I've been wanting to lock out my advance on my current motor because I think it will idle a lot better in and out of gear. The nice thing about this pictured plate is that it is completely reversible. I have a Dave Ray converted MSD trigger set up, small body distributor. I took off the rotor, removed all the weights and springs, and made a similar lock plate out of a plastic card. Once I got the shape and hole location right, I made a copy of it out of metal. Locked my timing at 34* with my vacuum advance limited to 10* Seems to run great, and as expected, idles much better. I was able to lower the out of gear idle to 1000 RPM, and it idles nicely with a healthy lope at 850 RPM in high stall. I previously had a small amount of mechanical advance in the distributor, and I would lose some when I put it in gear, making my idle more unstable. This is definitely an improvement. The MSD digital 6 has a nice 20* crank retard, so it starts at 14*, no problem for the mini starter. Thanks for posting this photo. I'm going to add it to the Power Timing thread.
