Mallory's HEI distributor for SB chevy engines claims to have a Multi-Index Cap, which allows attachement in any of four rotational positions on the distributer's base. nyone know what the heck these guys are talking about? My new Mallory HEI 8548201C had only one tab on the bottom of the cap, and only one slot on the distributor's base, thus permitting the cap to attach in only one position. Nothing on Mallory's website, no reply from their tech line, and nothing anywhere on-line depicts their "Multi-Index Cap"...or how it works. In theory it would be potentially useful in situating their large HEI vacuum distributor in the tight rear firewall of third gen FB's, but so far it seems like an advertising gimmack.

Related, I've just returned two 8548201C's in a row which arrived from Amazon.com, as both arrived damaged. Seems just as well to me. The fused coil-dustcap on this distributor is almost impossible to attach to the cap even on the workbench, much less in the rear of a firebird with eight spark plug wires under it. I say stay clear of Mallory.

 

Got the "poop" on the Mallory "multi-index" distributer cap for their 85 series SB chevy distributors (spoke directly with their tech people today). As I suspected, the "multi-index" function of that series of distributer caps does not exist. Their tech people didn't even know their dizzy's were being advertised as such, nor that information and/or instructions relative to the "multi-index" issue does not exist either. Thus, they assured me they would update their sales division and fix the problem. Of course its way too late for that, as the "special feature" of a "multi-indexing" cap on their SB chevy HEI is being promoted all over the internet including, Summit, Amazon.com, JEGs, etc. etc. And Mallory's tech did indeed confirm my observation that their 85 series distributors in fact have only one slot in their base and one tooth in the cap, appropriately allowing only one positional alignment....dead-on timing. However, their brilliant suggestion was to modify the cap into a "multi-indexing" cap, by grinding the only tooth off the plastic cap, thus allowing the cap to be positioned almost anywhere, with four positions being favored because of the four hold down nuts. Of course two problems arise with that suggestion. First, an open slot is created at the base, permiting free entry of dust, grease, etc. into the distributer cap while driving. And second (and much worse), the absence of tooth-in-slot locking means the distributer cap alignment relative to the base could potentially moved around during driving, throughing timing advance and retard into the twighlight zone. Seems to me Mallory could use a few good mechanical/electrical engineers in their company...and a few less salesman. My standing advise.....avoid.