My Z has been struggling since COVID to run perfectly. From 2008-2021 the Z was as reliable as toyota 22R. But not driving for a year did unspeakably evil things to the fuel system and triple webers. After many attemps I do believe I have the fuel system sorted. Now a more nefarious issue has crept into my life. One that I cannot believe is actually happening.

I was doing a post carb tune up. Checking plugs and wires, the usual. I have had a Mallory Unilite since 2008 and never had any issues. However, I did notice some misfires at my last drive, and now I know it was not my webers. I pulled off the distributor cap and the center electrode that rides on the rotor is all but gone. NO more spring loaded nub. Just a flush piece of conductor that is even with the plastic. The rotor is charged as well. I can only assume that it has been arcing a LONG time to cause that kind of erosion.

So buy a new cap and move on. Right? NOPE. this is the kicker

Nobody in the entire world has a Mallory 270 distributor cap. NOBODY. They stopped making them. The folks at Holley who bought them, said, yeah, "get another distributor". So a 600 dollar billet distributor is now a paperweight. Makes my blood boil!

so I am considering options. 280ZX? 123 ignition? 280Z. All have pros and cons. I have not dabbled in the ignition world in a while, since mine... well it worked.

Is 123 ignition a solid option. I have a hard time trusting any website where I cannot call them. Is the ZX or 280Z option valid, or will I have to rewire, or get a new tach?

I have no vacuum advance because of the webers. Is there a dizzy that gives me decent mechanical advance left? Need options here.

@Patcon

I also have a note in my Z journal mentioning Advanced Distributors. They can recurve an OEM dizzy if I recall. Are they still around?

I would bet that you could repair the cap (it's just a conductive thing under a spring) and that a rotor from another Unilite would fit. If you want to keep the Mallory.

The 123 guy was active here a few years ago. Maybe he's still out there. @123ignitionusa

There's still a web site. That's a good sign.

https://123ignitionusa.com/

A number of guys are happy with the sherryberg distributor.

https://zclub.net/community/index.php?threads/anyone-had-a-go-at-the-zcardepot-dizzy.32001/

Yes Advanced Distributors is still in business. Jeff still own the place. I have done business with him for a couple of years now supply some of the parts needed to refurb the Z or ZX distributors. One thing to keep in mind is that the vacuum advance canisters are getting hard to find. I know there is a place in Australia that can rebuild a vac advance can.

I cannot run a vacuum advance anyway. I have triples and no port for vacuum. I need a dizzy that only relies on static advance and mechanical advance. Probably run about 15 degrees BTDC at idle and hope for another 15 - 17 more on mechanical. But that will require a custom curve. Only place that can do that is 123 and advanced Distributors. It is heartbreaking really. A perfectly good Mallory is just going to get tossed.

1 hour ago, Zedyone_kenobi said:

A perfectly good Mallory is just going to get tossed.

Don't do that! Somebody out here will know how to fix it.

https://mossmotors.com/143-285-replacment-rotor-4-cylinder-mallory-unilite

By the way, pictures would be neat. Damaged parts for our viewing pleasure. If you have the time.

cap shown is what is left of the electrode. It is no longer spring loaded. That is it. It does not move. It is fixed. New pics of the cap have a rounded nub on the end. That is GONE. The rotor looks blacked and burned.

1 hour ago, Zed Head said:

Don't do that! Somebody out here will know how to fix it.

https://mossmotors.com/143-285-replacment-rotor-4-cylinder-mallory-unilite

The distributor is fine. I even have 4 rotors on the way. I bought all Holley had in stock thinking I could find a cap. Silly me. But the distributor is 100% A okay. It is just without a cap, its useless. Now, I would imagine an L20 could use it with a different rotor maybe?

29 minutes ago, Zedyone_kenobi said:

It is no longer spring loaded

Is there spring force if you push it in with a small screwdrive? The spring underneath might be fully extended since the button wore down.

Wouldn't be a surprise if the center electrode from another distributor could be swapped in. Or the electrode and spring both. No reason for Mallory to design their own. They all do the same thing.

Mainly posting because I like to fix things.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/nissan,1995,pathfinder,3.0l+v6,1211993,ignition,distributor+cap,7120

Flamma! $7.26

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=17652913&cc=1211993&pt=7120&jsn=770

Standard $11.20