am I going to fry something??

[aengineguy]

on my fairly radical 408 I have a Mallory magnetic breakerless distributor with a Mallory 6AL box. When the engine is warm it is turning over slow due to timing. I am running 24 initial with 34 total, no vacuum advance. I have a switch to turn on the ignition. No problem when cold. Can I leave the ignition switch off, get the engine rotating and then turn the ignition on to fire? ....at least when I am having a bump back issue that is. Am I going to toast the sparky things? I know, I know.....I should have purchased a spark retard box. The little redhead wanted to buy groceries that week!

Thanks.....!!

 

[gtsdude]

Why not just dial back your initial and adjust your total?

 

[mguner]

That works. I have a Mopar distributor with an electric retard solenoid built in that I used for just that purpose. It was also helpful in the top end depending on conditions.

 

[67Dart273]

Isn't the advance adjustable in the Mallory? Put some more curve into it? Otherwise, if it runs good there, what you are doing is probably OK

 

[aengineguy]

Thanks for the comments....Yeah I guess I was trying to get around pulling the distributor out again, but if I need to do it right, I should. It runs so good now, I was trying to avoid. Will back off the initial a little and adjust the mechanical in the dist. for a little more total. I think I have the mechanical all in by about 1700 or so, may go to a different spring setup to bring this down some.

 

[TrailBeast]

Don't forget there is a possibility of exploding your exhaust system by turning on the ignition after the engine is already cranking.