Adjusting the Mallory Model A Distributor YL11A2

this is part of a conversation i followed over at the Fordbarn.com regarding Mallory YL11A2 Distributors...

Setting the timing with a Mallory distributor is fairly easy.. The easiest way is when the timing pin drops in place, where ever the rotor tip is pointing will be number one time. The distributor can easily be rotated as in modern cars and set the plug wires as needed. The firing order is 1243 . I tune mine by ear, some buy a kit and use a timing light . I set mine as advanced as I can without starter kickback when cranking and no timing knocks. A little tweaking or rotating as needed with the timing will get er done, works for me. Usually the rotor tip ends up pointing where number 4 would normally be. If you want number one timing to be where it would be with the model A distributor , it will be more complicated. You will need to remove the valve cover and the oil pump and distributor drive assembly. With the drive assembly removed, you can stick a long straight blade screwdriver down through the head and down to the oil pump and turn the pump as needed for the drive assembly to align as necessary for the rotor to align as wanted. The points cam isn't adjustable on the Mallory distributors.

The only part that I have ever needed with my Mallory distributors was the condenser. I am using Ford V8 condensers with mine., the same condenser used with the so called modern points that the model A venders sell.. Bubbas ignition has Mallory parts but I don't have an address or phone number.

I got my first Mallory distributor from Harrys model A parts in Oregon in the early 90s . Harry told me that They had run these distributors for over 30.000 miles without having to do anything. Mine have been trouble free. This is the distributor that was used in the dyno tests with the Brumfield heads back in the ninties. The dual point Mallory was shown to give horsepower increases at low to mid RPM range. I had installed float-A-motor mounts in the coupe and there was quiet a bit of cl;utch chatter when taking off. After installing the Mallory distributor, the chatter went away completely. I was talking to Ken Miller and he felt that the Mallory distributor advanced so smoothly that it removed the chatter. Just an example of the smoothness of the advance. 

 

Mallory 24895 Condenser for YL 11A2 Distributor

Source:  http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140570

Rear Differential

Carburetor Idle RPM and Idle Air Mixture Adjustment

Carburetor Idle RPM and Idle Air Mixture Adjustment

1. There are two external carburetor adjustments, and they affect only the idle performance. They are the idle RPM and idle air mixture adjustments
2. Turn Gas Valve under dash on passenger side to open (Pointing down)
3. Preparation: Fully warm the engine up, move spark control (on left side of steering wheel) up, turn the under dash choke control knob full clockwise and then counter clockwise about one turn, and move the hand throttle lever (on the right side of the steering wheel) all the way up. If engine tend to die, pull the throttle lever down a little.
4. Preliminary Idle RPM adjustment: Turn the adjusting screw on the carburetor throttle arm until the end of the threads is making contact with the stop. You should now be able to put the hand throttle lever all the way up without the engine tending to die. Go back to the adjusting screw on the carburetor throttle arm and adjust it to a low RPM, just faster than where engine tends to stall. This will ensure that the carburetor idle circuit if functioning.
5. Idle Air mixture adjustment: Slowly turn the idle air mixture screw clockwise until the engine begins to stall, and note the position. Slowly turn the idle air mixture screw counter clockwise until the engine begins to stall and note the position. Now, adjust the screw about half way between the two positions, and you will often hear a very slight increase in engine RPM. (Idle air mixture screw should be about 1–1/2 turns out from full clockwise.)
6. Final Idle RPM adjustment: Pull the spark lever about 3/4 down. Readjust the idle RPM adjustment for the idle speed that you prefer. (If adjusted too high, you will likely tend to grind gears when driving.)

Source: http://www.model-a.org/procedures_full.html