I did not know that......

[Charlie ny]

A long time customer sent me a Chevy Mallory to convert to 8BA. In
place of the typical 2 pc dark hued cap is a more conventional cap. The
cap is coffee colored and works with the same rotor as the 2 pc cap.
I like it, is this cap still available ?
Charlie ny

[Fordestes]

I keep a few around ,I think the number from NAPA is M.A 5, I bought the last one NAPA had at the time ,they most likely will have more , I have some my late father acquired for some old industrial engines ,they are marked Republic of Germany, I wonder if it is possible to find more of them over in Germany ? Mabe someone will chime in and let us know. I see where some have a weep hole and have shorter wire socket towers . also check out an MA9 .

[Tim Ayers]

This is the MA5: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHM...J0oh9yAkUAIluU

Here is the MA9: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHM...ywordInput=ma9

Well, look at that. It certainly looks like the internals of a two piece cap from the business end

[tubman]

This is potentially good news for those of use with old Mallory's with no caps.

[Fordestes]

I told a Barner this some time ago , he had an old Mallory and was looking for a cap, I sent him a picture and he chastised me and told me I didn't know s---t and there was no such thing . Also Charlie if you need one and can't get one from NAPA I would part with one for the postage and what It is listed on my inventory sheet. I just checked and NAPA says it's a good number but one is way more expensive than the other, I think one number may be for a marine or Industrial/ ag. application but they will fit, as I said one style has a weep hole and one has the short tower .
P.S, I just got off the phone with NAPA nd there are 17 in stock at the factory in Virginia and NAPA said it can be ordered direct through them and drop shipped to you with no freight because it is over $50.00 , so sounds like you can still get them.
Good luck

[Alaska Jim]

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The last time I checked with Napa a few years ago, I was told they were out of stock , they did a nation wide search and found none, and did not know when or if they were going to have any more in the future. I guess I will check again, but I am not holding my breath. Thanks for the info. by the way I think the replacement rotor # was MA7, but not sure

[Bored&Stroked]

The MA5 doesn't seem to be available, but the MA9 is. It is expensive, but the two-piece caps are not available new and if you find a NOS one, you'll usually pay a lot more than $66 for it.

The MA7 rotor was also available - about $18

I'll report back once I get the parts in and run a distributor up on my machine.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

The MA5 doesn't seem to be available, but the MA9 is. It is expensive, but the two-piece caps are not available new and if you find a NOS one, you'll usually pay a lot more than $66 for it. I'll report back as to if this works out . . .

Please do. So a few numbers have been mentioned:

MA5 and MA9. Do we know which one fits the Mallory?

Also, the MA7 part number seems to be the rotor for these caps.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/search...&se=1&txtUser=

[Fordestes]

Like I stated earlier there are 17 of the MA9 caps at the factory in Virginia, NAPA told me This A.M that they could be drop shipped directly to the purchaser at no freight charges due to being over $50.00, they said there are no M A 5 Caps to be had at this time. The caps pictured in the catalog says they are aluminum contacts, that was what the catalog said some time back also , but all those I have bought from Napa are brass contacts, the cat. was inaccurate as for the contact material . I have used both ,the only difference I see was one has a vented hole and one is a lower profile ( shorter plug wire towers ) .

[bobH]

I just clicked on the above-posted NAPA numbers, and what popped up is that the MA5 is listed as available, 24.99, and the MA9, available, 66.49, and MA7 rotor, 17.99. I have an old Mallory SBC distributor, and I can't tell from pictures if these caps will work. I can say, looking at the business end, I do not see a slot in the cap to index on the distributor body as the original Mallory cap does. I also note that both these caps, spec 'aluminum' contacts. And the pictures sure look like brass to me. (maybe my eyes, or computer image?)
For reference, the Mallory tag on my distributor says part number 2548201, and cap #209, and rotor #309, and point #25042X, and condenser #400. Point gap .020, and dwell 26 deg.
If my local NAPA happens to have either of these caps, it would be very little effort on my part, to waltz over there and see if these caps might fit my old SBC Mallory.

edit... a call to my local NAPA resulted in the same info Fordestes posted... NO, for MA5 (but could possibly find in the system at another store), YES on MA9 (in stock in VA)

[tubman]

I have a bunch of old Mallory's, so I'm going to order one of each and see what I get. That should settle it.

Well, that didn't work; I don't think they are generally available. Maybe someone with contacts within NAPA can do something.

[Alaska Jim]

I would also be interested in at least one cap and one rotor if some one finds a source. I have not had a chance to get to town and see what the local NAPA store can tell me

[1937cab]

Possible other option: part # BDW C303M, I purchase one several years ago at O'Reilly

[Charlie ny]

Thanks guys....this cap has the index 'slot' and drops right in place on the Mallory's in my stash. My NAPA guys find needles in haystacks all the time for me, this time they'll
pinch themselves.....I'll actually have numbers.
Charlie ny

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Charlie ny

Thanks guys....this cap has the index 'slot' and drops right in place on the Mallory's in my stash. My NAPA guys find needles in haystacks all the time for me, this time they'll
pinch themselves.....I'll actually have numbers.
Charlie ny

Charlie,

Will both work or is one preferred over the other?

[Charlie ny]

Hi Tim,
This is new to me, The cap came on a customers Mallory, I'll dig deeper today.
Charlie

[Bored&Stroked]

My order has shipped, so I will know soon enough!

[Chris Marshall]

I ordered a MA9 cap and MA7 rotor late yesterday from Napaonline. I also received an email this morning that my order has shipped. I have a 1961 Napa Echlin catalog with automobiles, trucks, ag & commercial equipment, and marine. Interestingly enough there are no "M" series parts in the entire catalog. I have some other vintage catalogs and will keep looking for the original application. Either way this is great news for those of us running these old Mallory's!

[tubman]

Odd; "NAPAONLINE" would not let me order any of this. You guys probably got it all first.

[Bored&Stroked]

Hey Tubman: Just checked and see no issue . . . here are the links:

MA9:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHM...ywordInput=ma9

MA7:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHM...ywordInput=ma7

Both show as "Ready to Ship to Home" . . .

[tubman]

Boy, I must be doing something wrong, because they say "Unavailable for Home Shipment". Maybe I'll try again. It could be because I'm in north-central Minnesota?

[tubman]

Dale,

Thanks for posting those links; I had tried several times to order the "MA5", but it wouldn't let me. These came through fine; There must be a problem with the "MA5".

I have been able to find a couple of Echlin point sets that directly replace some original Mallory's. If I get these and they do fit, I'm going to start a thread on Mallory parts cross reference. It should be a great help for us guys who like these old beasts.

[Charlie ny]

My sleuths at NAPA confirm the $26 MA 5 cap is no longer available, here's the shocker Echlin will still supply the $67 MA 9. Echlin photos of the 5 and 9 indicate....from a distance...the 9 has a vent hole and the 5 does not. The coffee color cap I mentioned in #1 does not have the vent so I'm guessing it is the $26 MA 5 cap. On Tuesday I should get my MA 9. Echlin makes good stuff so I'm hoping the MA 9 will be of superior material and have brass contacts.
Charlie ny

[Bored&Stroked]

Originally Posted by tubman

Dale,

Thanks for posting those links; I had tried several times to order the "MA5", but it wouldn't let me. These came through fine; There must be a problem with the "MA5".

I have been able to find a couple of Echlin point sets that directly replace some original Mallory's. If I get these and they do fit, I'm going to start a thread on Mallory parts cross reference. It should be a great help for us guys who like these old beasts.

Thanks Tubman . . . if you happen to have a points number, drop me a PM - as I'll need some!

[Bob C]

Originally Posted by Charlie ny

My sleuths at NAPA confirm the $26 MA 5 cap is no longer available, here's the shocker Echlin will still supply the $67 MA 9. Echlin photos of the 5 and 9 indicate....from a distance...the 9 has a vent hole and the 5 does not. The coffee color cap I mentioned in #1 does not have the vent so I'm guessing it is the $26 MA 5 cap. On Tuesday I should get my MA 9. Echlin makes good stuff so I'm hoping the MA 9 will be of superior material and have brass contacts.
Charlie ny

The specifications say contacts are aluminum.
# Distributor Cap Towers, 9. Attaching Method, Clip Medium Height. Cap Contacts Material Type, Aluminum. Distributor Vent, No. UNSPSC 26101718 VMRS Code 033002003 Wire Tower TypeStandard/Cup

[Tim Ayers]

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Originally Posted by Bob C

The specifications say contacts are aluminum.
# Distributor Cap Towers, 9. Attaching Method, Clip Medium Height. Cap Contacts Material Type, Aluminum. Distributor Vent, No. UNSPSC 26101718 VMRS Code 033002003 Wire Tower TypeStandard/Cup

I noticed that as well, but I guess we’ll find out soon.

[flatrod]

I ordered 2 MA9's this morning, doesn't say they are shipped yet to me here in Alaska. I have a pile of old Accell parts and I believe I have points, rotors, and condenser's to fit the old Mallory's. I will get part numbers later today when I'm down in the shop.

[51 MERC-CT]

Have converted a couple of later (made for GM ) Mallory Unilite's to Pertronix.
Napa has an (MA2) cap for those not happy with the red one.

[flatrod]

I have Accel parts 100401 condenser way bigger the original Mallory.
130401 rotors
110402 and 110403 points fit my small block Ford Mallory but not my 409 or FE Mallory's

[Bill OH]

The vent hole is non-existent on a distributor for marine use. I think the AMC marine engines used a flat cap styled like that used on the Ford crab distributor.

[tubman]

Dale,

I haven't forgotten about you; I just haven't gotten to my shop yet.

I'll post the results to this thread when I get them, as I believe they will be of general interest.

Denny

[Tim Ayers]

Any update on the caps the some of the folks on here ordered? Do they fit?

[Bored&Stroked]

Hey Tim - mine came in . . . will check this evening and post back!

[tubman]

OK, here's what I have. Sorry it took so long to get back, but I ran into some confusion and didn't want to post bad information with out a caveat. I have found that the Echlin points CS2300 can be used as a substitute for the Mallory 25042 points. I also found substitute for the Mallory 24875B points, but this is where I got a little off track. I bought some points from NAPA and they fit, but I sold the distributor they went into, so I can't double check. My notes say that I used CS754 points, but "Bubba" has posted that they were CS753. I currently have a set of each on order, so I will set the issue straight when they arrive.

[flatrod]

My MA9 caps came in and they do fit where the two piece was. Also my 130401 Accel rotors fit too.

[rotorwrench]

I have a relatively recent Echlin catalog (Dec 2009). The MA series of caps all appear to be for Mallory products including the crab caps. The MA5 with MA7 rotor are listed to fit the Mallory YC and ZC distributors. The MA9 low profile cap doesn't list what it fits or what rotor works with it but it may be a marine engine version since it is not vented. The MA11 crab type cap also lists that it fits the YC and ZC type distributors but it would likely have to have different hold down clips and the fit may have been different for those type mallory distributors. I suppose the NAPA photo could be wrong. The MA1 cap appears to be the replacement part for the Ford crab type cap of 1942 but that number is FA65. The difference appears to be the color. The MA8 looks to be for a later type V8 distributor but it doesn't list which one. It may be for boat motors since it is also non vented and sealed.

The YC was likely the most common. The ZC actually had a vacuum brake set up and a person doesn't see these very often but they are out there,

[tubman]

I received both sets of points I ordered from NAPA, and the bad news is that neither one of them work. The CS753 points are a mirror image of the CS754 points (and the Mallory 28475B) so they are out from the start. The real bad news is that, while the CS754 points can be easily installed in a Mallory distributor and seem to fit, the geometry is such that they cannot be adjusted to open. I believe if I had to, I could modify them to work, but they are not even close to a direct replacement.

[Bored&Stroked]

Does anybody know of any points that will work?

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Does anybody know of any points that will work?

Paging Bubba, paging Mr. Bubba Linder

[tubman]

I spent a lot of time on this, including extensive research on all of "Bubba's" threads, both here and on the H.A.M.B. I hope he can come through, but...

[JRN1967]

For people that may be searching just wanted to update this thread with the MA9 cap ($83.00) on a Mallory YC distributor. Exact replacement with the MA7 ($21.00) rotor.