123 Ignition distributor

[Lin]

I was planning on going with a Mallory unilite distributor for my BT7, but recently came across the 123-Ignition distributor. I wonder if anyone has any experience with this distributor. From the website it is not clear to me if it works with the mechanical tachometer as fitted on the BT7. Thoughts?

https://www.123ignition.nl/id/28.html

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi Lin,
It appears that the distributor should fit right onto your drive body which contains the tach drive.

However, the instructions DO contain this note:
"Austin-Healey-owners are also advised to verify fitting dimensions beforehand."

You "could" be the first to find out.
D /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Michael Oritt]

Lin--

I recently installed a Unilite on my wife's BN7--the tach drive is independent of the distributor and will work just fine with either unit.

The 1-2-3 looks neat and its method of electronically changing the advance curve is definitely easier than changing springs as with a Mallory. However Mallory is a known quantity and replacement parts are well distributed and readily available. There is also a curious caveat on the 1-2-3 site regarding fitting the unit to Austin-Healeys. Wonder what that is about?

It's interesting that the 1-2-3 installation instructions recommend using resistor wire whereas Mallory suggests using solid-core wire for all electronic ignitions. BTW I bought the Mallory wire which matches nicely the red cap. See attached photo.

Best--Michael Oritt

 

[Lin]

I received this post from Eric Frenken and thought the Forum might be interested in what he had to say. Obviously, I am not advertising for Eric just thought the information about fitting and use might be helpful.

Lin
1960 BT7 in restoration
1959 Bugeye

Lin,

I'm selling these distributors and I drive a BT7 as well! My car runs with it extremely well, purrs like a kitten and acceleration is better than with the Mallory unit with Pertronix ignitor, which I had installed before. Didn't know of the potentials of a Healey engine before I swapped the dizzys. It's amazing how the spark balancing smoothens the engine recognizable at idle and how much power can be gained by selecting the appropriate curve for one's individual engine.

I've installed the unit some month ago and it was a straightforward job. The only thing I had to "outsource" was exchanging the lower end (drive dog) at the distributor shaft of the 123ignition with the original one with the teeth for the tach. The drive dog is secured by a small hollow rod only and I had a machine shop do it for me for some 5 bucks (could wait for it in the shop).

If you really intend to use one, let me know. I have some information available on my site
https://www.brits-n-pieces.com/teile_detail.php?id=6786
with a special offer (scroll down). With every unit (for the 6-cyl. Healeys) bought I include a set of diagrams which show all 16 advance curves with different static timings against an advance curve recommended by a well known distributor specialist in the Healey scene.

Eric
www.brits-n-pieces.com

 

[Rick60]

Hi Dave,

no need for Lin to be the first to find out. I was the first and have explained it in details to Lin. To make it short, the drive dog is the only part you have to swap over from your old dizzy. Straightforward job, though I found the resulting shaft (from underside body to lower end of shaft) slightly different from the original dizzy. But the unit dropped in without any problems and car runs fine.