Jimzee78280

All, I have ordered a stock distributor, which I will checkout and rebuild eventually, but for now, I'd like to get my Unilite working with my Z. Please try to avoid responding with "throw the unilite away" type responses if possible. I hate to waste the money I have spent that way. I am thinking I have something not wired correctly. I wanted to ask for more help if possible....here is what I have done so far. 1) Removed old distributor mechanically and disconnecting red & green wires from terminal block on driver's side fender. 2) Install new unilite mechanically with Unilite power filter in harness 3) Install mallory ballast resistor 4) Disconnect blue wire from harness going to negative side of coil, taped up blue wire, no longer required...right? 5) Connect Z harness black & white wire from positive coil to ballast resistor. This is the ignition switch wire....right? 6) Connect red wire from Unilite to same end of ballast resistor where black & white wire from Z'z harness (ignition switch). 7) Fabricate wire, connect from positive on coil to other end of ballast resistor. Note, this is only connection to positive coil terminal. 8) Connect brown wire from Unilite to engine ground 9) Connect green wire from Unilite to negitive on coil. Note, this is the only connection to negitive coil terminal 10) Red and Green connections from "Terminal Block" on inside of driver's side fender remain not connected to anything. 11) Mated black wire coming from the condenser on my Z to distributor housing...approximate location of stock installation for this wire. 12) Transitor Ignition Unit is still plugged up. Crank, crank, crank. Getting really good spark, but no fuel is getting into cylinders. Double and triple checked TDC, it is correct. Fault isolated all circuits per Factory service manual..all continuity and voltage checks perfect! What is next? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

All, I appreciate the dialog. I went with the unilite because the vacuum diaphram failed on the stock unit. I will try to order a replacement diaphram for the stock distributor, but for now I am kinda stuck with this new Unilite distributor and I'd like to get the most of what I currently have. I did purchase the mallory part number 700 resistor as recommended, and I have purchased a new crane performance ignition coil, part 730-0060 PS60 performance coil as part of my attempted upgrade. I will continue to research and I appreciate all the information so far. Thanks for any further advice on installing what I have. Jim

Hello, I am attaching a .pdf of photos I have taken. I may be understanding what I am seeing all wrong. Any help is greatly appreciated! I have ordered an o-ring from Motorsports so there is no immediate hurry at this time. Thanks, Jim Distributor Photos 12-24-2011.pdf

Hello all, I am preparing to install a new Mallory Unilite distributor into my 1978 280Z. First off, if anyone has done this successfully and has photos please reply with them attached if possible. I have a few questions: 1) Like a previous post I read, I noticed that the #1 plug wire is not in the exact same position on the mallory cap as it is on the stock cap. The advice given was to go ahead and install, and simply rotate the distributor to align with the rotor. Did that work? Send photos if possible. If that did not work, please advise on how to resolve this. 2) How (exactly) do I run the red, green, & brown electrical wires from the new Mallory unit to the stock electrical wire locations, referring specifically to the connector bracket located on the driver's side inside fender? Again any photos? 3) Regarding the adjustment bracket received with the Mallory unit. Please send me photos of how this is installed onto the stock bracket. Thanks for your help! Jim