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  •  » Mallory unilite leaks engine oil

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    6/09/2016 8:39 PM  #1

    whitestang
    FYI FORD Member

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    Registered: 10/19/2013
    Posts: 27

    Mallory unilite leaks engine oil

    My 66 coupe has a 5.0 which runs a Mallory unilite distributor. Oil is going up the shaft into the housing and out the weep hole in bottom of housing, makes a mess. Has anyone encountered this? How did you fix it?  Thanks Whitestang.

     

    6/10/2016 6:58 AM  #2

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,349

    Re: Mallory unilite leaks engine oil

    I have never seen that happen before!  Where exactly is the weep hole?  If it was to be plugged would the distributor fill up with oil?

    I have seen distributors with a bad o-ring on the base (where it fits into the block) leak and cause a big mess on the front of the engine.  Are you sure that is not the real problem?

    The distributor bushings have a helical groove so they will tend to pick up oil as they spin and drive it upward into the upper part of the distributor bushing, but there is nothing to actually pressurize any part of it with oil.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    6/10/2016 9:23 AM  #3

    whitestang
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    Registered: 10/19/2013
    Posts: 27

    Re: Mallory unilite leaks engine oil

    The weep hole is on the bottom of the housing. I don't know if the housing would fill with oil if the hole was plugged, perhaps the oil would drain back past the bushings. I also thought the outer o ring was the problem, so replaced it with another new o ring. I can touch the bottom of the housing near the weep hole and get oil. The oil ends up on the flange of the housing and spreads from there.

       •Thread Starter
     

    6/10/2016 9:32 AM  #4

    GPatrick
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,123

    Re: Mallory unilite leaks engine oil

    A little searching shows in some cases this leak may be the result of the shaft of the distributor not fulling seating on the hex driveshaft but it seems to be more of a Chebbie problem and shims are provided to obtain proper axial end-play.  However, if you do not have any end-play, the sealing arrangement in the distributor will not function properly and allow oil to rise up into the base of the distributor and then weep.  So, do you feel any axial play.  Some values I saw were 12 to 15 thousandths.  You may need to pull the distributor out to check it unmounted and then compare.  Other potential issues that were suggested as causes were worn bushings in the distributor that can create a pumping action.

    Not likely but always possible were cases of excessive crankcase pressure where proper venting or lack of a PCV will force more oil up into the distributor than it can handle.

    A lot of discussion on poor quality of newer units and replacement parts as all production has apparently moved to Mexico.

     

    6/10/2016 9:37 AM  #5

    57steve
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    From: Troutdale, Or
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 114

    Re: Mallory unilite leaks engine oil

    I had a Ford dizzy do that on a 390 years ago. It was the PCV valve. It was almost completely clogged.
    Replaced it and the hose (because it was brittle) and the issue went away.
    L8tr

    66 coupe, Now a 11 year garage ornament.
     

    6/10/2016 10:56 PM  #6

    whitestang
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    Registered: 10/19/2013
    Posts: 27

    Re: Mallory unilite leaks engine oil

    The Distributor shaft has .030 end play. PCV hose and valve are new and working properly.

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