Electronic disributor conversion

I have a 1986 Barefoot with the BB 454 PCM reverse rotation motor. I am looking to replace the points distributor with an electronic system. I found a mallory system (Distributor,coil and plug wires)that says it will work on all GM application motors BB and SB either rotation. Yet Delco sells the system for Right and left rotation motors seperatly.In fact the reverse rotation cost $100.00 more than the standard one. If anyone has dealt with this issue before your input will be greatly appreciated. This purchase cannot be returned so I need to make sure I am ordering a part that will infact work. Thank you in advance.

RT

Thanks greg for the welcome.
I have put a lot of work and new parts on this motor already. I think new is the way I want to go. However the rotation thing has got me stumped. Why can it work in either direction with one brand and not the other??

RT

There's also an engine manual in the reference section and tons of info via the search feature here.

I just contacted performance distributors and waiting for a response. Thanks for the input.

RT

nuttyskier2002 wrote: RT I remember the discussion that Greg is talking about with his 454 BN. And yes his camshaft does (or did) turn in the standard direction as compared to a car due to it being gear driven. So the question is.....is yours gear driven. Many Chevy marine engines (RR) were gear drive and yours is probably included. You can verify this by pulling the distributor and looking down into to hole (with a flashlight). Have someone turn the crankshaft by hand in the direction that it runs. Watch the camshaft distributor drive gear. If it turns in the opposite direction that your crankshaft turns then it is gear driven and you should be okay using a standard direction distributor.

well not sure what your trying to help here, but all dist are gear driven and it doesn't make a difference weather the timing is by chain or gear's only what gear is on the current dist so look at it and match it up.

From what I've learned from all the comments and the research I have done is. In some very rare applications if the camshaft and crankshaft are connected by just 2 gears (instead of 3 or 4)That makes the camshaft rotate in opposite rotation from the crankshaft. Which means I can use a standard rotation distributor. I also have a diagram of both gears from mallory, I think I will pull the Distributor match the gears and Hopfully all will be good. Thanks Chris for that info. Also I want to thank Greg and Brian for their excellent advise and pointing me in the right direction. I am really glad I regestered on this site. Everyone has been great and I hope I can help someone in the future.
Thanks again
   RT

79nautique wrote: well not sure what your trying to help here, but all dist are gear driven and it doesn't make a difference weather the timing is by chain or gear's only what gear is on the current dist so look at it and match it up.

Okay Chris....I must go back and admit that you have the best solution here. For some reason my thought process was that he didn't have his original distributor to match gears with. Don't know what gave me that idea. Sometimes my first solution is not always the easiest or most logical.

Brian

looking at the gear will tell you if it is a left hand helix or a right hand helix and that is all you need to know in addition to the oil pump drive style.

RT

What set up did you end up going with? I am curently running and MSD Distributor, coil, and ignition box. Very happy with it.

Thanks to everyone who gave their input to help with my situation. I went with the Performance Distrubutor DUI. Marine 7000. I believe Greg has that set up, thanks Greg. It better work!! Just kidding.

RT

RT1963 wrote: Thanks to everyone who gave their input to help with my situation. I went with the Performance Distrubutor DUI. Marine 7000. I believe Greg has that set up, thanks Greg. It better work!! Just kidding. RT

I haven't put electricity to mine yet, but the DUI came highly reccomended from a couple others here who are running them. Did you search 'DUI' here on the site? Somewhere in my bowtie thread there are pics of a few of them.