Delco electronic distributor on 1985 OMC 5.7 litre

[shadbay1]

I switched the points distributor on my 1985 stringer mount 5.7 to a Delco electronic setup 2 summers ago..never did get the rpms and timing advance to where it should be....I did notice that the instructions for the elect distributor and the specs in the repair manual I have show a somewhat different relationship to which distributor node is wired to #1 cylinder...the firing order on both is the same however on my manual (as well as the original equipment distrutor) had the #1 cylinder to port of forward and the # 8 to starboard of forward.....the electronic kit instructions show #1 cylinder wire going to the 2nd node port of forward with # 8 on the first node port of forward....I expect that the difference may explain my difficulty in the setting the timing properly given the wiring difference but does that really matter so long as the firing order is correct and the cylinders are wired to the distributor in the correct order?...if it does matter which is the correct to use...the original or the setup according to the instructions with the electronic distributorI've attached a drawing of the two (or at least I think I have)

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Delco electronic distributor on 1985 OMC 5.7 litre

Because the rotor turns, #1 can be to the rear, or pointing west at time of install...or towards your toolbox...
It doesn't matter at all. as long as you have the rotor and thus the distributor gear in the right orientation in relation to the cap. There is no master tooth on the gear, you can drop it down a dozen different ways.

All that matters is when #1 piston is coming up to TDC, the rotor is approaching #1

If the boat has been running for a year, this is kind of moot, as obviously a timing light was used and it's in the right spot.
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The only reason to have any concern for orientation of the distributor body is when it has a shape to it that has to fit between a carb and the firewall of a car, or shift linkage or something. Or the wires will connect neater.