i think i have a problem with my port side distributor and to verify that problem i wanted to swap it with the other engine which rotates the oposite direction. are the distributors the same on a regular rotation and counter rotation motor the same?
I've been following the Chrysler 318/360 thread on this similar topic. I'm not familiar with with what's done re; the 318/360.
I am familiar with the SBC RH Reverse and standard LH marine engines.
Technically NO.... the two are not quite the same.
If both of your engines chain drive the camshaft, then the RH Rev engine helical cut gears are oposite, thus ending up with the same CW rotation of the distributor. IOW; either rotation engine rotates the distributor in the same CW direction.
This is done as such due to the oil pump rotation. (I.E., there is NO reverse rotation SBC oil pump)
LH rotation engine cam/distributor helical gear cut causes an up-load thrust against the distributor housing. The lower landing of the distributor housing checks this thrust load.
RH rotation engine cam/distributor helical gear cut causes a down-load thrust against this same shaft. Technically, this distributor will not only have a reverse cut helical gear, but will also have an upper thrust surface to check this down-load thrust.
Bottom line, you would not be able to swap distributors without also swapping the driven gears.
If you swap the driven gear (from Stbd distributor to the Port distributor), there will be no issues.
However, there will be no down-load thrust surface when swapping the Port side distributor to work in the Stbd engine.... and this is where the problem comes in!
Since your Port engine is a Standard LH rotation engine, it would be easier to borrow a good Standard LH engine distributor and give it a try, IMO.
Now, all that having been said....., if by chance your RH Rev engine is using a double gear cam drive, then the camshaft rotates in a standard LH engine rotation (but the profile would be for RH).
This means that the helical gear cut is same on both engines, thus the up-load thrust is the same on both engines, which means that both distributors would also be the same.
Perhaps find out what Crusader did for this year model RH engine camshaft drive.
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