Trojan Boat Forum

Important information if you change out your stock distributor for a new electronic distributor on a 318, 360, 383, 400 440 Chrysler

A non Marine distributor for Chrysler 400 or 440 will not fit unless you remove the cast iron thrust collar.

The purpose of that thrust collar is to hold the oil pump drive gear down on the reverse engine, it is not really need at all on the standard rotation engine.
On the RH engine the collar holds down the distributor drive

Without the thrust collar the distributor drive gear moves upward and in time will wear the cam gear and distributor drive gear and one will break sending tiny cast iron parts through the engine. We have seen this happen and the iron shavings jammed the oil pump.

Basically you have 2 options for the reverse engine. The correct marine electronic ignition distributor I believe it is a Mallory YLM 5000AV or, have a collar made for the distributor shaft that will act as the cast iron collar.

If you text us we will send you a picture of what we use as a distributor shaft collar. I think we have some in stock.

Anyway, do not put a auto distributor in the reverse engine without the correct distributor or a distributor shaft collar
Beacon Marine
609 713 4602

Well, thanks for the advice. Good to know!

Hi Bob,
Would you happen to know if the distributor shaft on the Chrysler parts page distributor # TRJ4142738M is long enough to accommodate the collar on the reverse rotation engines?

Thanks, Randy

The distributor shaft length is correct for both LH & RH engines. Same distributor. Different oil pump/distributor drive. No spacer on LH and use the spacer on the RH

Thanks, I've been putting off a distributor upgrade here recently. There seems to be alot of info about problems with Chrysler marine distributor's and thrust collars and advance curves, etc, floating about the internet. Has any one installed one of these Sierra distributers on a RH engine with out issue?

We have never installed a Sierra Electronic Distributor. Only the Electronic Distributor kit TRJ 4142738M which does work with the 318 360 with the Log Style Manifolds.

Thanks for clearing that up Bob, I thought your part number crossed with the Sierra distributor, I'm glad to know this distributor will work with the thrust collar.

Bob can you help me out with wiring a pertronix distributor and coil on my M360. I bypassed the resistor but what wires stay connected to my new flamethrower coil? I know the distributor where the red and black wires from the distributor wire go and I assume the plug that went to my old distributor can be taped off. Do the purple/white and black wire that were on old coil get connected to the new coil along with the red and black wire? Any help? Can’t get her to fire up now?