Mercruiser Electronic Distributer

About 5 years ago I up graded my 350 chevy to an electronic distributor. Engine setup is Chris Craft but is actually a Volvo. Anyway I junked the old points distributor. It had to much play in the bearings/bushings and wasn't performing as it should.

I obtained a Mercruiser electronic distributor. Installed it as per the marine mechs instructions. Now that I have done a restoration, I forget where or what leads of the distributer goes.

There are 4 wires going into a plug that goes into the distributer. One is white with a red stripe, one that is white with a green stripe. These two are easy to figure out due to the plugs. The other two go to the coil but not sure which goes where. One is a gray wire and the other is a purple wire. I just don't know which one goes to the primary and secondary of the coil. I don't want to mistakenly hook it up wrong and blow a $300 module.

Any help will be greatly appreaciated. I'm finally at the point of being able to start this rascal up and is the only thing stopping me at this point. Thanks................SS

Re: Mercruiser Electronic Distributer

I don't know what kind of distributor you have but in my Volvo manual the purple wire goes to the positive side of the coil and the grey goes from the negative side of the coil to the cannon plug. This is on a Prestolite distributor used on the 5.7GL. It is not possible to connect to the secondary circuit as that's where the HT lead plugs in (OK it's possible but unlikely to occur by accident) .

Re: Mercruiser Electronic Distributer

It sounds like you have a Thunderbolt IV distributor with the ignition amplifier attached to the distributor.



Here are a couple of pictures you may want to print out and stick in your service manual for future reference.

Wiring Diagram.


Troubleshooting Chart

Re: Mercruiser Electronic Distributer

Dat be it Don8) Hey thanks a lot. Printin it off to stick in my Volvo manual.