The original distributor would've fit into the hole right behind the generator. You can see the worm gear at the bottom of the pot metal hole that would've driven the distributor. BTW, the distributor housing was also made from pot metal. Yuck!
The thingee at the end of the whole assembly is the oil pump. The generator shaft drove all three units: generator, distributor, and oil pump.
Here's what Lou MacMillan had to say about this engine:
"The reminisce of the casting number might be #327773 found under the exhaust manifold.
It would be a late '23 or '24 cuz the oil pump is behind the generator rather than in front of the cam gear.
GM stamped the serial number on the flywheel so there's no telling that way. "
What-a-setup! Dean
Last edited by Rustoholic; 07/30/2023 5:00 PM. Reason: added Lou's statement
