383 distributor

[Lewis]

Apologies if this has already been talked about can't seem to find it anywhere, I have a 73 charger with a 383 in it, I have taken the distributor out and disassembled do cleaning as it was filthy 2 things I have come across it that when the shaft is removed the is a lot of play between the 2 plates of the top of the shaft as I'm new to all this not sure what it's called it has 2 springs on it so it's something to do with the timing I presume, also looking at it and the way the top part twists slightly it looks as if it's for a small block this is my main question, which way should it twist for a big block, I know it rotates ccw so does that mean the top bit should be able to twist cw slightly? Mine twists ccw so surely if the shaft is rotating ccw the top but can't go ccw aswell? Sorry if that doesn't make a lot of sense I'm not great with cars!

Thanks
Lewis

[John_Kunkel]

On the big block, both the upper and lower shafts rotate in the same CCW direction; the upper plate (called the cam plate) moves separately from the lower shaft. The centrifugal weights below the breaker plate rotate the upper plate several degrees ahead (in advance) of the lower shaft rotation, this is the centrifugal advance function.

[Lewis]

Thank you for explains that to me I understand now, it's just it me weights open when it spins cw, I can't post a photo of it as my phone won't let me but when I search big block distributors the weights look backwards to the one I have

Thanks
Lewis