Small Blocks
In regards to moving the distributor to the front, I think it would be better to drop it all together and add a cam and crank position sensor.
I find it somewhat humorous that in many ways, you can look at the G3 and see the evolution of the SBM. Same bore spacing and the 5.7 uses the 318 bore and 360 stroke, and even the same bellhousing bolt pattern (minus one hole). Not suggesting they did everything right, just pointing out they are sure similar.