QUOTE:
Makes perfect sense. You must work with the cranking settings once the ECU takes over. Never thought of that. I was thinking of going to a DIS system on my 4 cyl. - now I'm thinking it might be a PITA LOL

Nah - it's not hard at all. The store WOT-TECH sells an external crank trigger system that has the 6+1 notch trigger wheel, and a bracket to mount the sensor. This is made for the 60 degree V6 engines but you could surely adapt to your engine. Worth looking at. See http://wot-tech.com/shop/all/external-crank-trigger/prod_42.html

QUOTE:
How does one determine how many degrees your selected DIS is lagging the signal from the distributor ?

It's documented in DIY-EFI archives:

33° for Buick DIS. Both the 3.8 SFI (DIS requires single crank sensor and cam ref signal), AND 3800 fast-start (18X dual crank triggers and cam ref not used for ignition) both have same characteristics to the ECM.

60° for the 6+1 notch system used on Chevy 60 degree engines AND the Iron Duke 4 cylinder engine. Believe it or not both these units have the same reluctor wheel and same timing offset according to what is in the archives.

That is a starting point but you will have to fine-tune the system after installation. As always - be sure to verify the timing is working correctly before doing and hard driving after modding the ignition system. If the numbers in the ECM or the position of the trigger wheel are wrong, there can be extreme detonation leading to engine failure.

Thanks,
David