16 hours ago, CB Garrett said:

Something that is functional easy to install and gives me zero trouble for the next 20 years.

Found that funny.. can i get me a body in that shop!? 🤣

My tip? avoid anything that starts with "123"

I clamped my distributor in the vice this morning tried to get play side to side couldn't feel any movement it goes up and down slightly but that's probably normal. Anyway, I think I like the idea of a new distributor 54 years old there's no way around that

The other thing that often fails on the old distributors is the bearing mechanism under the vacuum advance breaker plate. The bearings and the surface get rusty, the balls stick, and the plastic cage breaks. Most people probably don't notice (I didn't) because it just stops the vacuum advance timing adjustment from working.

Here's some instructions showing what's in there. The main difference would be points instead of electronics on top.

https://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/distributorrebuild/index.html

If you have a good functional distributor then a Pertronix unit might be a good choice. If your distributor is gummed up, maybe look around for other options. It's all part of the game.

I like your comment. “It’s part of the game”

I bought the car from my neighbor around the corner less than a mile away drove it around the block and then home then started taking things apart. So really I have no idea if it’s a good functional distributor or not.🙂