dist pickups go bad on occaision but not enough to worry about. I'd go ahead & use your electronic setup and gap your reluctor at .006-.008 at its tightest point (use a vacuum pump to pull it thru its travel). Same with the orange boxes w the newer ones being a bit more trouble prone (keep a spare in the glove box). I have an older FBO setup (coil/ballast) whereas I believe the newer setups from Don use no ballast & therefore full battery voltage to the coil but I havent used it yet but I've heard mostly good about his stuff and I was impressed from talking to him & he is trying to build a better mouse. I want to try one of his advance limiter plates.