Sounds like a balast resistor or voltage issue.

In other words , one distributor with work with lower/higher voltage and the other does not. It could be your ign switch too. Because it has 2 distinct circuts when in crank and run. So, maybe no circut when in crank, but then you get votltage when you go to run (release the key).

You need to get a meter and start testing these circuts.