[Wbulk]

No, it does not matter if the slop is out of the springs. Meaning tension is on them at rest. Some of those distributors had tangs that you bent in or out to set where the curve started and or slowed. So with stock springs it mattered for at what rpm it hit the second spring. But for after market it's all about spring tension.

Wayne

Update on Springs
I just read an article on after market advance springs. They had tested all after market kits on a distributor machine. While the article was about GM points distributors it recomended never using the lightest springs. It said they lose their tension to fast and will not return the advance to zero. For what it's worth.