[bobcowan]

When you took the engine off the dyno years ago, did you run fuel stabilizer through the carbs? If not, they're probably dried out and full of varnish.

As for the distributer, I agree. Seems like both MSD and Mallory have the same issues. I had the button in the cap disappear one day. I replace the module every year as a precaution. And I carry an extra cap, rotor, and module in the trunk at all time.