Having finally got the old 110 V8 back on the road after 8+ years the bu**er will not run consistently - fairly sure it's a shagged out distributer so my question is are the seemingly cheap distributers from Simonbbc actually any good? Are the Lucas badged ones any better? I'd like a Mallory unilite but can't afford.
Details:- old low comp V8, mild cam, weber 500, performer manifold, decent exhaust, single point LPG, original distributer with electronic conversion, new NGK plugs, decent cap and leads. Timed on the "f"of before.........................
Symptoms:- Will start on petrol from cold - pig to start from hot but will, runs ok at best, hunts a bit, runs lumpy, pulls ok[ish] needs more welly than I'd like. Won't start at all on gas, will mostly switch over happily to gas but runs just as pants on gas as petrol.
Please don't suggest 3.9 injection swap or megasquirt - I'd love to do either but can't afford any more time/money - thanks all, Ali

Simon bbc dizzys are ok, mine worked fine

Thanks for that, I got one delivered today, now have to butcher power steering pump bracket as it fouls the ignition module meaning about 2 degrees of adjustment............................... then it rained! The old heap WILL run! [or burn nicely................................]

Just a quick thought for you - have you checked the condition of the timing chain? A slack chain could cause the timing to wander. There isn't much to go wrong in the distributor itself, maybe strip it down and check there isn't excessive wear etc and that the advance mechanism works properly. HTH.

[extremely] late update - got the electronic distributer, coil, plugs etc. and she runs a treat so that was £100 well spent. Very cheap vacumn gauge has shown that's weak so valley gasket next, plus it's gassing me to death so exhaust manifold gaskets.............................. never ending.....................................