[Purdy Swoft]

I would also go back to the original points. I never had anything but problems with the so called modern points.
If you are using the wireless lower plate with modern points, that is another potential problem. The brass tab that extends from the upper to lower plate has a tendency to short against the housing and cause problems. The wireless lower plate with the acorn nut is good when used with original points. I set my points at .022 . If there is some wear in the distributor bushings the .022 gap will help maintain a not too close gap as the distributor cam rotates, the larger gap will give more time before the points have to be reset because of rubbing block wear. Usually if the coil is going bad, it wont start acting up untill the engine gets in a strain. If the float in the carburetor is not set pretty close to the correct setting it can be starving for gas and cause backfiring and running rough when you attempt to accelerate. A too lean setting at the GAV can have a similiar effect. I would also check if the coil is getting hot when it starts to act up. If you happen to have an oil filled coil, it will need to be mounted with the tower and wire connections pointing up, the reason being that the oil cools the internal windings and if mounted the way that original coils are mounted the oil won't reach the top of the windings. If the coil is the oil filled type, you can shake it and hear the oil inside.