I carry a spare distributer when I go on long trips (in a box/bin of selected, working spare-parts). The spare distributor is set up with points, etc. My trucks have Pertronix units 13 year old in one and 7 years old in the other. I have never had to use the spare but I figure it is cheap insurance.
A rebuilt distributor is not hard to obtain (eBay and NAPA, etc). Used distributors (get the right year/style) can also be bought in the Swap Meet.
