Whatever you do, don't discard the old distributor. There are still some of us around who can repair them. A huge number of 12 cylinder Lincoln distributors were converted to 8-cylinder units to run on the dirt track race cars of the 1950's. They had a much bigger coil than the Fords and they gave a very hot spark when set up properly.
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!