Yal:

Thanks for those tips. Now, if I can figure out where to find the distributor and regulator, I'll be on a roll.

In the meantime, do you think the problem could be vacuum related? I ask this because of something I noticed this morning.
Normally, the brakes on this car (new 3 mos ago) are very firm and responsive. Today however, they felt mushy and very unresponsive.

Could this indicate a vacuum leak? And, could such a leak (if there is one) be causing or contributing to the problems?

Anybody else ever have a similar problem?