318 running like crap

And when points are getting tired, they tell you about it for quite a while before they stop working entirely.
Which may be what the OP's ignition is telling him....if it's points LOL. I raced for 10+ years on points on my Opels with nary a failure. And a point files will do wonders to extend the life. But, a good HEI will sure make things run better, smoother, and with better combustion efficiency.