I replaced the ignition module with an NOS unit. Now, I don't know if this was a bad idea because someone had mentioned that modules like this have a shelf life
That is not so. They do not degrade or expire from sitting on a shelf. But you do have to make sure your coil, pickup, and module are correctly matched; read the second post in this thread (and yeah, the ground strap has to be in place or no vroom)