Being snowed in is a good excuse to dust under the fridge too.
I got some of the humbuckers they were blowing out too. I haven't put them in anything yet...I'd like to say that I'm waiting to be snowed in but if we get snow I'm going skiing!
If it rains after it snows...then I'll put them in.
Some Strat pickups are particular about their height. Try running them low to begin with and see if they clear up. Then raise them a little bit at a time (assuming you haven't tried this yet).
Congrats on a good deal.
"No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi
Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.