I think given my parts stash that I’m covered as far as distributor
problems may go. however…
the ICM on the installed distributor tested good both in car & at the
parts store.
Coil tested good also - but the spring that contacts the cap on this
particular distributor configuration was all bent out of shape.
at this point I’m on hold until I get a chance to go back to the car but
I’m still left with the same question I posed at the end of my last post:
WHAT ELSE. 
I’ll update the thread when I return to the car hopefully with a big 
and in the meantime maybe somebody can point me towards other potential
issues.