Well, guys, the issue seems to have been resolved. I finally gave up on getting it to run by myself and took it to my favorite mechanic...he diagnosed the problem as a non-functional control module. I bought a second one from Summit Racing and the problem was resolved the first time that the mechanic turned the ignition key.
So...in the end I had to replace the distributor cap, the shutter wheel, TWO $100 control modules, a $100 coil, two or three $20 ballast resistors, and add a $50 power filter. That's a total parts cost of well over $400...although there is some possibility I will get a refund for the first of the two control modules, which was DOA...even at $300+, does anyone else believe that perhaps I should have switched ignition systems, maybe to a MSD unit?
It's been a long road with a lot of twists and turns (not the least of which was a 3 month hiatus from the repair efforts while the car was at the upholstery shop, getting the tan vinyl interior/carpet stripped and replaced with black leather and black marine carpeting) to get the repair accomplished...and as you can tell, I have little confidence that the issue will not repeat. When I bought the car with the Mallory ignition system I was warned that the control modules go bad and that I should get a spare, but the car ran just fine for almost 7,000 miles, so I was really confident that my system would not suffer the same fate as all those others. Now, I'm not sure I didn't just throw good money after bad.
Someday soon I'll get pics of all the parts I had to replace and post them...perhaps it will save someone else the lengthy discovery process that my repair required.
Cheers!
Dugly
